The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-29

ThS complete bill at the Salt Lake the
atre was something that is bound t
happen at intervals during the season
so it affords no occasion for a lengthy
dissertation. The Grand was sayeC
from a week Of darkness by the return
OF the Ministries. Two classes of amuse
ment, II they are good at all, Away:
find favor with Salt Lake audiences
ministries and light opera. So thS
black-face people were encouraged Il
come back TO save the week, to their
own profit and tEat Of the house.
The New York Herald OF last Sunday
contains an interesting controversy be
tween Clement Scott, the celebrated
English critic. and Israel Zangwill, au-
thor of Children of the Ghetto" Mr.
Scott accuses the author of lack OF
reverence in his play, and says that
the comic allusions TO the Messiah and
other sacred names are such as 70
cause great offense IN any mixed au-
oience. Let me tell Mr. Israel Gang
will says AIR Scott that we need not
al! be born Hebrews to respect the Old
Testament which we call holy writ,
and which Gentiles throughout the
world reverence as The Bible" He also
objects TO the inr reduction of solemn
Hebrew prayers and chants which are
gogue in the play, and also TO many
sacred and impressive rites, such as the
rabbi aftired in the white death
shrolri, blessing his daughter He
Cams this to be as much a violation
81 taste TO mixed audience as the re-
citing OF the 'PateT Noster" would be.
Some years ago il was quite a fad in
plays which exploited children to have
them recite Now | Lay Ne" and il
never seemed right with the glare of
the foUtlights, the painted faces and
surroundings which were exaggerated
and unnatural. 1t was supposed to
touch a note of realism. but it usually
touched emily the Earring note of bad
taste, and showed a desire to cheaper
sacred things for the purpose Of ap-
plause. Clement Scott says: Mr..
Zangwin win probably claim that the
Objectionable phrases We're necessary
for the realistic portrayal of the sub
ject in hand. But there is point at
which art draws a very strong line in
deed. The painter knows it; the dram
atist ought to know it. Pursue this
realistic argument to the breaking
point, and we shall have the stage del
uged with verbal filth and vocabulary
offal of the Seven Dials."
Mr.. Zangwill makes a satirical and
vigorous reply TO the remarks of his
fellow countryman and fellow worker.
He claims that he has, with very few
exceptions, been the victim of unfair
treatment in this country from the
newspaper people, and that Mr.. SCOTS
displeasure was wholly the result of
a desire to be shocked. He compares
the effect of his own play on Mr. Scott
10 that of 'ZaZa." He says in his sar-
castle way: Really your anxiety to
be shocked by Zangwill and not to be
shocked by 'ZaZa' is profoundly touch
ing" Mr.. Zangwill claims that so far
from shocking good Jews by his allu-
sions to their religion. Jewish ministers
have spoken of this play from their
pulpits and have advised their congre-
cations TO see it. He goes further and
says: incidentally let me say that To
me the stage is as holy as q pulpit. as
any in cathedral or synagogue. There
Is no reason for separating life into
fragments. Wherever an honest man
stands. there is holy ground"
Mr.. Zangwill's habitual egotism is
rather inclined to prejudice people. as
was the case with Allan Dale, the Jour
nal critic, who took great offense at
the fact that Zangwill's own picture
adorned the souvenir programme. In
this reply TO AIR. Scott he does not
cOnfine himself strictly to the contro-
versy in hand, but takes the opportun-
lily to score all who have taken the lib
erty to disagree with him or have not
admired him and his work. Also he
shows an inclination to argue about
trifes and to notice insignificant de-
tails
Israel Zangwill is a brilliant man and
probably had good reasons for saying
an he did. aside from any irritable in
clinetlon to answer back" At the
beginning the article explains that in
writing he breaks the habit of life
time for he has never before replied
TO a critic. Perhaps he thought best
to embrace the rare opportunity to the
fullest extent. If the Herald had given
him space he might have paid up all
the scores Of years past. Still. in. spite
OF The prejudice Zangwilrs egotism is
sure to create, the mention of 'Zaza'
in the controversy keeps the fact before
oar eyes that a display of religious
fcTVor upon the sGage--of religious Gus
toms and Impressive rites-will never
do the harm that a display of immor-
alitv and vice can effect. The use of
prayers, chants, etc. for stage pur-
poses may be incongruous in the ac-
ceptance of the stage nowadays. but
when the use of vice for stage purposes /
is brought in as a comparison, there
Is no argument as to which is prefera-
BILE
Clement Scott has many of the ele-
j
arguments against the use of religious
forms. but it is point for the audi
ence to decide. and Zangwill is not
without Justice in his claim that
man who liked "ZaZa' is not the prop |
cr person 10 object to the religious vein |
ic a play like Children of the Ghetto.
The presence of Mir. Scott on this SIDE
of the water has given rise TO much |
speculation. Ever since his celebrated !
bombshell about the immortality and I
of the Stage.it is rumored /
that his professional life in London 1
has not been entirely agreeable; hence I
his desire to leave the tainted and |
musty theatrical atmosphere for the /
purer. fresher air of America, where /
the stage is on the upward path and !
where the york IF reform is not neces-
sary, Mr.. Scott. thus far, has been eX-
cessively polite 70 American plays and I
players-so very polite, in fact, that it
occurs to a person to wonder whether
he is irving 10 secure the ground under
his feet as a preliminary to his real
work. He surely must have come with
a more exciting mission than to laud
the American stage. Or if he must
praise. let him seek out those who both
deserve and need encoura cement. and
not devote his time and talents to the
needless task of making the noun
tains higher. Beaping praises upon
established favorites like Mrs. Fiske,
Maurice Barrymore and John Drew is
not going to be of material benefit to
he American stage. If he would seek
)ut some of the talented. but poor. IN
known and unappreciated actors and
ell the pupils about them. he might
10 US and them some good and make
lis visit 10 our shores one to be CRATE
'Gly remembered.
Mrs Gilbert's Birthday.
The New York Herald tells Us about
!, little scene at the I.yceum theatre in