The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-28
Salt Lake City. March D.

JuieS up! II the walls of the ole
salt Lake theatre could speak, 1 don
suppose there is any play in the Who'll,
range Of dramatic literature that they
could tell more interesting remin-
lScences about than this dear old ro-
nance Before there were any walls
around the theatre. back in the early
9Os, The Lady of Lyons" had been
an oft-told tale to our pioneer audi
ences- The Social hall had seen it
produced many and many time and
old-timers still talk eloquently of that
hrst night rendition when Jim Fergu-
son was the Claude, Mrs. WheeIock the
Pauline, Phil Margetts the landlord,
John L. Game the CLAWS, II. K. Whit
ney the Deschappelles, John D. T. Nc
Allister the Colonel Dumas, David
Candland the Beauseant, Mrs. Cooke
the widow and Mrs. Coray the mad
anne The first foreign stars to play
the piece in Salt Lake were Selden r.
win and his wife, and later it was pre-
scented by the immortal Julia Dean and
George Waldron, supported by the old
Deseret stock company. 1t was one of
the favorites of President Brigham
Young; indeed, every theatre-goer of
early times had tender feeling for it,
and as 1 saw the enthusiasm Mr..
Skin er's delineation caused Wednes-
day afternoon I thought the feeling of
the pioneers must have been trans
mitted to this generation. Certainly
it was the best thing Mr.. Skinner gave
us during his stay. His Shylock left
a great deal to be desired. perhaps be-
cause we had seen Booth, but his De
Grammont was very lively and deli
cate piece of dramatic portraiture.
Looking over a dearly treasured
book the other day, The Personal
Memoirs of William Charles Macready,p
I came unexpectedly across a reference
to the birth night of Bulwer's Lady of
Lyons" 1t seems that he first called
it THE Adventurer," and that later
its name was changed to the present
title. The references are so interesting
that l quote them here. The year was
1898, and the queen referred to, Victoria,
who had then been on the throne
wear. The Dickens mentioned is, of
course, the immortal author of Pick
wick, who was a bosom companion of
Macready. The announcement Of Bull
wer's authorship was made by Ma
cready from the stage some time later
than the dates given in the extracts
from the diary.
January 5-Bulwer called and talked
with me about the play. l went over
the last act with him. He told me of
the work upon his hands; his industry
is astonishing
February 3-Received a letter from
Bulwer with the title of The Adven-
turer," but when l saw it written down
| would not consent to it. Read, and
with great attention, the new play.
Told a story TO the children. Read
again my part of Claude Melnotte.
Jones the tailor called about my dress
February 9.-Acted King Lear pretty
well: took pains but was not equal TO
myself on Wednesday. Bulwer came
into my room at the end of the sec
ond act. l sent him around to a pri-
Vate box, and he returned to me at
the end of the play. Expressed him
self in very warm terms upon what he
STYLED nv gigantic performance;
talked about the play, with the ar
for which he seemed well
satisfied.
FEBRUARY 15-Went to an early re-
Nelnotte in Bulwer's play pretty we'll; /
he audience felt it very much and |
we're carried away by it. The play |
nd the acting were completely success
iul; was called for, and leading on |
Hiss Faucit. was we'll received. Gave /
VIZ the play. Forster, Kenney, Bart
ey etc, came into my room.
February 17-Read over part of the
,iay. being anxious to play well as l 1
Dull ta
pretty well: was called for; led on Miss
Taucit and was very cordially re-
eived Bulwer came into my room
M expressed himself much pleased;
ffered to give his name whenever |
night wish it.
February 1S.-Settled with Marshall
he scenery for Coriolanus which I
hink will he very striking. Wrote
o Bulwer about his proposal of last
light. He called and giving me full
,ower to act on my own judgment
eenaed not TO wish his name to be pub
shed until further experiment OF the
days success had been made. until
thursday. I resolved to wait the
Fhole week.
March IA violent love letter from
ONE person who had seen me in Mel
otte.
March 3.-Acted Claude Melnotte
cry well. The queen came in just
fter the beginning of the last act
ord Conyingham sent word that the
ueen would come to see the whole
lay on Tuesday and wished Bulwer
D know it.
March S--Bulwer came into my room
nd seemed very much delighted with
he success of his play. He told me
&, message he had received from the
ueen full of courteous expressions TO ,
i'm about the play and wishing him ,
} communicate to me how much she !
as delighted with my acting Brought I ,
ONE my Coriolanus helmet to accus- ,
I'm myself to it. Jordan, Dickens, {
ulwer, Blanchard and Forster came !
ITO my room
At the Grand. Miss Bateman as that y
cry vivacious gypsy Carmen. has
zen revealing what wealth of con- /;
saled possibilities are locked up in !
or; Mr.. Kyle and Mr.. Edwards have J
sen assisting her admirably, and the
'wn has quite taken on a mild Car
en- craze. ,
Next week both temples of Thespis t
e to be desecrated again. cali it f
othing short of that-by the re-advent 8
the pugilists. But 1 suppose both may :
called members of the profession /
ON r>ais on. Poor Booth felt what S
adornment of his art such accuisi- :
ms were. You remember that when =
e news came that Corbett had whip
d Sullivan he exclaimed, Thank
I'd. the championship has not gone c
! af the profession
MARGE. s