The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-24
AMUSEMENTSe
FRANCIS WILSON.


The number of shows that Salt Lake is
willing to yield up a dollar and half to see
is growing steadily ano surely Jess. but
Francis Wilson is not one of that rum Der.
He gives performance regal and magnifi-
cent in its character, and one cheerfully
pays the advanced rates to behold it, be-
cause one knows that the expense of bring
ing such company across the continent
must be treble or suadruple what it costs
the average attraction that plays TO q
dollar
1t is no fiattery TO say that Francis
Wilson is the foremost burlesque
artist of the day. He was accorded
the distinction of that title when he first
leaped into fame during the long run of
"Erminie' at the Casino theatre in New
York, and he fastened his hold on the title
when he broke loose from that place and
started out on the uncertain starring
paths for himself The money he has
coined in the Two or three years that the
country has been going into Mysteries over
his MERRY Monarch would start half
dozen national banks. Salt Lake saw the
opera or musical comedy for the first time
last night and 1t goes without saying
that the triumph accorded il elsewhere was
repeated here. The house was well and
brilliantly filled, though il was not quite
the crush looked for, and the reception took
on the character OF an ovation. Wilson
was hugely, screamingly, intensely funny;
his unbounded humor, his store of gags,
unapproached by that of any ACTOR on the
stage; his graceful dances, his comical
songs and his thoroughly artistic and
finished conception OF the merry king
throughout was all irresistible. From his
first hugely hilarious entrance to the final
moment when he wrapped his cloak about
him and prepared TO shuttle off this mortal
| coil, he was, to use his own words, zone
gigantic jag Of genuine joy" Everything
else relating TO the production was on the
superb order. For scenery, costuming,
lights and general briliancy of the stage
ensemble, we question ii the performance
has ever been eXcelled in Salt Lake, and
| the beautiful effect that closes the second
act has seldom if ever been equaled The
chorus is full, brilliant and tunefull Marie
Jansen's place is filed by a lively and
pretty girl, Miss Chaser, who though not
quite a Jansen, was a very agreeable sub
sutute. She had slight cold last evening,
but still got some warm applause. Mr.
Plunkets Sirocco was a fitting second to
Wilson's Anso " Miss Laura Moore,s
high and clear soprano was greatly ap-
plauded the little dsrkies stormed the
house, and all the other characters were in
excellent hands. The whole goes again to-
night, and the business will doubtless take
on boom.
WONDERLAND.
Judging from the gatherings and the en-
thusiasm evinced on each occasion the
| season of comic opera at Wonderland is
destined to be an enjoyable to its patrons
and a prosperous one TO the management
The work Of the entire company in 1.-The
Mascot" has been highly creditable, but. in
that the music and bright bits of humor are
infinitely of a higher plane IN "Mikado. t"
the weeks performance will be even mora
generously recognized and more heartily
endorsed. The cast represents most
excellent selection of skill and artistic
talent.
MORNING OF THE cRUcIFIxIoN.'
There is an increased attendance daily
of visitors to see the above celebrated pic
ture now on exhibition in the Gladstone
building on Main street. Among those
more directly interested are the clergy and
the artists, but it is a creation that must De
appreciated by ali who see it,