The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-12

Last week was quite interesting in
New York heatricals-unusually so for
this end of the season. Mrs. Fiske
opened at the Fifth avenue theatre in
'Magda,' a play which has been done
by the most famous actresses of our
time. 1t is a gruesome piece of dra-
matte writing-one of the kind of plays
which presents unrelieved suffering and
misery from start to finish; but
through at Mrs. F'iske mas mounted an
other round on the ladder. She is said
to have given a mastery Interpretation
OF the role, and fairly created a sensa-
ton among the critics, most Of whom
dislike the play. but all of whom ac-
knowledge the wonderful art of the ac-
treSs. Mrs. Fiske is probably the great
est American exponent of the new"
school-she is absolute mistress of the
expression of suppressed emotion, and
whatever she chooses to do, is given
serious consideration at the hands of
the pencil brethren Her return to the
stage a few years ago was one of the
greatest events in this generation of
the DRAMA fact Immediately recog-
niZed by her portrayal of Tess of the
d Urbervilles.'
Somewhere in that bright future,
when the west becomes sufficiently in
of art, we Will also be permitted to re-
ceive a revelation from Mrs. Fiskes
acting, as well as to see the other stars,
whose glories we now know only. by
hearsay. OF course, there is no need
for them to undertake long and tire
some tours. when the large eastern
cities afford them all the support they
need, and no one can blame them for
it, but it doesn't seem quite just to the
world outside.
The other notable production Of the
week WAS that of The Kings Mus
keteer," with e Fl. Sothern in the lead
ing role. Needless TO say, this YER
sion of Dumas celebrated sJory of
THE Three Guardsmen' is fully up-to-
date in the Sorge0usness Of its produc-
ton, for the success Of play greatly
depends on that nowadays. Then, too,
Sothem is d great favOrit5 in New
York, ana, as q 'Artagnan, has charmed
his admirers. He interpreJs the role
in exactly the way one would expect
him TO do-and a very different way
il is from the other d 'Artagnans that
have been seen from time to time.
This was one Of the f2yoTite roles Of
the late Alexander SalVini, who was
restless and daShing as one could de-
sire. But Sothern gives the role a
subGued, quiet Interpretation, at the
same tine lacking none of the spirit
necessary TO u romantic hero OF Du-
mas creation. Of course the play is a
thriller OF the most extreme descrip-
ton, but these melodramas of the good,
old-fashioned sort are vastly more eX-
hilirating than the highly colored af-
fairs Of contemporary creation. The
principal reason is that the latter take
on The semblance of reality, of actual
happening. while these old-costumed,
romantic affairs are more like fairy
tales. which interest US. and even hold
Us spellbound. but which we ever re-
alize are nothing but fairy tales.
The Kings Musketeer' is divided
into twelve scenes or tableauX, each
one mounted in gorgeous fashion,
which follow one another in very quick
succession. Mr.. Sothern's supporting
company is a noteworthy one. and con-
tains many names without which the
list of Sothern's support would sound
unnatural. Morton Selten is Louis
XII. and received most excellent no
tees for his work; Edith Crane, who
toured the west in "Trilby," is Countess
de Winter, known as Miladi; Kath-
crime Florence is the maid with whom
d Artasnan falls in love. known in the
different versions by various names,
and in this one called Gabrielle; Re
becca Warren, who was such & great
faVorite in Salt Lake in the stock days
at the Grand, plays the part Of Anne
of Austria" and is said TO look very
handsome and every inch a queen"
She, also, has been favorably men
toned in all the notices.
Altogether, with the scenery, cos
tunes. cast and Sothern. THE Kings
Nusketeer" is one of the noteworthy
events of the season. and viii. doubtless
have long and profitable run. Sothern
is fortunate too. to be first in the field. !
for tomorrow night James O'Neill and
the Liebler company will present sgd !
ney Grundy's version of the same story
at the Broadway theatre. Blanche
Bates Will be Miladi in this version.
Coming after Sotherns big hit. Mr.. !
O'Neiu has no easy task before him (
II looks rather ike New York was in
for an overdose of Dumas and his Mus
keteers.
The third event of the week which
created comment. was the opening of
the Victoria which Oscar Hammerstein
has presented to New York.
Hammerstein stands unique among
manageable is regarded as the most /
stubborn, the most eccentric, the most /
ambitious of them all His misfortunes (
would have crushed the ambition out /
of five ordinary men, In the six thea /
tres which he has built UP to the pres
ent time. he has sunk over 50, 900, 900. |
and today he does not even own the