The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-11

evening, DemOcIdJlc CAJy COA-
= vention.
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THE theatrical promises for this
week are very much better than
the fulhllments Of last. At the
Salt Lake theatre we are to have two
more musical comedies. Musical come
dies, by the way. seem to be coming
IN punches. We haven't had much Of
anything else SO far this season. Some
Of them have been worth seeing; others
have not. but on the whole, some fair
amusement has been furnished. in
The ChaperOns' and THE StOrks, ~
both of which have met with success
elsewhere, patrons of the Theatre
should be well entertined-
Only two big shows are booked for
this week at the Grand. Either will
be well worth the price of admission.
The first is the Republican city con-
ventiOn, which is scheduled for Thurs
day matinee and evening. On Friday
the Democrats viii give a similar per-
Torrance in the same house, matinee
and evening. Both performances viii
contain good deal of tragedy for some
people. but for the disinterested spec
tator there won't be much except pure
comedy.
An interesting discussion has been
started by the New York Dramatic
Mirror as to the advisability of return
ing 10 the old S1.50 and down prices for
first class theatrical attractions. There
is here plenty of room for argument.
IT has been said. and with some jus
tice, that people don't object to paying
s. for seats if they get 81 worth Of
enjoyment out of the expenditure. That
is. the price really makes very little
difference If the goods are worth the
money.
The trouble is that we get entirely
too many s. shows that are not worth
more than S1.50 at the most. Some Of
them would be dear at ST. Again, there
are many mertOriOus attractions that
nobody objects to paying $3.50 to see,
but against which legitimate protests
might be made If the first class price
were charged Managers seem TO think
the popular estimate Of their shows is
cheapened when they cut their prices
for the best seats below 81
To some extent this Is probably true,
but the same managers would make
very much more money at Sl.5O than
they are making at s.. Fifty cents is
"a lot more money than some people
seem TO think. -Four people can see
a performance at $3.50 that only three
can see at s.. 1t is worth something
10 manager 10 have a big audience.
Big audiences are almost invariably
more enthusiastic than small ones.
ia q large audience. even though the
performance may not be first class.
somebody viii find something worth
upplaudinE Applause is much more
Immediately contagious than any dis
ease known 10 medical science. When
the man on the second row hears the
man on the first row clapping his
hands he is liable 10 clap his own
hands. though often ne doesn't know
exactly why ne is applaUdng. Small
audiences are disposed 20 be more dis
eliminating.
Little matters of nice detail are too
often neglected by theatrical compa-
mics. Some of these omissions were
glaringly noticeable i'm q production at
the Grand last week in Buried at
Sea" In one act a great ball is I'm
progress. The women and men are
wearing evening clothes of course. but
the hero walks i'm in street attire
There is nothing to indicate why he
should be so CARRIED.
Again. when the burial is pulled off,
though presumably il is i'm the after
noon, the men wear evening clothes
and the women wear high mourning
gowns In spite of the seriousness of
me scene The costume inCOugruities
could not fail to provoke smiles. and
actors and actresses don't want smiles
when they are trying to be serious.
The aim of the theatre is to hold the
mirror up to nature" and there is
nothing more unnatural than evening
clothes at daylight function. whether
it is funeral wedding or a chris
tening.