The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-11-25

w. S. Cleveland into the partnership
comes back to Salt Lake this week tel
long absence, and gives US two nights
of merriment next Friday and Satur-
day. They are receiving immense pres
notices everywhere, and in Kansas City
were the only troupe not to be atfectt
by the election parsdes. The Japanese
jugglers R1d SAlancers, who form &
feature of the company, are causing s
furore e7erywhc.e.
-.
The great cast of Hamlet for the
Wsllack testim oniaI has caused the Ne 3
York Herald to move in the mater OF
securing an ideal cast in a standard
comedy for the benefit of the Actors
F1nd.
In response to an inquiry as to
whether he would perform IN comedy
Edwin Booth said:
Il have not performed in the general
line of comedy parts for many years;
that is to say, L have not taken what
are called 'psntaloon parts since |
PLAYED in the Marble Heart under the
W AOoeAOy A0Ao6SAA~hb NAoAJ IO1A .
ago | produced the Marble HeaI in re-
Spouse TO the general request of friends,
SQt alter had played it for few nights
the request of friends was quite as gen.
eral that l should abandon it. l had
made some impression in the leading
character in the caller part of my
csreer, but when it came to reproduc-
ton it was found, l presume, that l
had outgtown the capacity or the taste
Tor that class of performance"
mn. Irving" continued Mr.. Booth,
has been more prudent. perhaps, than
have been in the preservation of a
variety of his parts, instead of allowing
them to go into decay as l have done.
He maintains the same range of per-
formances that he followed as stock
actor
It The reporter referred to the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Barrett that in revival of
the School for Scandal Mr.. Booth might
play Joseph Surface.
The great tragedian said with smile:
II did perform Joseph Surface when
! was a stock actor many years ago,
but now it is 80 far from my memory
that it would be like studying a new
part to learn it over again, and that |
have hardly the courage to do"
"At the same time, said Mr.. Booth,
81 should be most happy to see the
Herdld'S idea carried out, and would be
willing to assist in its realization in any
way in my power"
The reporter had conversation with
Mr.. Lawrence Barrett IN his rooms at
the Hoffman. Mr.. Barrett said that
he had read the HeraLd'S suggestions
with great interest.
II am sorry" he added, "that the
idea of the Herald was not selected in
stead of the performance that we gave
last Thursday. 1t was in my MIND be-
fore this performance was announced,
and 1 rather regret that did not make
the suggestion at time when it might
have been carried into effect with so
much more benefit to art, and so much
more gain to the Actors Fund"
The reporter asked Mr.. Barrett what
comedy he would suggest as appro-
pirate fo- the proposed revival.
"Of course" replied Mr.. Barrett,
1.-THE first idea would be classic COM
edy which would exclude many per-
formances that have won modern fame.
The School for Scandal would be great
performance properly cast"
"How would you cast it?"
L WOu1O AOI oo1Ot 4CpAACO Olis Oa1-
rett, "to venture upon the sacrilege of
assigning my professional brethren and
sisters to any parts for fear l might
give offence. l should be glad, if were
casting a comedy to follow the plan
laid down by Artemus Ward who,
when he was asked to raise a regiment |
for the war, proposed to make his pri- |
Yates all brigadier-generals.
However, to look at it seriously for |
q moment, let us suppose dear old John |
Gilbert as Oliver Surface, rart which |
he played often before he became ia
nous as Sir Peter Teazle. Then Joseph |
] jefferson as Sir Peter Teazle. This |
would introduce Mr.. Jefferson in vein |
of comedy in which ne would shine |
without a peer, and his performance
would be an addition to art. Edwin |
Booth would realize the highest antici-
pations of the severest dramatic taste
as Joseph Surface. Then you have |
Mary Anderson, who could be Lady
Teazle, with Miss Rehan, Mrs. Agnes
Booth and other ladies' to select from
in the parts of minor ladies'"
'Would you take part in comedyp"
81 would play anything" said Mr..
Barrett, "0liYer, Charles Surface or Sir
Benjamin Backbite. would be heartily
in sympathy with the Idea OF star per-
formsnce in which the stars should be
selected without regard to the parts
assigned to them. This was the theory
adopted in our Hamlet performance at
with what result the world
"Or if greater variety were desired in
the selection of a comedy, we might
suggest the Poor Relation, which would
give ten capital parts to star actors.
''What scene would the drawing
ROOM be il the School for Scandal, with
one hundred leading actors and act
resses on the stage, taking part in the
dance or in the various amusemAnts
and conversations that would blend in
such a tableau." /
The Stephens Opera Company met
the other night and talked over the pro-
iect of reviewing The Bohemian Girl
during the coming holidays; it was
resolved that three per-
formances should be given, two nights
and one matinee, with a later matinee
for the behoof of the Old Folks. The
chorus VIII number the same hundred
Il L., 4 nol