The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-24
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC
Effie EIlSler and Her Season at
the Grand.
THIS WEEK AT THE THEATRE.
Critic Sizes Up Some Well
Known Names.

Fife Ellsler, whose charming face is not
done justice to by the lithos about town,
appears in the romantic comedy of Egypt
at the Grand tomorrow night. The name
Of Effie Ellsler almost marks little epoch
in our theatrical history; when she first
dawned on US with Couldock and Plympton
in Hazel Kirke, the impression she made
was so vivid that the drama might almost
be said to have taken q new lease on exist
ence in Salt Lake, and for years nothing
in the domain of the emotional play could
be mentioned alongside of Hazel Kirke. The
prolific crop of 'Hazels'' that the last seven
or eight years has produced in Salt Lake
families GU ht to be the best standard for
guaging the popularity of the play, and Of
the lady who played the title role.
What Miss EllSlerS new play of Egypt is
like can be gathered from the following
words of a recent critic: "Those who were
fortunate enough to attend the theatre last
evening were no doubt surprised at the
deep and absorbing interest Centering in
Laura Don's play as brought by Efie
Ellsler and her excellent company. Those
who have admired Effie Ellsler in serious
roles should by all means see her in
Egypt 1t is a revelation, showing how
broad and comprehensive is her art. She
makes of this girlish part a delightful pic
ture, full of the charm of simplicity,
charm that has no equal, by the way.
The play is remarkable creation in
way. II introduces a dream that is prob
ably more original, and affording a wider
scope to the actress than any known to the
stage. Its characters are drawn from life
and are all good, and its direction is fire.
quently superb. There is a wonderful eli
max in the third act, where Egypt receives
the news of her fathers deate, but to speak
briefly, 1t is strong play, Astounding in
dramatic interest.
There is an indefnable something about
the humOr of Ellie Ellsler which cannot be
aught else but genius. 1t is as fitting as
will-o' the wisp, yet so tangible that you
almost feel its delicate suggestiveness.n
had never seen the household favorite,
as Miss Ellsler is endearingly called by
thousands of theatre goerS, in a comedy
role, and I went last night in accordance
with time-hOnored principle-neVer to miss
a first night performance if good legs could
get me there. | saw the ideal Hazel Kirke
in character so entirely new to her that
Hound myself applauding with all the fer
vor of a gallery god before the climax OF
the second act had been reached of Egypt,
or s Dau2 hter Of the Nile"
If Laura Don could look down from the
heights above and see her child so beauti
fully cared for, nurtured by the rare skill
Of Effie Ellsler, l haven't the least doubt
she would, with happy sigh Of content,
pass into the inner court from whose guar
dian spirit all the true genius comes, happy
that her creation has fallen into such wor-
thy hands.
Full of tender thoughts like the soul of
the mistress who created it, Egypt is a
poem that will bear repeated readings, and
in the skilled hands of Efie Ellsler its
beauty shines with the radiance one might
expect from such a gifted and intelligent
woman.
The coming production of the Daughter
of the Regiment, by the Stephens Opera
company, is exciting more anticipation
even than the performance of the Bohemian
Girl 1t is high flight for a company of
amateurs to attempt Donizetti, but if any
crowd of local singers can achieve it,
Stephens can. Following is the cast:
Tonic Mr.. Easton-
Suilpizio-- Spencer.
Ortens.o ---------- Mr.. White.
Maria Edith ClaWson.
Countess Viola Pratt.
The chorus of vivandieres, all in new
regimentals, will be a strong feature. Mr..
White has charge of the stage, Mr.. Stephens
will lead ain person." and Mr.. r. R. Irvine |
has control of the business arrangements |
In the meantime Stephens companion |
company, comprising Mr.. Piper, Mr.. God |
dard, Bessie Dean and Miss Thomas is
working away and will follow soon with a
production of Martha.
Tuesday night, Harry Kernelrs new
speciality company, which has just played a
big engagement in San Francisco, comes to |
the Theatre, where it will doubtless play to
the house that in Salt Lake always vel |
&c If eNy-f Nh,
company Jumped from New York to San |
Francisco, and is probably high class one
of its kind, as it classes Salt Lake among |
'the only small towns played by US"
Tne new English dramatic critic OF the |
New York Herald, for the importation of
whom Mr.. James Gordon Bennett has been |
somewhat berated, has made the rounds OF |
the New York stock theatres, and lays |
down his views in rather an entertaining |
manner. All the names he uses are well |
known here, and we make some extracts |
from his article:
NV subject is the relative merits of the |
New York stock companies, with regard to
which find much misconception exists.
Ask dozen men or women youmay meet
in town which of these companies they
think the best, and what will be their
ansyergThe odds are, nine or ten will unhes-
will doubtless tell you Palmer's, while one
will probably award the palm to Frohman's.
Now. without pretending to Pope Leo's
infallibility, l beg to differ from the great
majority. Mr. Days company has had
much adulation. II has been proclaimed
another Coincide Frdncdise. 1t has been held
up as a finer than any company in England
Its proud pre-eminence in this country has
been so often proclaimed that it may seen
bold to risk contrary opinion. Yet ''great
is truth Et prcuoi5bit. Why should mot
speak my mind!
A careful study of the three stock com
NAMES we boast long since convinced me
mat Mr.. Days bad been overrated. Not !
nat I d eny its worth. In certain plays it is
in America. But individu-
,lIv its members are inferior to Mr.. Palm {
sr's artists. while collectively their work {
appears to me far weaker. The Lyceum {
Company. with all its real talent, has not ]
Vet earned a right to be seriously, pltted
against either It lacks the ease and enSem.
bic of the ore. the strength and finish OF
the other. If any doubt this let them com {
pare the work done by the rivals in 'Ih9
Tanning of the Shrew,' captain Swift :
and ''Sweet Lavender Can Mr.. DAILY !
show US anybody comparable to Mr.. Stod-