Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-28

A breeze from Arcadia, page from
che early English poets, something o.
me atmosphere of Zenda, constantly
occurring touch of humor that sug'
casts Gilbert must have had hand II
nrenarlng it-think of all these things
and YOU still have the merest sugges'
,ion of Marshall's delightful play, "A
poval Family add to Them the
thought Of an almost perfect cast
headed by q little woman who Is an
artist to her finger tips, and you have
an idea OF the rare repast TO which
brilliant audience sat down at the salt
Lake Theater last night
Probably there has not been an audi
ence within those walls for many sea-
sons that knew less in advance of what
II was going to see, than the one In
question People generally who keep
posted on Eastern theatrical events
knew that "A Royal Family had been
one of the successes of last season.
and that Annie Russell was the princl-
pal feature in It, but as to what the
play was like, there was almost com
pete ignorance. The rarely dainty
story, therefore, came in the nature OF
a complete surprise, and at first there
was not the warmth on the part of the
audience which the actor so earnestly
longs for, and It may have given rise
10 the feeling on the stage, that the
audience was disappointed. Nothing,
however, could have been farther from
the truth, unless 1t might have been
in the case OF the heavily thronged gal
lerles, whose habitues probably had a
dim notion that they were going to
behold something on the swash- buckler
order, and who doubtless failed TO APP
preciate the keen and delightful humor
with which "A Royal Family" Is crowd
ed. Down stairs there was the con-
stantly ripping merriment the quiet
laughter and the occasional bursts that
told of the highest enjoyment
Miss Russell, who has not been seen
here for fifteen years, Is everything
that has been proclaimed for her. She
has more than grace, more than mag
netism, she has a soul, and the soul
speaks out from her dilated eyes In ev-
cry line she has to utter, and every
situation In which she is thrown Her
powers over an audience are simply
astonishing. and even the most ordin-
airy lines Of the author when uttered
by her do not fail to chain the atten-
ton OF her auditors. She was simply
an exquisite dream throughout, and
looking at her even after the lapse of
Is to IS years-years which have stood
almost still with heroine easily gees
what rare Elaine she must have
made In the days when Tennyson's
dyll was staged.
Every figure around Miss Russell Is |
IF the rank that Ats her own; Orrin |
Johnson, handsome and manly. was the |
deal prince Victor and the love scenes |
between him and Miss Russell were
,harmingly reminiscent Of the best |
work we ever saw done In Romeo and |
Juliet or Rosalind and Orlando
That rare actor w. II. Thompson,
contributed another piece Of fine work
n his delineation OF the cardinal, and |
lear old Mrs. Gilbert, who was recog-
lized with hearty burst. the instant
he stepped upon the stage, was at her
'ery best In the part OF the dowager
ueen.
Mr.. DOrsay's king was great piece
4 aristocratic dellneatlon, and Mr.,
BENEFITS young priest was fine in.
lance OF acting
The staging was admirable and few
hings have equaled the brilllanoy OF
he final scene where the ambassadors
I various nations assembled TO witness
he betrothal.
The audience was an immense one,
nd pretty feature OF II was the en-
rance OF Queen Mabelle, sovereign OF
he carnival, and her big cluster of
laids. They received a round OF APP