Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-03

Special Correspondence.
New York, Sept 29,--Thls week has
seen two important theatrical openings
in New York, both occurring on Mon
day night one at the Garrick theater,
whore Maxine Elliott was introduced as
the principal figure in Clyde Fitch's
Her own Way" and the other at the
American, where the stage version Of
Henry Blossoms Checkers" had It's
initial representation in this city, Both
plays were received with emphatic
manifestations OF pleasure and both
VIII undoubtedly run on proaperousiy
for some time to come, The FIRST night
OF Her own Way at the Garrck
was indeed In the nature OF a triumph,
not alone for Miss Elliott but for Mr..
Fitch, whose latest play Is thought by
many to be worthy of the distinction
of being named his best Offering to the
stage literature of this time, The work
IL not alone Of high quality In story,
construction and dialogue, but 1t serves
TO show that the author has guaged the
capabilities of the actress with quite
remarkable insight, credtlng her with
the possession OF talent very greatly
exceeding those with which she had
been generally supposed to be gifted,
The public has until now looked upon
Maxine Elliott as u superb picture OF
feminine loveliness, somewhat skilled
In the portrayal OF comedy roles, but
having no claim upon consideration In
the broader range Of stage art calling
for the manifestation Of serious emo
tions. From now on she will be accept
ed with eagerness as one OF the really
powerful players in the stage world, for
this verdict passed upon her work last
week In Buffalo, IL amply sustained by
the endorsement Of New York, There
u.s. perhaps, no other actress In Amefi-
ca who has made such extraordinary
progress In the illumlnatiVe art of act
ing during the past few years az that
recorded by Miss Elliott, TO be sure
II Is quite possible that she has not
until now received the opportunity 10
give expression TO her very best tall
ents--for In the theater az elsewhere,
one must have the materials with which
to work In order to accomplish large
success Charles u, Dillingham;, under
whose fostering care this actress has
been enabled TO demonstrate her claim
TO recognition ms an Individual attrac-
ton, has supplied not alone capital
play but a most admirable supporting
company, several Of the members OF
which have made hits Of their own. The
best of these falls TO the lot of Arthur
Byron, whose portrayal Of the rich
schemer for the hand of the heroine Is
a piece Of acting of the verv highest
type. Charles Cherry, as the young
lieutenant whose absence In the Phil
llppines furnishes an opportunity FOR
his rival TO attempt his undong, also
contributes thoroughly fine piece OF
stage depletion, and George Lawrence
| as a Cabling halrdresser from whose
| nlmble tongue gossip ,.os persistent
| ly, has won recognition instantly and
| widely.
TOM ROSS IN CHECKERS"
Checkers" in its stage dress is rath.
| or more melodramatic than II was In
| book form. where the story was made
| 10 rely almost exclusively upon the Gle,
| ment OF humor. Only the main thread
| Of the original tale Is retained, together
with two or three Of the principal char.
| aCters, but n very interesting work
with strong climaXes and ingeniouslS
| developed scenes, Is not net result
! The hero OF this work Is a young char
who has lost all his money upon tn,
| race track and has been completed u
adopt betting as a means Of gaining
| his livelihood. He Is temporarily
weaned from this pursuit by reason o
falling In love with a young woman
who will have nothing TO do with hin
unless he reforms, and he becomes {
| clerk In a country grocery store where
he has rather unpleasant time, partll
by reason Of distasteful surrounding
and partly through the energetic oppo
ston of his inamorata's father
| Checkers eStranRed from the girl Of hii