Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-28

Adj season we were treated 10
war between rival versions OF Du-
mas The Three Musketeers." and
now we are In the throes Of a life
and death struggle between two plays
based upon Henryk Sienkiewicz's great
novel "Quo Vadis" In order 20 UNDER
stand the conditions existing IN this
city with reference 20 "Quo Vadis' IL
Is necessary to go back a bit. Some
years ago. when the Polish author
wrote his story, II attracted much at
tentl0n IN this country. Wilson Barrett
was at the time making q great deal Of
money with his "rhe Sign OF the Cross, -
which 20 say the least, was startlingly
Ike "Quo Vadis" and II was because Of
this matter Of comment along the Ri
alto that no enterprising dramatist had
made a play out Of the Polish writer's
book. "Quo Vadis," II must be remem-
bered. was uncopyrlghted In this coun-
try and SO was free as the air 20 any
one who chose 10 use IT, Everybody
however, seemed 10 think that the work
was one which would not lend itself 20
stage purposes. and the success Of THE
Sign Of the Cross was one Of the most
frequently put forward arguments why
a dramatzaton Of "Quo Vadis" would
fail to win popular approval, the idea
being apparently that Mr.. Barretts
drama had exhausted whatever demand
there might have been for dramas Of
that sort
stanlslaus STANCE, a young man who.
before ne fell 10 writing comic opera
librettos, had given 70 the stage some
really excellent plays. was not In ac-
cord with the general opinion concern
Ing the stage value OF "Quo Vadis." He
concluded to make a play Of It, and In
due course the piece was ready. II IS
rumored that the young man found it
more difficult 10 place the play than 10
write H. but, be that as Il may, r. c.
Whitney. whose fortunes at that partic-
ular juncture were at a somewhat low
ebb, decided 20 make a plunge on the
STANCE play. This he did in Chicago
some months ago. and since that time
Mr.. Whitney has had little 20 do except
count his profits. The play was an
enormous success from the box office
standpoint and few performances were
given al which the attendance was not
limited solely by the capacity Of the
theater Immediately after the Whit
ney production there began 20 appear
divers announcements Of forthcoming
stagings OF "Quo Vadis" IN every por-
tlon Of the country. Many Of these
were crudely built plays which sought
70 profit by the reflected glory OF the
STANCE Whitney experiment Some Of
these enterprises managed 10 make a
little money, but most Of them were
short lived In the extreme.
Meanwhile Miss Jeanette L. Glider
q literary woman OF considerable repu-
tstlon, had secured from Henryk Sien-
hewicz formal permission TO dramatic
his novel Backing was found for the
venture, time was secured az New
York theater and a company was en-
gagged. Prior 10 this Il had been an
nounced that the Whitney-Stange play
would open IN this city next fall for a
long run. When Mr.. Whitney learned
that he was 70 be forestalled by the
authorized" version. he hustled about
and succeeded IN having his play book
ed at the New York, theater which
has hitherto been identified with mu-
steal shows, during the performance Of
which the auditors have been permitted
and even encouraged 10 drink and
smoke. Whitney so far certainly had
rather the worse Of II. To a greater eX-
tent still dld this seem to be the case
when the cast for the Glider play was
announced Edward Morgan, the lead
ing man OF the DAILY theater stock COM
pany, was given the role Of Petronius,
while that OF Vinlclus had been assign.
ed 10 John Blair. the young man who
earlier In the season had created some
thing OF q sensation IN q series OF mod
ern literary plays al the Carnegie
lyceum. Mr. Whitney's Petronius was
Mr.. Arthur Forrest an actor Of some
little reputation outside New York. and
his Ninlclus was Joseph Haworth, an
excellent performer. who. despite the
really fine work he has done from time
20 time, has never been able apparently
70 obtain q firm artistic foothold IN New
York The Glider people, In view Of
these things, seemed to have the better
Of u.
on the other hand, whitney had a
company which had been playing Tor
months, and II was therefore 20 be eX-
pected that he would be able 10 give 4
smoother acting version, at least az the
opening performances. The Glider peo-
pie unouestionably had the upper hanc
with reference 90 suitability Of theaier
and a frantic effort was made 70 get The
version on az the earliest possible mos
ment IN order 10 do this Il becam'
necessary 10 induce a company whlcf
had time al the Herald Square 10 close
ifs engagement This doubtless co.I
something For some days, however j
was a toss up as 70 which 'Quo Nadis