The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-27


HOW we grow Our astonishing pro-,
many things, but in nothing moro than the
matter Of the patronage bestowed on
smusements. Only short time ago the
theater people thought that opening the
house against circus or a concert In tue
tabernacle was sheer folly, and so it was.
In the old times theater versus circus
meant that there would be just about
money enough taken in at the former to
pay the gas bill, if the gas were kept
turned down low. Two nights during the
past week one of the biggest circuses in
the land played against Evans and Hoey at
the theater; the circus was full and the
theater did way ahead of the average bust
ness. A short time ago the choral soctety's
great June festival came off and Thursby
and Whitney were imported from New
York to head the event. 1t was all
''whooped up' for the greater part of
year and Manager Burton. who had Rol-
and Reed booked against it, made prepsra-
tions to go down into his pocket for a lump
sum varying from one to three hundred
dollars. But, 10, when the night came and
the receipts were counted up, it was found
that there were over five hundeed
dollars in the house despite the
big gathering at the tabernacIe. All of
which facts go to show how our popula-
tisn is growing, and to illustrate the truth
that there seem to be plenty of people now
adays who care neither for circuses nor
concerts.
We greatly fear that friend Bill Nye has
not hit the New York fancy hard with his
new play. OF the first presentation last
Monday night the New York Herald says:
1t was not comedy that we saw last night at
Inl0n Snnlra Thaptra nlfhOnOh he lie co
styled 1t. 1t was q very clever written dia
logue monoogue for the greater part divided
Into three paris for no reason that could dis
Germ, unless It was to give the orchestrr an op-
portunity to earn its salary. 1t might have
gone on like q Chinese play without annoying
the man who works The act drop. There is but
one change of scene. and thai is not essential
TO the dialogue.
There is but one part although there are q
number OF people. and capable artists too, in
the cast; that part is the Cadi an Individual
who lives somewhere in tn c woolly west where
there are Indians and ladies with Fifth av nue.
costumes. This individual is judge, an editor,
the postmaster ard the holder OF all the local
Offices. Such people do exist.
1t was not necessary for Mr.. Nye to go to Wy
oming to find them. There is one over in Wee
hawken. For that matter all country towns
have them.
Mr.. Thomas @. Seabrooke impersonated the
Cadi and kept the audience amused despite the
hot nights. thanks to his own drollery and Mr..
Edgar quaint lines. Were it not for Mr.. Sea
Nye's play.
There was plenty of humor in the dialogue
good, clever, bright humor-but absolutely no
action, no situations to point the jokes.
An endless chain of witty sayings is all very
| emusing-for a little while, and then 1t pals.
When the third part had come the audience was
nearly bored.
Then came the hit of the evening, q catchy
song, written by Mr.. Braham and sung by Mr..
Seabrooke, called the 'Prodigal SON.
1t put us all in good humor for Mr.. Nye's
little speech at the end. in which he modestly
stated that the cadi was but representative OF
himself in earlier days.
There was gushing army officer in the per
son OF Mr. Eugene Moore, Harvard student
disguised as an Indian for no good cause i'm
personated or rather grunted by Mr.. R. J. Duss-
tan and three extremely pretty girls, common
sensed dressmaker, a fiery schoolteacher and
forlorn orphan, who made the stage attractive
whenever they had a chance to come on and do
anything.
TNI,a&