The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-26
The DR. anna,

AT last has Salt Lake had dramatic
discussion of it's very own. One could
hardly go a step last week without
hearing opinions of 1.-THE Sign of the
Cross" in every shade of tone from an
awed whisper to an excited statement.
Anyone who saw the play could not
help talking about it. and as the The
atre was filled to overfiowing at every
performance, there were a good many
opinions exchanged on the subject.
THE Sign of the Cross" is play OF
SURPRISING interest, but it is one which
uses horror for a drawing card. 1t ter
rifles, shocks, repelS and faScinateS-lt
attracts a morbid few, and aInusesi no
one. The secret of its success is its pc
culiar fascination
Clergymen are said to have endorsed
it-they have written testimonials eX-
pressing their approval. 1t seems to
me that these must have been secured
before the aforesaid clergymen left the
theatre while still under the spell, be-
fore reason had a chance to regain It's
equilibrium. After all, the plot resolves
itself into one idea-the power of
Christian maiden, as pure as ice and as
chaste as SNOW, over a prottigate Ro-
mana power sufficient to convert him
death. As far as the religious effect Is
concerned, the martyr idea is not very
popular in these degenerate days, and
religion in 1.-THE Sign of the Cross was
but another name for maTtyrdom. A
play which shows the beauty, the peace
of religion, might take the place OF a
sermon, but our last impression the
other night was of religion fed ID hum
CRY roaring lions. as amusement for the
TO.o,7 l1n q
and very much the best of things all
the way through. The scenes of diSsi-
patton were. repulsive in the extreme,
and did anything ever equal the nor
ror OF the torture scenes? AT every
performance, women, and not neces-
sarily over sensitive women, either,
were forced to leave the Theatre, SC
great was the shock to their nervous
systems. In fact, the only people who
were able to witness the play With any
thing like equanimity were those who
knew what to expect, and had SJeeled
themselves accordingly. The mission OF
the drama is either to, amuSe Or to ILL.,
struct Amuse it does not, in this case
and it is instructive only to those VINO
have no knowledge Of the sufferlnSs OF
the early Christians. AS far as beng a
sermon is concerned, it taught relig-
ion s tragedy, not its beauty; it showed
divine faith, but earthly triumph. If
the purpose of the play is that Of ser
mon. it is drilled into ones head SO Vlo-
lently that it comes out the other side
leaving only shock, and a sense OF
suffering behind. AS a drama, it is a
hideous nightmare, and as lesson 1t is
a failure.
The Grand returned to melodrasna OF
the extreme yellow variety last week
Lincoln ]. Garter is a genius in his lire,
7,;e live could he 1iSTNpnzaI With
without materially affecting the drama
as a whole AT the same time, there
seems to be people who enjoy this sort
of thing-who seem glad of an ocea-
sional chance to exercise their lungs,
and it is to this class that the Carter
melodrama appeals In the Maine dis
aSter he found a subject more fertile IN
thrills than any he has yet handled, and
was happy in the discovery, we can
readily believe. 1 beg to suggest to Mr..
Carter that Aguinaldo would be fine
subject for a sensational play, but /
should not be surprised TO hear that
the idea had occurred to him long ago.
The Grand will be dark this week. but
next week viii have d strong drawing
card in the shape Of the Rays in "A
Hot Old Time"
With a good speciality show on, the
Grand will seem natural again.
sweeping over the state, with an in
clination to verify the old adage about
always pouring when it rains. For
many months do we long for art-art
which is accustomed to the name, and
all at once we receive it from all sides
to the south Of us, to the north OF it,
and in our midst 1t is rather n new
experience to have an event Of impor-
lance occur in a. neighboring town, in
e.-G Of
but a small circumstance like this VIII
not prevent those who really desire 10
attend. especially when so much atten-
ton viii be given to the comfort of Wis
itors
The sudden announcement of the FL
lis company concert threw several other
plans for the same night into wild con-
fusion, but all seemed willing to make
way for the important event-a decision
which was wise, rather than phiian-
thropic. AS a result, Godowsl1y will
play to Salt Lakers in Ogden, instead
of Provo, By the way, couldn't that
new and wonderful telephone arrange
ment be worked, so that one, concert
might be given for the benefit Of the
three towns at once? It would save a
lot of time and trouble. VINO knows
Perhaps we may live to see the day.
How interesting an announcement
would be to the effect that Mr.. Piano
sky will give a recital in the state of
Utah. TO he held at Salt Lake City.
Tickets will be ON sale in all the lead
ing towns of the state. Reduced rates
have been arranged with the telephone
company. 1t would render life vastly
easier for the performers, as well as the
public.
The date for Rosenthal's engagement
at the Theatre has not been definitely
arranged as yet, but he will surely APP
pear here early next month. This, need
less to say, is one of the principal
events in our proud list of extraordi-
nary attractions, and is worth much
managerial effort to secure the inter
est and substantial cooperation of the
public.
Jsmes-kidder-W arde.