The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-26

Time flies, and progress is one of
the laws of the age 1t may be. slow,
but it is sure and the end of every de-
cade will show change-not always
an Improvement. perhaps, but always
a progression.
In the space of ten years. conditions
change. ideas change. and consequently
demands change. What was most
popular some years ago is. liable to be
neglected and forgotten now. The
public is proverbially tickle in it's
tastes, and while il sometimes will
countenance a revival" it must be in
accordance with up-to-date ideas of
extravaganza in dress and setting
otherwise the end of the nineteenth
century will have none of it. Dramatic
art is-a phase of our civilization which
attracts much attention, and more and
more space is continually devoted to
its aims and accomplishments.
There are advocates of the modern
drama, and advocates of the ancient,
those who believe in the theatre as an
institution of great commercial value,
and some few who still regard the
drama as a fine art. Large sums of
money are juggled with every year in
the theatrical business. The risks are
enormous and there is seldom happy
medium. Great gains and great losses
are characteristic of the profession.
The people of today are extravagant
and the managers indulge this taste to
the widest extent. When a play is
revived, it is not in the style of its
first production, but every effort is
made to have it as gorgeous as posi-
bic. The public likes handsome velvets
and satins. magnificent furniture, etc,
even if the master Shakespeare furn-
ishes the text.
Audiences of today would hardly
give their patronage TO a threadbare,
shabby production of Romeo and
Juliet or "The Merchant of Venice
or "A Winters Tale" 1t would seem,
when one reads descriptions such as
the stage representation of the chariot
race in Ben Hur," that there is a
movement on foot to prove that the
impossible can be accomplished by
means of brains and dollars. in the
mimic world. a few years ago, after IL
had been decided that it would be inn
possible to give an adequate represen-
tation of Ben Hur" inside a theatre,
the Kiralfys proposed to lease several
acres of ground on Long Island. and
give outdoor performances with un-
limited space, and natures own ac-
cessores. Now, the production is to
be given on the stage of a moderately
sized theatre. with the chariot race
anu ali. ny VI
chanical devices.
Some plays, as nearly as we can
judge, viii live forever. Some, a
glorious success when first produced,
drag out a few years of existence by
means of ingenious devices for at
tracing the public. When, "Shenan-
coah'' was first played, it was the
sensation of the season. In those days
the first-class eastern companies
crossed the continent, and the whole
country was talking about Bronson
Towards great war drama. That was
at time when war was thought to
be thing of the long ago. and over
forever in civilized countries. Since
our recent war with Spain. the spec
tacuiar school of dramatiSts has been
kept busy with plays like Remember
the Maine" etc, but as yet we have
no dignified drama founded on the diff
ficulty- 1t is still too recent AN oc-
currence. We must wait a few years
until its dramatic incidents viii be
sufficiently remote to be utilized.
Secret Service" and The Heart of
Maryland" are good war plays of
recent construction. but have been
refegated to the use of road" COM.
panies and stocks. Shenandoah" has
been revived. not as drama, but as a.
spectacle. 1t is doubtful whether, it
would succeed nowadays purely on it's
acting merits, although a fine cast
might do something with it, 1t is old
and time-worn. in lines and situations
and lacks the finesse, and the realism
of our later dramas. Since "Shenan-
doah'', was written, the tone of
dramatic writing has changed con-
siderably-we are now in the natural
era. and every effort is made in the
higher order of plays to avoid theatre
ca'isan and ranting. Shenandoah as
a play now seems theatrical In a
4 . - = 4 a.. l..
spectacle, is a different proposition. 1t
contains opportunities for scenic war
effects which are quite unparalleled.
asid as now presented. it is constructed
solely TO appeal to rampant patriotism.
The red, white and blue, is again used
as aSdecoy for Patronage The. down
stairs portion of the house sat quietly
through the performances. 1t is the
galleries that howl and want to see
more. and still more. Of General Phil
Sheridan on his horse. surrounded by;
northerners and rebels, who alike
wave Union flags at the fourth rise of
the curtain. ~
Hysterical patriotism does not make
good citizens. an5 these same gallery
gods would cheer as Justify at Lincoln
]. Carriers approaching train scene
AS war spectacle, Jacob Lifts
Shenandoah is a wonderful achieve
ment, and the battle scene was realistic
ana fSlrTiHS- a. play, II IS out OF
date. A war play" is very fascinating
TO the average audience, and there is
no more fertile theme for dramatic
representation. Ali things considered,
however. physical comfort included.
the most satisfying war plays are those
which do not present the actual scene
of the conflict Plays of real fire and
smoke should be reserved for season
able outdoor productions.
-------
Madeleine, or the Magic Kiss.