Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-31
MARY ANDERsoN,s TRIUMPH.
HnIaten and Clarice-Thc Inter
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
Galatca 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 peculiarly fitting adap-
tation in the dignified 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 bchests 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 a 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 Il revelation OF dramatic
excellence, and astonished everybody
who had read OF her "icy GOODNESS
and her want of intensity. Nc
one can witness her magnificent
emotions as the distracted yet self-pos
sessed Clarice when separated by only a
step or two from the dread duel scene il
part, she desperately endeavors to diver
the attention Of her guests from her owl
perturbation and the tragic incident out
side the doors-no one can look upon he
superb acting without recalling Modjeski
and without arraying himself formidabl,
against those critics who assert that Mis-
Anderson knows nothing OF that charm
ing qualty-les larmes dan la coir.
1t is a matter OF regret that "Comed.
and Tragedy" had not been made to ex
tend over a greater area of incidents, tina
it might constitute in itself an evening
performance, as it provides an admirable
premises for Miss Anderson's talent t
spend itself upon, and is piece OF rar
genius and merit.
The fact that the lady was called befor
the curtain after every act only half eX
presses the enthusiasm which prevaile,
in the audience, and it would not
reckless to predict that fewer than scor
of last nights auditors will be absen
from the performance OF "As You Lik
IT. tonight.
Miss Anderson's support is good one
compared with most travelling compar
/ les, but is not extraordinary at all. MI
j. Forbes Robertson is n very satisfat
tory actor, and rendered both Pygmalio
and D'Aulnay in manner that won tn
; admiration of the audience; and MI
Mackln was almost equally acceptable
Chrysos was very indifferently intel
pretated by Mr.. j. G.. Taylor, and til
{ fund OF opportunities for splendid amust
: ment which the part affords were eth,
untaken or frightfnlly essayed.