The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-05
ADJUSTMENTS.
"HELp THE ENEMY y


Gillette's mastery military play, "Held
by the Enemy" last seen here with the
author and other national favorites III the
cast, was presented by the Home Dramatic
club at the theatre last evening to a large
and enthusiastic audience. The drama is
so intensely thrilling thai it might almost
be said to ''play ITSELF in the hands OF any
company of even ordinary talent, at least
in such a manner as to escape severe crltl-
clsm- What it would be, therefore, when
interpreted ny our gifted amateurs, the
Home Dramatics. was foregone conclu-
sion to all familiar with their playing, and
with this truly excellent piece.
The principal roles were in the hands OF
Messrs. Wells, Spencer and Young,
Mesdames Clawson, Cummings and
Claridge, all of whom won fresh laurels by
their admirable acting. Mr. Wells made
handsome and gallant officer, and as the
brave and heroic Colonel Prescott was as
great favorite as ever with his audience.
Mr.. Spencer played Bean, the special
artist, (Gillette's part) with the vim and
humor that makes him ever the life OF
every scene in which he appears, while
Mr., Young as the chivalrous southron,
Gordon Hayne, the spy, was equally excel
lent. In his great scene, the court martial,
picion of treachery caused by his silence, he
| breaks in with his bold confession of guilt
and in fiery accents vindicates his patri-
otto position he carried the house by storm.
Edith ClaWson was a sweet and tender
| Rachel, and dressed and acted with eX-
qulsite taste Birdie Cummings, as Susan,
was as arch, neat and pretty as the part
demanded, which is saying much, and Lot
| tie Claridge made an excellent "Auntie"
to the two lovely confederate misses. OF
the minor characters, Messrs. Pierce,
Evans, Barlow and Clawson deserve spe-
cial mention, while the rest filed in accept
ably.
| The piece was well mounted and had
evidently been pretty thoroughly re
hearsed, though now and then a line was
dropped and the prompter had to come to
the rescue. The scenic effects were very
| good, and the military costumery and
equipments to match. A little heavier
cannonading n the third act especially at
the entrance of Col. Prescott, wounded,
and also just before the bursting of the
shell in that scent, would materially en-
nance the effect, which is capable of being
made thrilling in the extreme.
There were some faults in the acting, of
course. There are also spots upon the sun.
Doubtless to nights repetition of the piece,
which promises to be an overwhelming
conference audience, will mend most of the
defects noticed, but not here enumerated,
and smooth and beautiful performance of
one of the most thrilling and intensely in
teresting plays ever put upon the stage
may confidently be looked for
1.-THE MusKETEERs"
In the hands of any but the Bostonians,
we fancy the Musketeers would be a very
unlntereSting affair. The plot is the ven :
cradle one of two young men, disguised Us
monks who obtain entrance to a
girls seminary, intending to carry off two
''nieces OF the governor" OF course one
OF the boys fills up to the neck with-well,
this time it is wine, branded peaches, =
two bottles of Burgundy, and half gallon
of peaches, out of Mason's patent fruit
jar, which he brings on the stage. They
are just about to be run in, when it is dis
covered that the life of the cardinal
who is never seen, but plays the heavy
part of being talked about, has been men
aced by two Williams disguised as monks.
These prove to be the ones from whom the
Musketeers purloined the costumes, and
as they have kept the Williams under pre-
tented arrest until the plot has been IN
earthed, the governor rewards them with
the hands of his nieces and they
come on the stage with their musketeer
clothes on, and the orchestra begin tC
gather up their things. Shortly after this
the audience walk all over each other in
their extreme haste to get out. There are
several very beautiful pieces in the opera
Mr.. rockingham as the Able was very in
teresting. He has very little to sing, but
what there is he did excellently well. Car
lotte Maronda had very neat part, and
some good songs, which she sang very
nicely. Macdonald and Hoff, Julette Cor
den and Josephine Bartlett are as good as
ever. There was large and fashionable
audience present. The engagement of the
Bostonians has proved an artistic and
financial success.