The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-17

were quite az applicable to joyous and
beautiful subjects as 10 gloomy ones,
to the comedy of life as to its tragedy,
and that so applied they would produce
quite as good results in the way OF act
ing plays The gloomin ess OF Ibsen's
plays is not the result of Ibsen's tenn
permanent Ibsens temperament is. Of
course, Ibsen's exclusive possession.
But Ibsen's methods as playwright
can be copied by other playWrights with
advantage. He looks TO life instead
of 10 conventions for his dramatic ma
terial. He displays the facts as he sees
them-Or as much of them as VIII pro-
duce on his audience the effect he aims
at He strives constantly TO produce the
Illusion Of reality. He knows that
character is the root Of ali drama, and
| IL IS 10 the HfeIike, convincing, con-
sistent portrayal Of character that ne
deVotes his power. Consequently his
men and women are always real and
therefore always interesting. More
over, tbsen always stands outside his
own dramas. He lets the men and
women he has created work out their
fads. He states no problems or solves
any. You must answer your own ques-
items. 1bsen doesn't tell you. What is
there peculiar about this method of
writing plays except It's peculiar excel
4 IeaceE What is there that other dra-
matists and playwrights cannot more
or less intelligently copy2 Why cannot
this method be successfully applied TO
JOY Gus themes by men whose tempera-
ments do noe make Joy and beauty IN
interesting and unintelligible TO them2
the fact that IbGen is now recognized
by everybody excepting a few Ibsen-
lite cranks) as chiefly a master play
wright Is one good reason fer believ-
ing that the future Of the American
drama is not, in reality. quite as hope
less as it seems.
Hon Ionson, which through its nu-
merous past visits is familiar to almost
every theatre-goer in salt Lake. viii
mold the stage of the Grand theatre
next Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday,
matinee Wednesday at p m
mis- Swedish dialect farcical drama
IS something more than the ordinary
comedy. as IL possesses charm OF
originality. the same quality which
made the play Of Fritz" in which the
elder J. x. Emmett starred. In place
q the yodliDg German. in this play
we IND the honest, big-hsarted emf
grant, who is shown in q natural man
ner IN the environments of his home
life. The title role this season is in the
hands Of Nelss Erickson. an actor
whon il is said has been more thar
successful in the representations of. An
giO-Swedish comedy roles, and who. in
physical and mental characteristics. is
peculiarly suited to the representation
Of the style of role. Mr. Erickson. who
draws his inspiration from the fountain
head. has become popular with all
classes of amusement-seek while
his singing of the Swedish folk
songs is said TO be highly praised By
muslc-l0veTS. and proves a most attrac-
tive feature Of his lyon Yonson" per-
Torrance.
There IS, Of course, a story, and il
is TO the credit of Mr. Heege, the au O.
thor. to state that he has evolved plot
and series of dramatic situations of de-
c1de0ly more strength than is usually
found in Play OF this description. A
stolen invention. a brother and sister
separated and brought up in total ig-
noranCe Of each other, are the pTinci-
pal elements OF the plot. The denoue-
ment, Of course, restores the Invention
to its rightful owner, and reunites the
brother and sister with a sweetheart
for each one. The play this SEASON is
said to be given q splendid mounting.
equal to the original production, all
the scenery being from the brushes Of
Wen known New York artists. The
breaking Of the log jam in act second
is said 10 be even more realistic and
sensational than ever before. The as
sisting contingent this season, admit
teddy the lest that has been seen in
the play in some time. Includes as be-
fore in the role OF the Irish woman.
Mrs. Latin. Minnie sharp, admittedly
one of the cleversst impersonators Of
Irish comedy characters in the pr0fes-
sion. Margaret Kingore. a handsome
and talented young actress, viii De
seen IN the role of Grace Jennings, a
part Ia which she is said to meet with
great favor. Eva N. Bennett. talent
ed young seubFette, viii be seen in, the
role of the effervescent book agent,
Jennie Norris, and viii augment her
dramatic performance by a most orig
inai and enjoyable specially. The IA
nous ''Lumberman's Imperial Comedy
-Four quartette" are with the company
this season. and are said TO offer q
budget Of new and up-to-date ballads.