The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-12
TT THERE was a Utahn in that grea

II 2 THERE was Utahn in that greai
big audience at the Salt Lake the
atre last night whose heart did not
beat just a little faster from pride, il
was because he had some unreasonable
unnatural grievance against his state
and people. For the incentive was
there. A drama was evolving on the
stage of the famous old house-a play
of heart interest, noble sentiment and
thrills, the work of q Utah boy. on a
subject dear to many and interesting
to all, set in all the grandeur of mod
ern stagecraft, made possible by Utah
wealth, and capitally. acted.
1t was the premier performance OF
"Corianton.
Orestes q. Bean of Richheld, Utah,
has produced a great play B. H. Rob-
erts gave him the germ. for from his
pen came the storiette of "Corianton.
Alma's wayward son, and the best
speeches that fell upon the ears last
night were lifted verbatim from that
story James H. Lewis brought to-
gether and trained the company that
gave life to the manuscript And,
finally, but second in Importance only
to the play itself, Joseph Haworth gave
life to the character of Corianton-
lay a 01CaL 0uCCCccs
BY the audience last night, which
was more representative than fashion,
able. and notable for the number OF
interested church members who sat in
it, 'COrtanton" was pronounced a huge
success Play and players were re-
ceived with the genuine enthusiasm
that betokens. not the Willing away of
couple of hours in amusement, but a
deep. sincere interest and a large
amount Of pride in an enterprise which.
the public considered. merited their
looked upon the thing from various
st7ndpoints. The rehearsals of the past
i've weeks have been open TO the few.
and scarcely at any time has much
been said of ''Corianton" that was de-
rogatory. But those premedita tions
were idle The production surpassed
expectations 1t came upon the public
with overwhelming force and sudden
ness that literally took away the
breath.
In situation. for climax and for ac-
ton. 'Corianton" is great In its
dressing. the scenery and costumes. it
is superb. In literary merit il is less
sometimes downright bad-bft there is
a remedy for that within easy reach.
1t needs but few strokes of a scholar
ly pen. and the work will adorn any
Sketch of Plot.
Corianton. as is quite generally
known in this community. was a way
ward son of the Prophet Alma, leader
OF the Nephitish race whose history
predominates the Book of Mormon. In
the play, which follows very closely
the story by Mr.. Roberts, the first act
is taken UP with the conversion of
Corlanton to his fathers faith. an
event that is brought about by the
tragic death of Korihor. the anti
Christ. at the moment he defes God.
Alma and his sons go into Zarahemla
10 convert the Zoramites. There Corr
anton becomes the guest of SeantI1nl.
whose ambition is to rule the land OF
Iarahemia. The Nephitish mission. if
successful, will be fatal to his scheme
and he plots to ruin it He sends for
Zoan ze Isabel. a notorious woman.
VINO. by her cunning and her beauty.
ent1ces Corfanton into a night of revel-
ry- He drinks freely, and while the
earousal is at its height. Seantun
sends cries abroad with the message:
Behold. the Nephite prophet comes TO
teach us holiness, while his son makes
merry the night with IsabeI.'
Warning of Corianton.
Shiblon. the righteous son. wakes
Corianton out Of a drunken stupor and
warns him against the havoc that is
being brought about but Corianton
VIII not heed the warming until il is
too late. After discovering that he
has been the victim of her falsity, he
has terrific scene with Isabel. who