Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-09-14
THE PALMER COMPANY's HIT.
Last Nights Audience at the Thea
ire Taken BY storm.

To imagine an evenings entertainment
more highly pleasing than the presenta-
ton OF "Saints and Sinners" by the a.
NJ. Palmer Company, or to imagine an
audience more thoroughly satisfied than
that which assembled at the Theatre last
night would be difficult indeed. The
pit, dress circle and galleries were
crowded to such an extent that ii would
large enough for another spectator. The
audience had anticipated so much, that
had there been the slightest deficiency in
play or players, disappointment could
not but have shown itself over the entire
auditorium. There was no disappoint-
ment shown the deficiency did not
exist.
"Saints and Sinners" is one of those
realistic representations of English life on
the order of "Hazel Kirke," and not
unlike the latter in some OF the scenes
and situations. 1t is Il pathetic story,
prettily told, with simplicity which
constitutes its main force. The oppor-
tunities are made rather by the actors
than by the playwright, and were it left
to other interpreters its success would be
matter OF doubt. The story itself, every
word OF the dialogue, every pose OF the
tableauX, are so natural that one hardly
realizes that he is not undergoing an ex-
perience in real life. There is no sensa-
ton, but the pathos is quite ample to
create the requisite excitement.
To compare the actors would be unfair,
and in one sense impossible. Each was
star in his or her specific role, and
though, Of course, some of the parts were
more difficult than others, each actor
brought out all there was in his part and
each actress all there was in hers, and
the prise, therefore, should be equally
divided. Stoddart was, as Il matter of
course, the center OF attraction, and ii
anything more smooth, careful and
effective than his acting can be found, it
is yet to be seen on the Salt Lake
stage. There is nothing singular
in the character OF Jacob Fletcher"
The playwright makes him such
a man as is seen every day in the small
towns OF England, as well as in those OF
America. Fully realizing this fact, MIR,
Stoddart played the part for all it was
worth. His quiet manner, his gentle
yet forcible tones, his very presence
were so perfectly in keeping with the
authors ideal that it would be impossible
to suggest an improvement and the
highest praise seems matter of course.
lie Nome as "Hoggard' had char
acter with many peculiarties, which
were brought out with telling effect. The
bad side OF the character was carefully
hidden in the first part of the play, so
that it would have been hard to say
whether the man were saint or sinner.
Mr.. Massen as the plain, honest lover,
had no great opportunities, but in two or
three scenes he had chance to show
his force and the opportunity was never
lost.
Herbert Kelley improved as the play
progressed and proved to be better in the
more difficult scenes OF the third and
fourth acts than in the simpler ones OF
the first act.
Miss Burroughs, who has all the nat
ural advantages that pretty little actress
could wish, was the quintessence OF
brightness. There was nothing "heavy"
in her part and she was perfectly equal
to all the gayety and pathos which came
in her line. Her acting was q success.
There aresmany beautiful soliloquies,
dialogues and tableaux, which might be
specially mentioned did space permit,
but there are so many that they could
not be done justice. The scenery, APP
pointments, and the management OF the
stage were without flaw.
The company appears again tonight,
presenting their great San Francisco sue
cess, "Jim, the Penman."