The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-22
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC
Making the Rounds of the New
York Theatres.
ATTRACTIONS OF COMING WEEK
q and IA Straight Tip-Yon Yonson-
Latest Dramatic and Musi-
cal Notes.

New YORK, Nov. g, 1S91.-As we lean
back on the cushions of our Pullman, and
begin tie too, too long jaunt back across the
plains, we heave Sigh of farewell to the
vanishing enioyments of the metropolis,
and summoning them up in sort Of mental
review, endeavor to decide to which of
them all we are indebted for the greatest
amount of pleasure.
Needless to inform readers of Dramatic
and Lyric, those enjoyments have all been
connected with the play house, No matter
what the errand that takes man to New
York, one OF his foremost thoughts is
what will be on at the theatres! And the
scanning of the morning papers and the
selection of some place of amusement to
spend the evening, is as regular a task as
the scanning of the bill of fare at the
breakfast table.
Our little Salt Lake party had rare
treat laid out for its delectation on the
morning Of its arrival. The "Alabama''
company had just reached home after its
western tour and had settled down at
Paimer's theatre for long, steady run,
with Just the same cast as
Salt Lake saw, except that Agnes
Booth had replace May Brooklyn;
Sardou's play of "Thermidor'' was on at
Proctor's. The new comedy of "Jane''
WAS in It's last nights 1T the Madison
Square; Solhern in the Dancing Grip
was at the Lyceum; the Men and
Women" company was over the river in
Brooklyn; Harry DiXey was struggling
with straight comedy at Herrman's; Gil
let's latest comedy, MIR. Wilkinsons Wild
ows" was running al Harlem; the Casino
company was engaged on the prevailing
craze, ''Cavallera Rustican2'; Belasco'S
Miss Hellyet,n with the celebrated or no.
torlous Mrs. Leslie Carter in the lead was
just opening at the Star; Cora Tanners
''\Nil She Divorce Him. was at Jim
kiske's old stamping ground, the Grand
opera house; Bill Nye's "Cadin was still
running at the Union Square picture it.
shades of Charles h. Thorne y; Francis
Wilson was still crowding the houses at
the Broadway in The Merry Monarch"
and last but not by any means least. Lillian
Russell was at the helghth OF prosperity ana
popularity at the Garden in Audran's new
opera La Cigale" Besides these was a
vast chry sauthemum exhibition at the
Madison Square Garden "a hall not unlike
the tabernacle in size and shape) and all the
minor theatres, museums and concert halls
were running at full blast every night in
Guiding Sundays, when they go over the
week nights eXercises-orgies. we had al
most said-simply by putting the words,
sacred concert at the head of their pro-
grammes. -5s
Nearly all the attractions in the list come
to Salt Lake next season, and perhaps g few
notes regarding them will not be without
interest We turned, of course, towards
LA cIGALE"
first but had to defer our visit till late in
the week, because the house was sold out
Tor several nights in advance. We found
the representation a sumptuOus feast of
beauty. Russell is, just as she has been
for ten years past, the peerless queen of
the light opera stage in this country. She
j. somewhat stOuter, but not a whit less
handsome than when she made so great an
impression in Salt Lake in "a Trip TO
Africa with Dutfs company. Her voice
is full, pure and true, and capable of
handling the music of much more ambitious
operas than the French. The German tenor,
Streitman, who made a hit in Wagner
opera is the lover in LA Cigale" He has
learned English in a lew months just for
this production, so you can imagine what
havoc he plays with the love scenes. His
voice did not impress Us greatly, and he has
not been the success expected. Our old
friend Iaglapletra turned up as a member
OF the far LIlllan's supporting cast; but
he, TOO, is out of place in light French
opera and when he and Streitman started
on the Queens English together, the effect
was somewhat comIcal Louis Harrison is
the comedy man, and he is given the
monopoly Of the stage TO create the laughs
o. the occasion. He succeeds good deal OF
the time-nOt always. II looked almost
as if he were going through series
Of experiments on his audience
with a view to ascertaining which particu-
lar set of gags and jokes it would do TO
adopt permanently. The production is i'm
mense In scenery, chorus, ballet aud cos
tune. Mr.. French, the manager who gave
Salt Lake the SILVER King and Little
Lord Fauntleroy'-and who by the way
paid your represeD tatlVe some greatly ap-
preciated attentiOns-put small fortune
into La Cigale'' before the curtain went
up, but be informed Us that the first two
weeks had brought more than half of it
back TO him. IL takes 3 to see Russell
all the other New York theatres charge
Sl.5O-aud spectators were selling seats on
the sidewalk from - to SIS the night we
passed them by Two dollars will be the
price everywhere, Salt Lake included.
FRANCIS WILSON
was far and away the best thing we saw in
the way of burlesque, as Sothern's HDanc-
ing Grip was IN the way of drama and as
Jane was in the way of comedy. Wilson
has not been seen IN Salt Lake since he
got beyond the bottom rounds in the ladder
OF fame, but here he is regarded as being
very near the top and no show travelling
to-day makes more money or gets bigger
percentages from local managers Wilson
is the one attraction that has been given
guarantee to come to Salt Lake next year
Mr.. Burton paying the railroad fare of his
whole company from the Missouri river to
induce them TO make US a call. Wilson
puts in five nights and a matinee,
and there Is no question as to how the
piece will draw. 1.-The Merry Monarch
&c the fnnnlaGf of oil rhincc f,p
chorus, scenery and costumes are of the
highest notch of excellence. Marie Jan
sen, who once captivated US in PATIENCE
and Madame Favartn with the lameuted
John Howson, is the leading lady of the
troupe.
THE DANCING GIRL"
Is one of the latest productions from that
perennial spring of genius, Henry Arthur
Jones, who also wrote 'tThe Silver King,
saints and Sinners, - Judah and 1.-The
Middleman." In 1.-The Dancing Girl',
Sothern takes about the brosdest leap
away from the Chumley line that could be
conceived. His part is that of penniless
duke, an old-young man, broken down
roue, cynic, sseptic, man thoroughly
blase and worn out with the worlds enjoy
ments. His reformation forms the main
theme Of the play, and his acting from first
70 last is revelation to those who have
only seen in him the ideal light or eccen-
trio comedian. Sothern is a bigger man
than his father, and before many years he
will be SO acknowledged. He is gener-
Gus manager, too, and the completeness of
the production could not be excelled at any
theatre in the land. Virginia Harmed, the
Dancing Girl-who doesn't dance except
outside the scenes-is the leading lady, and
a most capable support she gives the tai
ented star.