The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-29

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Dear Old Hal:
IT has been another week devoted to
the home product, and as is always
the case in Salt Lake the home product
has shown that it is equal to all re-
quirements. This time it has been a
return to light opera; to my mind, the
amateur talent Of Salt Lake was never
more charmingly employed than in the
days when Careless, then Stephens then
Krouse, got it enthused over Balfe, Gil
bert and Sullivan, and Suppe, and
turned out those well remembered pro-
auctions of "Pinafore," THE Bohe-
milan Girl Patience" 1.-The Pirates, -
''Iolanthe," "Fatinitza," etc. etc. This
week a new crowd, under a new leader,
revived the old Pirates" and showed
TO Salt Lakers that in spite of a hur-
lied preparation due to an anxiety TO
catch the fleeing holiday, and in spite
of a few lame spots in the cast, the
old fire and spirit are here, and enjoy
able operate presentations are as much
possibility as they ever were 1t is
remarkabl to note with what unfailing
regularity Salt Lake goes on furnish
ing, year after year, a new coterie of
bright young performers. A few years
ago is was Nettie Thatcher in Pa
thence who charmed the town; then
Edith Clawson, who was already an
actress, blossomed out into opera; now
it is Louise Savage who is on every
body's lips She was the hit of the
production this week, and her bird
like rendering of the famous waltz
song, as well as her natural and dainty
demeanor. have charmed all listeners
and beholders. She has been well sup
ported, too. that is, in the main Mr.
Goddard, at any time he gets tired of
his busy den in the Constitution build
ing, may enter the field of light opera
and double the very satisfactory
income he is now making There is
an aching void in the domain of opera
for the want of Just such singers and
actors as he. Miss Cooper too, has
the making of a most useful performer:
she is always true and correct in what
she attempts. Mr.. Downey was a clever
major general-after the first night
Really. Mr.. Downey, there was no ex-
cuSe for an old minstrel like you fall
ing down as you did at the opening
night. Lieutenant jerks. as & singer,
was handicapped by Lieutenant jerks
as an actor; his delightful voice. for
he has some charming. notes, couldn't
make me forgive him for not knowing
how TO make love to the gentle Saw
age. And that induces the reflection.
how stingy old Mother Nature is and
always has been in distributing her
gifts to our tenors. They have always
been able to sing but acting has been
more or less of a sealed book to them.
Nat Brigham in Sampson of Omaha
warbled like an angel, and acted-wen. !
he simply made no pretenses Bob
Easton rivalied the lark at heavens
gates in Thaddeus in his music. and
looked like he wanted to dodge all the |
While he was acting; even George Py- /
per who sang in Patience" 'The |
Pirates" and "Fatinitza." as only
George can. always seemed to do his /
love scenes under protest; but Georges /
voice and his legs covered a multitude /
of elocutionary sins.
1 could write a whole volume on that
bevy Of lovely girls. headed by Misses
Burke. Cotton and Smith, who made (
up the very animated chorus Their
first act for gaietv, hustle and chatter
has never been eXcelled by anv ANA
teur show. It was all most enjoyable.
in spite of some undeniablv bald spots
and 1 trust sincerely that Mr.. Peabody,
who made his debut as an oDeratic
leader, and the Young Ladies' Aid So
ciety, viii let US hear from them often
The new woman has come to the
Grand and the town is now engaged in
discussing her. I haven't had a right
down good opportunity TO Judge of her
my nrst allegiance having been given
SO entirely TO the home product at the
other house. and 7 want to see her in
something else before enter final iudg
ment- In the first two acts of a
Runaway Wife" I don't think I was
greatly struck: later on I found she
grew on me; her face is pretty. but
doll-iike; her head of hair wonderful:
her style rather quiet: next week she
viii do our old friend, Camilla" rein
carnated. and we shall then see what
we shall see. Young Mr.. Wyngate
again struck his audience hard. he
seems 70 he a coming man at the
Grand; may he in time he will make
the Grand patrons forget IngersolI.
MARGE