The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-21
William Wads1Uorth of
'Abrdhan1L Lincoln "ShoW
Former Topeka Resident
Widely Known Actor Finds Many Changes in the Old
Home Town Since He Was Here Twelve Years Ago
Was Glad to Get Back

possibilities they showed for looking
the part when trained down
you see that scenery It's wooden
built to last. A regular road show
usually has only canvas. This really
is a much more elaborate production
than the audience probably realizes.
Every costume we wear is correct to
the smallest detail. McGlynn changes
costume about five times during the
play, All his costumes look just about
the same, but they are all different in
material and quality. The sword that
General Grant wears is one that was
presented to some colonel during the
Civil war"
Nearly everyone in the play has
several parts, he said. He himself
played three parts, tho for only one
part did he get credit under his own
name. He had assumed names for
the other two parts.
A group of electricians were fussinG
over a lot of lights by the edge Of the
stage. A collarless man hurried
across. shouting, Fifteen minutes. fif-
teen minutes" Actors began to
scurry around in costume. Most of
the men wore boards, but very little
makeup. Wadsworth wore none at
all. The collarless man called,
Places, please" and he hurried over
to take his place on the stage. The
play had begun.
1t was a long play, and it went on
q no on. bdCk stage one COulQ near
the voices of the actors on the stage.
Two of the electricians were having
wig-Wagged argument on the lighting
from opposite sides of the stage.
Neither seemed to understand the
other and when the morning light
dawned. it dawned in spasms.
An actor came along with some
thing in one gioved hand. AS he came
up to a group, he opened that hand to
display a fuzzy duckling-
Look" he said. See what found
on the windowsill out there. Some one
left it there and it's almost frozen. I'm
going to put it where it will get
warm"
Scene gave way to scene. Each in
Permission was marked by much ac-
tivity on the part of the stage-hands.
They were directed by the actor who
played General Lee, much of the time
minus his gray hair and beard.
The great episode in Grants head
quarters began. Soldiers lounged
about the back until their cues came,
when they would snap into it, and
march with soldierly step on the stage.
One of the generals, a most dignified
gentleman, stood waiting in the back.
HIS cue came, he started forward
pompously. and then just before he
reached the door, he caught a toe in
the rug. He teetered pack and forth
in great agitation until he got his bal
ance, and then got out on the stage
as per schedule.
General Grant hurried out. Get
some sandbags, you guys" he Missed.
Quick, some sandbags. I've got to
prop a door open" Somebody found
table leg. and he slid that carefully
against the door in question.
AS the scene closed, actors began
to drift together at the back. Some
one gave a signal, and they all began
to sing softly, "Tenting on the Old
Camp Ground" A stage hand or two
joined in the song. Some one was
carrying a high tenor, and there was
bass or two in the crowd.
Introduce Frank McGIynn.
Finally the scene ended. Someone
brought up Frank McGlynn and in
troduced him. He was very tall, very
| much like Lincoln. He talked with a
| weary. bored air for a few moments.
Yes, it is firing to play the part,
but then of course we don't really feel
| the emotions we portray. We couldn t
you know. Lincoln couldn't stand it,
and he went thru it only once. Think
what would happen if 1 went thru it
| every night for several years." he
! said.
! He doesn't intend to continue in this
part indefinitely tho he thinks the
play will go on for years. He says it
wouldn't pay.
| dapper young man hurried up,
| saying, Beg pardon, but you have a
| change to make, Mr.. McGlynn," and
| off went the hero.
| The fifth scene ended and the stage
! hands began taking down all the seen
cry. A complete change was to be
made for the last scene. The backr