The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-02

Helena Richie" sZira. -sBIlleted.' her Mrs.
Dance Defence, her Green Stockings" shall
have faded into more or less shadowy
memories. her Vivian Hunt, in the Woman
of Bronze will still stand clear. radiant,
beautiful in the mind of every lover OF the
pure and high in art Nothing that TINS
gifted woman has achieved in her notable
career touches such perfection of imperson,
alton of appeal of absolute truth and
beauty as does her Vivian Hunt. No part
she assumes lies farther removed from
what the general public regards IS the real
Margaret Anglin, and therefore the more
mastery is the art that can accomplish
such faultless presentation of character
Miss Anglin herself with her priceless
of values, would doubtless be the first TO
smile at the suggestion that the character
of VIVIAN. with its sincerity. Its power:
and its aspiration, is nearer to the actual
Margaret Anglin than are those of some
of the celebrated ladies' whom she imper-
While While Watching her Vivian" the realiza
ton that the portrayal was founded on act
ever be it nature or be it art. the fact re-
mains that her Vivian Hunt in THE
Woman of Bronze" as portrayed by her Is
one of the most perfect, most exquisite,
most compelling achievements the dramauc
stage of the present day can boast. rev
it. l can recall nothing that possesses the
same deep dramatic proportions. the same
ehidllkeness tue e same ,o means and
the same heart searching beauty.
Columns could be written happily~dweli-
ing on the fine meaningfui details OF ner
powerful movements of her hands, peculiar
~ sensitive and expressive, the touenins
tho psychically graspfng thought, tne
mind was doubtfully seeking. the eloquence
of eyes voising forth every process OF the
mind, the parting of the fps, the sudden
acts of laughing in wardfng or scandai;
the buoyancy of movement, of posture anu
gesture, the grace and lithsomeness, the
absolute freedom, and yet portraying a
character in the very throes of dramatlc
emotions-all these and countless other
details might be pointed out and admired.
But it suffices perhaps instead to say
that "Vivian Hunt lived and moved be-
fore us Saturday evening at fne dear bq,D otG
and a sweetness such as she could scarcely
possess in real life.
Life is richer for having spent such an
evening and had the present season at the
dear old Grand, brought nothing else OF
worth this one performance would nave
Whether I can accept as ultimate the
conclusion reached in THE Woman OF
Bronze 1 must admire the clever approach
adopted by the authors in what 1 could call
an aging triangle; Their a a'rgum men tbs rs
event possible-but. However, | shall not
spoil a perfectly good taste OF delectaoie
drama With my bitters Of cynical ~. dlstr ri5i
of the actors that the first act did not be-
come a mere talk fest What long word
artistically that you drank in every word.
To those of Topeka play ,goers who are
habitually screaming ;,origina,ll nj, east;n you u
is the same identical cast which played
Chicago, and which will go intp New York
amount of these Original cast shouters,
have no explanation to what they mean,
nor could they give logical reason why
the shout. This is the third original cast
we have had this season. And would they
know an original cast il they saw it.
The cast which surrounds Miss Anglin
is exceptional. 1t is such pleasure to
look back at the performance of Mr. Waiter
Connolly, as Pattie. what lovable, Won
derful character this man wrought with
his equipment of technic. A slow deliber-
ate conception of man who Is all friend,
l shall place him, and always hope to keep
him. in my little mind hall of fame" MI.
resonant, warm voice and his good inter
pretative taste made listening gratifica-
ton. Miss Marion Barney. as Mary Court
ney. the woman who has seen and heard so
much, was skillfully illustrative of her
character. Miss Harriet Sterling, as the
always doing the wrong this, Mrs Graham,
Langdon Rruce. as the 'four,flushing
Morton, good in sopts, yet / was in
clined to think he bordered a little too
near the burIesque to get over some lines.
Miss Media Harrigan as Sylvia, the cause
of all the plot. impressed me favorably.
| Mr.. Sydney Mather. endows the role of the
semi heavy with his customary ease ami
semi suavity. and makes it delightfully."-
impertinent and insinuating, with n guile
less smile. The rest of the cast, including
George Sharp, who was at one time local
favorite. fitted will into the general order
of the play.
The gathering at the "dear old Grand
! Saturday evening was far below what it
should have been for such an artist for
such a company and for such play. The
house not more than two-thirds filled.
and it was a wonderful evening long to
! be remembered and heading the season $
| list for dramatic plays. To my way of
| thinking 1t is the greatest dramatic achieve
ment of the season. Nothing here this
| season possibly compare with the
| dramatic tension. cleverly wrought sin
/ cerely given, and Miss Angiin is the peer,
| SO far. az our wonderful season of big sue
ccssful entertainments. And l guess that
/ will be about all. n. S. A