The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-20
ADJUSTMENTS.


THEATRE TONIGHT.-The opening of
/ the pioneer series of theatricals. con-
corning which 50 much has been said
and written, occurs at the theatre tonight.
The players of 30 and 40 years ago will
/ be out in strength. and nothing in the
whole Jubilee list of entertainments will
be more interesting than their reappear-
ance IN the Charcoal Burner" the
Macbeth music and the Family Jars
farce this evening. Phil Margetts says
the rehea-sals have progressed most sat
isfactorily.
The first of the mammoth Jubilee con-
certs VIII be given at the tabernacle this
evening. MusNcally speaking, the princi-
ton OF the pioneer ode by the choir of
I0O0 voices. the singing of Viola Pratt
Gillette and Miss Jennings, and the ap-
pearance of the Denver Ladies Quartette
I but the musical interest is in consider
able danger OF being swamped by the Gu
rlosity over Utah, and her maids of honor
slowed upon Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan the
concert opens at $50: no reserved seats
will be sold. and no encores will be all
lowed, so that the public may get out in
time to enjoy the marvellous street dis
play.
JOSEPH SMITH.-A curious gathering
which filed about one-half of the Iv-
ceum auditorium. came out to see what
sort of play the author had succeeded
IN making out of the life of joseph
OLlltH Probably there was more sur
prise than anything else felt after Il was
all over; for despite the great length of
the piece, its decided preachiness and
some lud.crous mishaps, one in the first
representation and the smallness of the
stage, there was still a great deal in the
play TO commend and TO entiUle il to
respectful hearing II is written entirely
from the Mormon standpoint and Jo-
seph Smith. who IS on the stage almost
constantly is little short of deihed while
al VINO oppose him are made vipers and
nends of a description that caused the
shudders TO run down the auditors backs
The play is nothing but a series of the
dramatic episodes of the Mormon DroDh-
cts career; the prologue shows his visit
rom the angel Moroni; the next act
SHOWS him in the hands of a mob which
starts 10 tar and feather him heavens
lightning interposes and battles them: the
next SHOWS him as a general. and in an
act too long. the actor delivers almost
verbatim the celebrated speech Joseph
smith rendered just before his assassin
atlOn, the last act shows the death of
the two brothers. and the wounding of
John Taylor. The play is set in heroic
almost grandiloQuent cast and the ac-
tors rendered ii in a STYLE tragic 10 =
degree. Many of the Sentiments. and
much of the language was undeniablv
striking. and the actors were ali above
the average seen in cheap houses. Mr.
HoSmer, the leading man, and the Others
had DrodigiouS role. which he knew
none too well. If he would rant less he
would be more effective. Miss Ross. who
played Emma, was acceptable and
Charles Elder, cast for both Joseph
Smith. ST., and Mehains, the apostate
was vigorous. The actors who essaved
the roles of Hyrum Smith Willard Rich
ards. the angel. John Taylor and James
Arlington Bennett. Were equal to their
surroundings The growing of the cock
IN one OF the solemnest moments of the
piece turns il into the ludicrous. and it
should be dispensed with while other
music than The Wedding March should
be selected for the thrilling episodes.
m
improved upon for an Incidental selec-
ton, and the gentlemen of the mob. who
value their necks. should fall away from
the curtain line when Frustrated by light
ming. We shall not be surprised if the
play attracts great deal of curious at
tention before the week is out