The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-04
James O'Neill Opens His En-
gagemert Tomorrow Night.
TWO STANDARD PLAYS.
s'sioNTE CRzsTo" AND SHERIDAN
KNOWLES svIRGINTUs."
John t. Kelly, the Irish Comedian,
Coming-Some Stage Mishaps-The
Home Stock Compapy'S Produce
ton of .sThe Black FIag'-Gosstp
of Plays and Players.

>
again. and unless the signs fail his
handsome, impressive face may be seer
at the theatre tomorrow night in the
play that has brought him fame and
fortune, Monte Cristo." Tuesday
evening Sheridan Knowles famous trag-
edy 'sVirginius'' will be given. Mr.
O'Neiu has done little in the legitimate
line for some years, but it must not
be overlooked it was in this field thai
he first attracted the attention OF the
theatre-going public. During ms en-
easement as leading man at H0ey 5,
Chicago, he appeared in many Snake
spearian roles, and grew high IN tne
pll,lie favor for this kind OF work
He has confined himself so long to the
romantic drama that his return to the
7eeitimate will occasion much interest.
Mr. O'Neilrs engagement lasts for
three nights, and the last nights per
Torrance will find "Monte Cristo' as
the bill.
Dramatic readers never tire of the
story of the original production OF
ssMonte Cristo." 1t was something like
ten years ago. Mr.. John Stetson was
producing a series of romantic plays
at Booths" then in its dying days.
1.-The Corsican Brothers" was being
PLAYED with Charles Thorne in the
lead. Mr.. Thorne is remembered as
one of the finest leading men America
has ever produced. Shortly prior to
the production OF Monte Cristo' Mr;
Thorne was taken seriously i'll and
died. Mr.. Charles Pang taking his
role during the remaining nights Of
THE Corsican Brothers" When Monte
Cristo' was put on James O'Neill was
given the leading role. Stetson, the
manager, is responsible for casting Mr..
O'Neiu in a part which he assumed
with such success that all America. has
epplauded for ten years. Mr.. -o'Neill
was just starting on a starring tour,
when Mr.. Stetson, searching fer some
ore to take the part intended for
Charles Thorne, was struck with the
idea that O'Neill was just the man.
After a year or two Of triumphant sue
cess under Mr.. Stetson's management
Mr.. O'NeilI purchased the play, and
has produced it ever since under his
own management
Friday and Saturday evenings of this
week, will be devoted at the theatre
to Mr.. John T. Kelly, the Irish coined
ian, who will present his play Melee
of Dublin" Mr.. Kelly has visited us
many times, and the time is yet to
come when ne will be received by any
lulHS save SlGC1ul laughter.
In Melee of Dublin Mr.. Kelly as
sumes the role of valet to Lord Nc
Tee, and in his lordship's absence the
valet impersonateS his master. The
situation becomes funny when the maid
OF an American heiress appears upon
the scene and passes herself off for
her mistress. The two frauds make
love to each other, each thinking he
or she the only imposter until the de-
nuen1ent, when valet and maid, in
their true light, continue their matri-
monial plans.
Apropos to the production of Monte
Cristo" at the theatre I am reminded
Of anecdote of our John S. Lindsay.
which, believe, as the advance agents
say. has never before been in print.
Monte Cristo" was the play and Mr..
Lindsay was the Count During the
prison scene the light is supposed to
be low. But as the green baize cut
tain was wrung up, or pushed aside,
Mr.. Lindsay, in the cell. discovered
to his horror that the six kerosine
lamps which formed the footligh1s.
were burning full height Hastily he
muttered 10 the orchestra, turn
down the lamps" But the orchestra
was running little trills upon the
piano, and heard him not Turn
A0Wn t4OSC AS4llS l4lC lliiulOi ldl JOlu
again growled forth. But the orches-
ira was deaf to all save the sweet mu-
sic Of its own piano. AT last the au-
dience grew interested in the light
question and lost interest in the lonely
prisoner wearing his life away in that
lonely cell. Various inquiries were
made to the orchestra, asking him.
Sey, why didn't he turn the lamps
down for the gentlemen. Bets were
openly made as to whether he would or
not. Finally the orchestra, returning
TO earth, realized what was wanted of
1t, and arising slowly took its hat and
deftly slapped at it and putting out
each lamp. The stage was left in
darkness; cropping his way to the
hrone Edmund Dantes supplied the
orchestra with a match. instructed
him how to light and arrange each
SaE1p, and then resumed his scene,
while the audience Numbered its de-
light, and the orchestra sullenly re-
eumed its seat at the piano.
But Lindsay is not the only great &C
tor who has suffered naishaps while
practicing his noble profession. Tom
nlaso Salvini in the February Century
relates a number such, one of which L
v,ll briefly quote.
He was playing the part of Oros-
name in Voltaires tragedy ''Zaire'' at
Bologna. The opening night was a
trying one, for lombard, who had
Just died, was favorite in the part,
and had left a, public ideal which could
not be effeced. Mr.. Salvini appeared
selad in a rich Oriental costume
The enthusiasm grew and by the
time the fourth act was reached Sal
yini was carrying everything with
him Reaching the scene where, sup
posing himself to be betrayed he bids
his friend to STAY the faithless ''Zaire,''
but before he departs, shouts for him
to stop" The balance 1 will quote
in Salvini's own words:
This stop pronounced with ex-
citement and with all the strength |
of nv voice, occaSioned the bursting
of the belt which held my flowing
trousers to my body, and slowly, slow |
1y. 1 felt these outer garments Slip |
ping down, down, until they rested on |
nv feeti What is left to say? II
was lCsti Because of the encumbrance |
I could not move; and yet I must in |
some way finish the fourth act If !
the theatre had .ah that moment fallen |
down about my ears, it would have |
been less of q grief to me- What could |
I do? I shuf17ed over. with little steps, |
and as best ] might, to the divan in |
The middle o. the stage, sat down. |
and catching up a tiger skin which /
was spread on the floor as a rug |
drew It over my body. The audience |
said not q word, uttered not the faint |
est nur7nur, cid not give the slightest |
sign Of hilarity. / could have kissed /
them all for gratitudeI Constrained to |
remain seated all the time. 1 finally |
got through with the fourth act 1 |
daave repeated this tragedy; but there |
are some who maintain that / could |
never again give that same scene with /
SO great intensity of rage and fury"