The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-03-23
PASSIONS SLAVE"


and his New York company NAL
their first appearance in this cit
The company is extensively billie
about the city, and is occasionin
considerable talk, which is one {
the best evidences that they wi
draw well. This evening Passion
Slave" will be produced, Unknown
being the production to be given Il
morrow night. Mr.. Stevens, VIII
assumes the leading character, is tn
author of both plays. Followin
from an exchange will give som
Idea of Passions Slave" and tn
company playing it:
PASSIONS Slave" is a purel'
American play; it is an interestin,
story of the lovers of fair southern
girl and her chivalIic, although
rather unreasonable lover. The frs
scene is of cotton plantation il
Louisiana with its white fields Of
unpicked cotton, the luxurious semi
tropical surroundings of wealthy
planters home. The persons who
appear in this scene are all in at the
close, and consist of the Old planter
General Roseleaf, his daughter
Mamie, his son Walter, Manuel
DeFoe, and Ferdinand Shepley, the
Villain of the play; DeFoe is in love
with Mamie, who returns it; her
brother Walter is an Outcast son
who had been from home for several
years. This her lover does not
know. Shepley also loves Mamie,
tells her so, and is rejected. Walter
steals into the grounds, is detected
by Shepley, who tells him to return
In an hour; he then tells Mamie,
who comes at the time appointed,
meets her brother, embraces and
kisses him, is discovered by
DeFoe, who, maddened by jealousy,
shoots Walter, who falls apparently
dead, which closes the first act.
Mamie telling De Foe he has killed
her brother. The other scenes are
laid in Washington City, d. c.,
where the general is now us a Sena-
tor. De Foe comes to the house and
is recognized; Shepley also comes
and demands NAMES hand in mar
riage for mortgage which he holds
On the generals plantation of S1GO-, |
)00. As she thinks it VIII save her
fathers life Mamie consents to sac
rifice herself, but her brother turns |
up at the critical moment and all |
ire made happy while the villain is
carried off to serve out an unexpired |
'erm in the Illinois state peniten-
iary at Joliet.
The above is but a slim outline of
What is really meritOriOus play
written by Mr.. Stevens himself.
lis acting is nearer perfect than
seen in San Francisco for
many day; although in some parts
t might be considered slightly melo-
yet it is almost finished
'iece of acting; his voice is full.
and his reading is excellent.
n figure he is good; and if mar
led man certainly runs the risk of
eing spoiled by the very suscepti-
lie ladies of California. To see and K
ear him once, one wants to again, {
Or it seems such a great pleasure to /
sten to him. II
Miss Helen Blythe played Minnie, =
nd she is fine artist. Her face
; more of Il pleasant than a beauti- =
I'll one, and the more one gaZes the q
lore attractive it is. She is of :
Ommanding figure. a fine reader, o
nd has that tlexibility of express 6
on, both of feature and voice, ne
esSary to success in so difficult a
rofession. Without calling her a o
reat actress, it can be truthfully C
ated that no lady in her profession 6
as had so well merited applause I
nd commentator in San Francisco Ii
II many months.
Mr.. Bebus, as ShepIey, is exactly h
hat he should be, a polished y
.Oundrel, whom the audience de- n
sted, which is the best proof of his e
lccess in the character. Mr.. Shell +
)p, as GOlight, is exceedingly e
as is also Lottie Church,
! Patty, with whom not only is Go
gnt in love, but all the young fell Z
VS. in the audience. In fact, the h
ltire company is composed of peO- K
e of high grade of talent, and the g
INES sincerely hopes will meet that II
cOgnition so well merited by them. IL
he scenery by John Wilkins is new u
Id beautiful, and forms an addi-
onal attraction. n