The times., 1897-11-30
NEW PLAYS AND OLD.
'sThe salt of the Earth"


"The Salt of the Earth"
Charles Frohman launched another Fuc
cess AT Tie Columbia TheaterIa last night. 1t
is a new play, tThe Salt of the Eartll," de
scribed as country comedy by Joseph
Arthur, who won his spurs With Blue
Jeans" 1t is certainly of the country, but
it is not merely comedy. There is sweet
pattos and sinister tragedy as well. Within
its compass is Kaleidoscope OF dramatic
genre, farce, melodrama, comedy, senti-
ment, even music; roars, tears and Kisses.
There is conspiracy between author ard
players 10 awaken all the emotions Of the
audience and keep them alert from the
first curtain even to the last. Emotion is
not merely an fnclindtion to weep. il is
something which awakens all the faculties;
stirs love, hate, fear, regret, hope and de
light without asking why; response to
an impulse These were al stirredby Mr..
Arllur's play and the cornpany's per
furmance. 1t was an incontrovertibe tes-
timony Of the influence OF the play how
unanimously tile crowd laughed, then in
Stantiy al the signal OF the actors denote
nient lapsed into silence, or broke into ap
plause,
The play is asrousing dra amatic potpourri
which begins fortissbDo and presto. There
is a retard into sentimental pa ssage at
the end of the first act, hut the swift
motion and loud tone bring down the cur
tain and subsftle no more until the end,
save ANOTHER brief suoment in the fourth
act. If there is anything Impossible or
Improbable IN the play, IL didn' occur to
the hearers, for SO fast did point, incident,
situation and climax tread upon one an
others heels that none remained long
enough fer the analytical 10 get acquaint
ed with it. 1t was as swift as the vita
scope, and one could only carry away in-
pressions, not convictions.
One Of the most defined impressions Of
the piece is the charm whisl Annie Rus
sell alv avs brings into play III which she
appears. Other Impressions are OF a fine,
noble here verify, the salt of the earth
as portrty ed by Theodore Ba bcock; a nos
at all Impossible old farmer, with an inter
mittent memoI V, a s played by George VIII
son; less possible, but none the less de
lightfui old town character, richly elabo-
rated by George Denham; thumb arm
hole villain, with d diamond studded, frill-
ell shirt front, whom the animal instinct
of the most primitive community would
suspect and shun, given with all the con
sistency the part permitted by Frank Ian
ders, a group cfother types; an unmistaka-
ble flavor Of provincial patriotism; and
bold. lurid dGsfes OF local color.
The Salt of tie Earth" alludes TO the
sterling character of an Indiana plOagii
boy Mr.. Esbcock), who loves Ann Annie
Eusselli. the daughter OF the farmer y ith
the intermittent memory. There are two
adycnturers nom New Orleans, Lea hers
Frank Lander and Cynthia tAlice Fisca r
and the latter has married AIMS father to
secure possession OF his oil-stocked farm.
Tom, the plough boy. is an adopted son 10
MAY. the farmer, and by the terms Of an
unliquiAated debt the farm should 90 10
| him. Ann and Tom struggle toward each
other, and Leather and Cynthia 10 . II in
their power to keep them apart. This is
| the play.
Mr.. Arthur has exercised fine qua Il Y
OF ina gination and ingenuity III conlur-
Ing situations and dea ling with them. HIS
play has the motley aspect of A luilt
which is made up Of all sorts OF specific
| dramatic scraps, but they have Consist
| ency, they are contiguous, they build by
sustained interest to climaXes and Justify
| themselves in the enthusiasm they inspire.
Not all Of the effects are prod lcel I,y
| dramatic m>ans that an artistic drama tist
would pin his fame 10; the passions oftener
| than the Judgment of the audience espe-
cialiy Of the upper tiers, is aPpsaicd to;
| but he authors answer to oall criticism % n
| easily be the temperament of his aqd 'ence
If he has others 10 compare with that Of
last night The play needs large anu
| impressionable audience, a stimJlaut 1t
! probably win not lack.
The stage management was good. md
FOR that Mr Roberts acting of a monde
| script hit may be forgiven. Mr. Babcock
| Mr.. Deuham, M Wilson, Miss Ru ssen, and
| Miss Fishel We're admirable at all times, al d
made ii success for M Arthur which
material whit inferior would have de
terioraUed to something very ike failure
| His play needs good acting: with il he
can argue his case with judgment foi
his points.
The laughter and silence throughout the
| evening, together With the sincere curtain
calls after each act, We're sufficient indi-
cation OF the seal Of approval set IN che
| production. 4 gallery packed mostly With
noisy boys took il into their heads or had
it placed in them to demand d sPeaeh Of
the author. This only occurred To them
after the discreet and spontaneous appla lst
had suhs'ded. Mr Arthur ro osponded vi n
a palpably impromptU effort whicl
strengthened any waver.ng opinion on he
question Of curtain speeches.