Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-19
|Anusenents

49, -s~~---------<-----------
Morbidity, curiosity, intellectually
these three forces mingled and strug-
gled for supremacy under circum-
stances OF the most extraordinary ten
sion at the Salt Lake theater last
night on the occasion Of the presenta.
ton for the first time in this city Of
lbsen's great drama, Ghosts" And
In the contest for mastery Il must be
said that intellectually won a glorious
victory, For Ghosts" Is probably the
most intellectual play Of the present
period II Is original from conception
to finish. 1t strikes down the conyen-
tionalities Of modern thought and So
ciety with the strength and ruthessness
OF giant who stalks forth into the
open fully conscious OF his own power,
sweeping aside every obstacle that con-
fronts his onward progress.
Probably never In the history OF the
Salt Lake theater was the silence so
great, so painful as II was last night
Whether they liked Ibsen or not his
auditors sat with bated breath while he
played upon the highest notes OF feel
ing that can be struck IN the human
breast, until interest was passed. ten.
sion left behind and agony held the
audience In It's grim clutch. II those
who saw the play did not also see
ghosts they heard and understood the
story OF the dramas title. They saw
how specters of sinful pasts arose TO
plague and torment the transgressor.
They say not only how the sins
OF the fathers are visited
upon the heads OF their
offspring but they saw the latter tread
ing the same paths OF wrongdoing at a
more rapid rate than their progenitors.
Altogether 1t was most eloquent,
most tremendous exposition OF the aw-
ful consequences Of heredity based up
on a misguided and wicked career.
Just why the author has so pitilessy
portrayed the conditions that surround.
ed and grew out of the conduct OF his
characters Is accountable for on but
one hypothesis-he desired that the leg.
son should be so severe that IL would
not be forgotten by those who should
read or hear 1t; and II Is safe 10 say
II never will be. In order TO make the
impression the more lasting he has
from the very first screwed the tension
extremely taut. Then By degrees he
has turned the screw with a delight
that is. though probably not Intended
TO he, well nigh flendlsh until one is al.
most compelled 10 cry for mercy. But
thore Is no relief from the torture until
the open air is sought and one returns
nome exhausted from the ordeal OF fol-
lowing the unfolding OF the authors
IDEAS Tor II has been Intensity intens.
ned and climax upon climax without
cessation
you picture to yourself the vista
tlor, the Tear Of punishment upon the
weak ana hayward son. oswald, whose
reason Is gradually dethroned as the
result OF inheriting the vices and dIspo-
sltlon or his father. This degenerate
Is ABLY impersonated by Claus Bogel
particularly where II became clearer
ana clearer to him that his doom would
We that Of a raylng maniac. And
When regina, his sweetheart sister, re-
FUSED TO administer the deadly NOR
phia TO MIN In the awful hour that pa
fesls TOOK possession of his mind and
When Mrs, Alvlng. the devoted mother
in the person Of Miss Gallatin. consent.
ed TO commit the deed herself, the nor.
fihc scene reached its climax. In IT,
as all through the play, Miss Gallatin
proved herself an actress of uncommon
ability. And Jacob Engstrand. he OF
The crooked leg. and Of a soul with stlll
more crooks In II, II must be said that
RnNal1 al lNt
role to perfection, while Allen Dayen.
port portrayed Pastor Manders with
splendid accuracy.
Ghosts" is big piece OF work for a
East or ilve persons, but the five who
started spooks going all over the city
asst night are quite equal TO the task |
There VIII be three more productions |
turing the engagement, tonight. tomor-
'0w afternoon and tomorrow highland |
hose who are not afraid TO see nature
ieplcted az II is-who do not vince at
rearing things called by their right
names should see the drama that has
vet the people Of Two continents to
linking rs has no other play in years.
t Is not vicious; II Is not obscene 1t
caches great moral lesson. The
world can only be better for what Ib-
en- has contributed IN the production
{ Ghosts
lyon Yonson" is again holding his
eml-annual reception at the Grand,
nd judging from the size Of the house
asst night, he has lost none OF his popu-
lrlty. Nelse b. Erickson, who APP
cared In the title role last year, still
Odds the center Of the stage and last
light demonstrated that he is probably
he best Of the "Yons. who have visit
d Salt Lake since the days OF Gus
ieege, the originator Of the Swedish
haracter, Mr., Erickson kept the large
udience in the best Of humor through
at the evening by his quaint interpre-
alton Of the phlegmatio character. His
Import however, was not UP to the
tandard, IN fact he was the whole
how Among the speciality features
the evening were the singing Of the
imperial Comedy Four, male quar-
1T that acquitted itself to the ex-
ent OF four encores, and songs by
Yon," Among the latter was to-
ical effusion wherein Mr. Erickson
guyed' individuals In the parquet and
oXes 70 the huge delight Of the bal. |