The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-23
PIETY AND PLAYERS.
A Morning Performance Of
t'Judah' is Given For
THE BENEFIT OF THE CLERICAL
Profession-The Clergymen Came, Saw, and
Were Comparatively Enjoyed the
Piece, but With Proper Gravity.

[Special to THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Dispatch.l
LONDON, Aug. % BY cable to the New
York Herald AT the Shaftesbury theatre
yesterday afternoon was given a perfor-
nance of Judah for the benefit of the
clerical profession. On no other occasion
within the memory of the Oldest inhabitant
had SO many clergymen been seen walking
into real theatre to witness real play.
They walked into the theatre by hundreds
some brISkly and with the air of having
been there before, others hesitaJinglv as
if not quite sure of the propriety of the
step they were taking. Some were alone,
but by far the greater number were accom-
panied by ladies'. The clergymen were of
all ages and nearly of all denominations
They filed the boxes, stalls and balcony
and some were content to sit in the gal
lery. All had came upon invitation of Mr..
Willard, who desired to convince them in
the easiest as well as the most practical
way, that well conducted theatre is by
no means a bad institution. The stiffness
could not have been mere pronounced had
the theatre been empty When Lady Enc
made her entrance Miss Hatton must
have quickly observed that she was not
p lying to an ordinary audience, though it
ION became evident there was no lack of
human nature in it though it did not man.
ifeSt itself at times in the conventional
manner, for obvious reasons.
AS the curtain fell at the close of the first
act the applause was general and very
warm. Then it was it became apparent
that large proportion Of the audience
were not play goers. Between the acts
there was so little conversation that the
orchestra must have been pleasantly
shocked. There was an air of greater free
dom than had been noticeable in the first act
in the applause with which the second was
welcomed. The scene between the minister
and Vashiti, in which the former Confesses
his love for her, was applauded with in
tense earnesJness, and laughter was evoked
by the wildly enthusiastic manner in which
Juoon PralI proposed to Miss Jopp, and
young lady accepted MIR. Prall, was quite as
earnestly applauded. There were bursts of
merriment from all parts of the theatre
while Prall, ir., was commenting in cold
bloodsd, untilial manner upon the conduct
and attainments of Prall, ST. Nor was the
| laughter less hearty which followed his sug-
gestion that the father would simplify mat
tiers by departing for another world.
The audience acted like all other audi
ences in tesS;fying in the burst of tremen-
d6us applause to its admiration of Lady
| Eve in the dream scene at the conclusion OF
| the play. In response to demand that
could not be denied the curtain was raised
fixe times. Even this did not satisfy the
audience They wanted speech from Mr.
Willard, and were so earnest about it thai
they found their tongues. Mr.. Willard
1stilled the storm by coming to the foot
lights.
He was much gratified," he said, ''by
the manner in which the play of his fellow
actors and himself bad been received by
such an audience as had never been seer
before in the theatre. Twenty-eight years
ago such an audience would have been i'm
possible. To his invitation to the clergy hi
had received twelve hundred replies. Onl.
eight clergymen had refused to attend thu
4 performance. They gave their reasons
and he was bound to admit they had givel
them so plainly they could not be misun
dcrstood." And the audience laughe,
heartily.