Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-12


New York, Feb. l0.--'Way Down
East" which, rs its name implies is
study of New England life. is the initial
offering to Broadway audiences at the
Manhattan theater under the new man
agement of Messrs. William a. Brady
and Florenz Ziegfeld. Jr. The story of
the play IL n simple one, which Is told
directly and with very few side plots.
Anna Moore Is n young woman who
has been duped into n mock marriage
by a contemplate villain, who prompt
ly abandons her. The child. the result
of the union, dies, and with It's death
all hope of earthly happiness passes
away from the unfortunate Anna. She
subsequently finds home with Squire
Bartlett. who expects to marry his son
and heir to his favorlte niece I'm
fortunately for his plans the young peo-
pie care nothing for each other, and his
son proceeds to fall in love with Miss
Moore, who returns his affection. The
villain is meanwhile working overtime
paying attention to the aforesaid ia
vorite niece. At this point 1t begins to
look as though Miss Moore must soon
find husband which would naturally
bring the play to an unduly rapid close.
But right about here the trouble be-
gins.
Some one else has been good enough
to inform the squire of the somewhat
variegated past of the heroine, and he
turns her out. His son, being made of
the right stun, puts ON his muller and
starts out TO find her. Later on nearly
the entire cast busles itself with the
same laudable undertaking. There can
he but one result, and II II arrived at
In "'Way Down East" in pretty much
the same manner as In number OF
other plays. Virtue is triumphant. and
vice gets badly left
1t will require some time to tell wheth-
err or not Messrs Brady and Zlegfeld 8
first Broadway venture will prove q
success But, although they have bank
ed on 1t considerably, l understand that
they have several other comedies in
hand and that they win not attempt tc
secure run for any one of their pro-
auctions which does not achieve that
result by reason OF its Inherent strength
This is not only sensible determine
tion. but also an unusual one for man.
ayers of a broadway theater
80
Harry A. Du souchet. the talented
author OF My Friend From India" and
"The Man From Mexico" is very busy
=
Husband" one of the funniest faroes
have ever seen, was not quite satlsfac-
tory when 1t was tried in some OF this
smaller towns by reason of the fac
that II contained too many dialect
parts. Besides. the production was al
exceptionally bad one and the plec,
was In most respects woefully miscnst
Mr.. Du Souchet has completed re-
vision of this play. and 1t has been Sc.
cured by Messrs. Smyth Il Rice who
have been exceptionally successful II
the exploitation of the same authors
two former efforts. All of the dialect
characters have been eliminated. and
strong cast will be engaged for the New
York production, which viii be mad,
either during the latter portion OF tbs
present season or early next fun he
sides MY Wife's Step-Husband, Mi
Du Souchet is adapting farce from tn
French for Charles Frohmun and n,
is hard at work ON an original coined!
for Walter Perkins. the man through
whose efforts Du Souchet was suddenl!
transported from the desk of tele
graph operator on the New York Trib
une to prominent position among III
playwrights of America.
II was Perkins, 1t will be remembered
who succeeded In finding custome
for MY Friend From India" after tina
eNcruciatingly funny farce had lain fl
the authors trunk for 1--WE or six years