Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-31
MARY ANDERsoN's TRIUMPH.
Galatea and Clarfce-The Latter
Proves Her Americas Greatest
Actress.

The walls of the Salt Lake Theatre
have scarcely ever before echoed back
such applause as that bestowed on the
acting of Mary Anderson last evening.
Observing critics have declared that, in
Galatea and Clarice, Miss Anderson at
tains her greatest eminence as an actress,
and this is not said in ignorance of the
truth that "Pygmalion and Galatea" is
deficient in both plot and incident. In
less artistic hands it becomes wearisome
in Miss Anderson's it is made an ideal
conception. Her delicately impassion-
ate nature finds a peculiarly fitting adap-
tation in the dignifed innocence of
Galatea, as though indeed the genius
of the character had been patterned after
the charming model of her grand
simplicity. No demand is made for that
fervor of emotion whose absence con-
stitutes, in the estimate of severe critics,
Miss Anderson's sole defect; and yet
there is much in the closing scenes of
the piece which calls forth an intensity
of expression that is indicative of any
thing but the cold inanimation that has
been charged up to the lady. Nothing
more exquisite can be imagined than
the scene where the beautifully chiseled
marble is translated, at the behests of the
gods, into the living animate being of
Galatea, and the actress makes the most |
of it. Her incompatible beauty and |
grace and modesty are power which |
forces the citadel of many heart to
capitulate, and last nights audience was
made to surrender completely.
In Comedy and Tragedy" Gilbert has
created an opportunity for the popular
actress which proves him to have pos
sessed better knowledge of her particu-
lar bent than she herself appreciated.
Her Clarice is a revelation of dramatic
excellence, and astonished everybody
who had read of her ''icy coldness''
and her want of intensity. No
one can witness her magnificent
as the distracted yet self-pos-
sessed Clarice when separated by only a
step or two from the dread duel scene in
which her beloved D'Aulnay is taking
part, she desperately endeavors to divert
5he attention of her guests from her own
perturbation and the tragic incident out
'ide the doors-no one can look upon her
superb acting without recalling Modjeska =.
md without arraying himself formidably
against those critics who assert that Miss {
Anderson knows nothing of that charm &
ng quality-les larmes dan la roir. :
1t is a matter of regret that COMEDY !.
md Tragedy had not been made to ex-
end over greater area of incidents, that /
might constitute in itself an evenings t
as it provides an admirable O
PREMISES for Miss Anderson's talent to S
pend itself upon, and is piece of rare b
enius and merit. v
The fact that the lady was called before Q
ne curtain after every act only half ex- t.
resses the enthusiasm which prevailed v
1 the audience, and it would not be u
eckless to predict that fewer than score b
last nights auditors will be absent a
ON the performance OF "As You Like b
- tonight. Il
Miss Anderson's support is good one,
with most travelling compan- p
IS, but is not extraordinary at all. Mr.. lie
Forbes Robertson is very satisfac- a
'ry actor, and rendered both Pygmalion p
nd DAulnay in a manner that won the m
imiration of the audience; and Mr.. ii
acklin was almost equally acceptable. Pr
hrysos was very indiferently inter- tt
'etated by'Mr. j. G. Taylor, and the til
nd OF opportunities for splendid amuse-
ent which the part affords were either
ltaken or friphtful1v assavad