The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-05

stand and walk gracefully, or how to
make appropriate and consistent ges-
lures when singing, it matters not
whether she comes from Fifth avenue,
or is just off the bounding prairie
Especial Correspondence
New York, Nov. 29-The works of Ian
Maclaren are to be crowned, as those
of J. NJ. Barrie have been, by dramatic
presentation. Already rehearsals have
begun upon a new play entitled BE
side the Bonnie Briar Bush,' the ma
terials of which are taken from DR..
Watson's three books. Kate Carne-
gle" Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush"
and 1.-THE Days of Aud Lang Syne"
James Macarthur and Tom Hall are
the joint playWrights, and the drama
tization bears the direct sanction of
the reverend author himself. DR.. Wat
son has no scruDles on the subject of
being responsible for a stage play"
and has even expressed his regret at
Torrance of Beside the Bonnie Briar
Bush, which is to take place shortly
On this side of the Atlantic.
When the idea of such a play was
first laid before New York managers"
said Mr. Macarthur, they were genu-
inely surprised. and extremely doubt
full Indeed, when the subject was men
toned to James A. I1earne, author of
Shore Acres that distinguished au
thor-actor Ioundly declared that a sue
cessful dramatization of Maclaren was
utterly impossible, their tone being too
gloomy and depressing Nevertheless,
we went to work and wrote the play
It did not have to wait a single week
for a backer Well known mana gers
jumped at our effort, and prophesied
that it would make q thorough going
hit. AS d result, preparations for the
production are now under way: the
veteran J. H. Stoddart has been en-
gagged with other talented people for
the chief roles, and the scenery is being
painted.
1.-The play, although taken from three
distinct books, keeps a continuity of
plot throughout, and follows very
closely Ian Maclaren's lines. In fact.
lovers of the Scotch writer's works will
find scarcely any departure from the
characters and doings of the old friends
they have encountered in Kate Car
negie,' Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush,
and The Days of Aud Lang Syne.
Instead of being gloomy and depres-
sing l may say without Boosting that
the play is full of humor. Of course
there is Dathos too: but the two ele-
ments are combined in about the same
ratio that one finds in the stories of
Dickens. Dickens has yet to be de-
scribed as depressing
The motive of the drama lies in an
exclamation of Kate Carnegie, that
two love stories run through The piece
that of Flora Campbell and Lord
Hay, illustrating the inability of rank
to mar love, and that of Kate Carnegie
and the Rev. John Carmichael, show
ing loves victories over the barriers
of religion The sprightly Kate Car
negie is the actual heroine of our play;
but Flora Campbells sweet, pathetic
personality will, perhaps, give to that
character the greater human interest.
"a list of the characters will give an
idea of the scope of Beside the Bonnie
Brian Bush and show how nearly we
have kept to the original works of DR..
Watson. Our dramatis personnel is as
follows:
Dr. Mcclure, the Drumtochty ply
siciaa.
Lauchlan Campbell.
General Carnegie.
Lord Hay, FlOra's lover
Rev John Carmichael, lover of Kate
Carnegie.
Jamie Soutar, the station master.
Tomkyns, the factor, or land agent.
Tammas. a rustic Tswain.
Dr. Westervelt, a London physician.
Kate Carnegie.
Flora Campbell.
Margaret Howe of Whinny Knowe.
Annie Mitchell, SWeeth.
Children, villages. haymakers, etc.
IAN excellent quartet will sing
Scotch songs at different points of the
drama: and it is our pride that these
songs are not dragged in, as in so
very many plays, but occur naturally
and with consistency. Nothing can be