The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-22
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC
Francis Wilson Five Nights
This Week.
WHAT WILL THE HARVEST Be
Story OF the Merry Monarch ''-Rhea's Sea
son-Theatres During the Worlds
Fair-Royle's Play-Notes.

tuaG the theatre Will enter upon tomorrow |
night Francis Wilson was booked for five
straight nights at increased prices without |
change of bill over a year ago when things |
theatrical like things commercial were on !
the hum Theatrical business ID much |
quleter now than then and Wilson, one of |
the very biggest of all American attrac-
tons, is the best possible organization that
could be had with which to test the public |
pulse, to determine in fact whether, as
Al Hayman thought after the Davenport
season, Salt Lake is more nearly a week
than aone-night stand The opening with
out doubt will be tremendous; what the
closing will be we shall watch with good
deal of interest
The status of Wilson'S organization in
the amusement field is 100 well known and
recognized to need any especial common
dation TO the play patrons of this city. For
many years Francis Wilson has held un-
disputed his place at the head of comic
opera comedians, and as leading member
OF the famous McCaull Opera company and
the New York Casino company, he won
such pronounced favor that three years
ago he organized his own opera company,
ana began his career as manager aud star
under the most prosperous circumstances.
In that time he has made four productions,
and the most popular of these was THE
Merry Monarch" The operatta was first
given in August, 1890, the Broadway, in
New York, and 1t was al once received az
the best and most elaborate production OF
its kind ever made there The liDretto is
oy j. Cheever Goodwin and the music by
WoolsUn Morse The story Of the opera
relates 10 the fluctuations of an East In
dian monarch who when about to begin
the ceremonies OF public fete, at which it
has been the custom to put a culprit to
oeath before the eyes of the popuiace, dis
covers be is without q victim. His sub
lects have been so annoyingly peaceful and
harmonious that the Jail Contains no
Offenders of any description. When pom
derlug over this predicament he meets
Young peddler of perfumery named Lazuli,
who having been crossed in love, feels so
indignant at the kings cross-eXamination
OF him that he hits the royal Uranium a
sounding whack, ignorant of course OF his
questloner's identity.
His highness is delighted, for by this Of
tense against the crown the youth has
merlted the death penalty. So King Anso
summons the people and proclaims to them
that victim has been found and great re-
! Jolclng prevails until the royal astronomer
enters excitedly and imparts to him the
| information that by peculiar coincidence
Lazuli's natal star and that of the king are
identical, and by the lawso of astronomy the
life Of the king is totally dependent on the
| bodily safety of the peddler. OF course,
the fete is postponed, and every precaution
| is tnenceforth taken TO preserve Lazul's
1 life Dy the most careful means. The chief
incidents Of the opera are supplied by the
! complications arising out of the trepidation
Of the Merry Monarch, - whenever Lazuli
gets into danger, which he does so often as
to keep Anso in constant turmoil of ex-
element
The musical features of the opera are
numerous enough and melodious enough 10
please everyone. Wilson, as the king, has
particularly good entrance song, entitled,
Pm a King, with a Capital K and
when l Was Child of Three" "The
Song of the Stars" and the turtle-dove
duet, Love win Find the Way" are each
sure to win the heartiest favor
The company is composed of Miss Laura
Moore, Miss Lulu Chaser, Miss Nettie
4 Lyford, Miss Cecile Kissing, MIR. Charles
Plunkett, Mr.. Gilbert Clayton, MIR Thomas
Guise, MIR. w. E. Steiger, Mr. Benjamin
Joslyr and others of lesser prominence
The production here will be made on pre-.
cisely the same scale of magnificence as in
New York. All of Henry E. Hoyt's beau
tiful scenery and entirely new costume,
will be displayed. The music viii be under
the direction Of SigDor a. De NOVellis.
The wide awake managers of the coun-
try are turning their eyes toward Chicago
and laying their plans to capture the coli
OF the visitors to the Worlds fair Tht
fortunate ones have already signed con
tracts controlling the attractions of tn,
principal houses, and the New Y ork Jour
nal says they expect TO amass larg,
amount of wealth by their foresight anG
shreN dness.
Manager Askin, for 'The Tar and th,
Tartar has rented Hooley's for portion
of the period, and Augustin Days com
} pany will be seen there. Burlesque will
: probably be the bill at McVicker's. Able,
and Grau win do a speciality at the Audito
rum on as grand scale as that huge plac
of amusement, introducing the famou
Shaffer troupe OF acrobats as a specia
: feature Sol Smith Russell has time a
the Grand, and as the comedian is as close
listed as his manager, Fred Berger, the,
will carry away at least inety- nine De
cent of their share.
Negotiations are pending for revival OF
Thomas Q. Seabrooke's isle of Cham
pagne," which will be seen there also in tn
; immediate future. The Columbia will b
devoted to the interests of Al Hay.lan an,
the Frohmans, presenting such plays a
they may control. Henderson, of course
will deal in the gorgeous and grand in spec
tacular burlesque. M. b. Leavitt's ney
Savoy will be opened in time with a Co
lumbus spectacle Hsverly will cling t
bones and banjo, with the prospect of hay
ing new theatre for dramatic productions
The more conservative of the manager
have come to LOOK upon Worlds fair ex
l biDit as a rival show of overwhelmin
strength, and do not join in the roseat
views OF the enthusiasts. They point t
the previous fairs, particularly those O
Philadelphia and Paris, and state wit
truth that at first theatrical business wa
paralysed by the gigantic competition
This they account for by the rush of thu
ritf-raff, who early rushed to the exhibition
l cited.
On the other hand, they concede that af
ter this irruption was over and the bette
class of patrons began to gather, theatrical
prospered and phenomenal business re
quilted. The early corners either wen
! broke on their transportation and the sight
Of the town or the exhibition. 1t is yer
, certain that they were not theatre-goers.
/ Professor A. G. Smyth has been invites
to deliver lecture to the members of tn
Teachers institute at the next meeting c
, that organization on Saturday, May q
l at IL a. m. in the Utah university. Tn
y purpose of this lecture is TO demonstrat
I the advantages of the Tonic Sofia systeI
for imparting instruction in vocal music
school children, showing how readily
can be accomplished by teachers, and ho'
easily it may be taught to pupils. A gel
9 eral invitation to attend the meeting
extended TO all interested in the subject {
:, vocal music and public school instruction
U The system has produced almost an entil
revolution in the method of teaching voc,
music in England; it is taught in nearl
all the public schools there, consequent
there are millions of people in that countr
now able to sing understandingly from tt
a Tonic Sofia notation, and it is presumab]