The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-28
AmuSemGufS.

1t viii be a long while before an
audience more thoroughly satisfied as
sembles in the Salt Lake theatre than
was that which witnessed the perform
ance of "A Royal Family by Annie
Russell and Frohman's magnificent
company last evening.
The play is of the romantic school,
the same that produced The Prisoner
of Zenda" and other stirring romances.
Yet il is a crime TO mention MARSHALL )
comedy in one breath with any of it's
contemporaries 1t is pure comedy
like, atmosphere through which its
characters move. the author has
shrewdly sheathed the ~apier, and in
so doing has given The / Jrnantic stage
novelty and accomplished a triumph
in stage literature. It's scheme is beau
tiful and it's arrangement superb.
The character of the princess, con-
demned by a war cloud to marry q
prince OF another nation whom she has
never seen (as she suppOsesl. while
poses), is rendered by Miss Russell.
A manner less strained than hers and
woman of more personal charm you
do not often see on the stage. She
gave to the character adorable girlish
simplicity, quite out of keeping with
a princess. true, but absolutely essen
tial to the success of the play. With
particular nicely she carried the scene
wherein her father informs her of the
sacrifice she must make, that a royal
marriage is a sort of diplomatic treaty
prepared by the foreign Office" and
assures her that, never having seen
her betrOthed. she could not possibly
have the slightest aversion to the idea.
When 1t was all over, she sat down
and had a good cry-womanIike and
naturally. Even more enhancing was
her love scene, or scenes-it was plural
with the prince, who espouses his
own cause in the guise of a John Alden.
The most stalWart er1issary would
have fallen at her feet could the real
Princess Angela have acted so.
1t is hard to name the second player
in such a cast. The programme, as a
matter Of form, places Louis king of
most perfect, high-class comedy parts
ever written and If Lawrence D'Orsay
does not play it to a hairs breadth
nobody can Once in a while Mr..
D'Orsay brought to mind Henry Miller
in "GudgeOns." 1t was hardly a fault
but at such times he seemed too dis
unctly British to carry out a perfect
picture Of a mythical kingdom. 9th
ers of the characters failed to differ in
this regard from their monarch.
Orrin Johnson is the leading man
the prince. Don Caesaresque in ap-
pearance and quite as gallant, yet
lamblike in nature. Mr.. Johnson is
as handsome a lover as ever stepped
ton throughout is capital
w H Thompson, an old favorite.
who made a strong impression on local
theatre-goers when with Henry Miller
I in Sowing the Wind" was the great
and kind-hearted cardinal, who was a
deceptive old rascal when good could
come out of deception. His was a mas
terful presentation, although the actor
was suffering from a bad cold and had
not complete control of his voice
Mrs. G. H Gilbert, as Queen Ferdi-
. nand, the grandmother, gave finished
performance. 1t was this dear old
lady who cOnfided to the king, when a
weighty subject was under considera-
ton: When your father and I dis
agreed on politics-well. 1 assure you
he Passed a restless night" It was
patent that this was not an idle Jest.
Mrs. Gilbert looked and acted lust such
q woman Richard Sennett as the
young priest was admired, especially
for his splendid voice. Eleanor Stan
ford was a dignified Queen Margaret.
I without much opportunit and the
minor characters are equally distrib-
uted among capable people Last
nights audience was typically brilliant
and filed the house.
"A Royal Family will be given in
matinee this afternoon and tonight
closes the engagement.
Queen Mabelle and her maids formed
a beautiful picture. seated in the west
stalls They received an ovation from