The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-20

+ THOUGHTFUL theatre-goers las

THOUGHTFUL theatre gOers last
week had ample opportunity to
realize the truth of the contention
that the stage can be an eIevating fac
tor in modern life Those who 90 IN
the theatre merely to be amused will
doubtless prefer The Prince of PHI
san TO Mary of Magdala" and The
Silver Slipper" TO Resurrection" It
Is. indeed, a wonderful tribute to the
art Of Mrs. Fiske that she can draw
large audiences TO see her in play that
Is one long, beautiful sermon from be-
ginning 10 end. The same thing is true
OF Miss Walsh, although Miss Walsh
IS by no means as great an actress as
Mrs. 'Fiske.
There is more harm in five lines of
the average society drama, so-calIed
than there is in all Of Mary of Magda-
Ia or Resurrection" We are sorry
every man and woman in Salt Lake did
not see both plays for both contain
lessons for good that will not soon be
forgotten by those who did see them.
In them and in the liberal patronage
that was given them there is hope for
those who believe in the strong, clean.
pure drama; for those who believe the
stage should be leaven OF righteous
ness rather than a hOtbed Of eroticism
and froth and vulgarity.
-
Speaking OF Mrs. Fiske reminds us
that a good many Salt Lakers were
disappointed over her failure to give at
least one presentation of her famous
''Hedda Gabler.'' Critics who have
seen Mrs. Fiske in this great creation
OF the Norwegian dramatists say it is
her best work. She herself was disap-
pointed over her inability to present it
here Thursday night after the last
performance OF Mary Of Magdala" she
repea tedly expressed her regret over
the elimination Of Hedda from her Salt
Lake engagement
Il had intended and expected to put
on 'Hedda Gabler' here" she said. LAS
a result of some misunderstanding and
I am at. loss TO knew how il came
about. the proposed performance was
called off. 1 was told that 'Hedda Ga
bier would not draw here, but 1 want
10 say that that does not make the
slightest difference with me. / would
give il II knew there wouldn't be 100
people i'm the house, for I love it,
Mrs. Fisl1e did not seem to be in the
least downcast over the boast of the
'slxindicate' that she viii be obliged
10 play in a tent next year. You'll
come 10 see me If 1 do, won't your
she asked. merTily. and when she was
assured that If she did use a tent it
would have to be OF three-ringed-ci
Gus proportions. she said she would
certainly visit salt. Lake again. OF the
people here, the air, the mountains.
everything and everybody, Mrs. Fiske
expressed the liveliest appreciation. She
surely has ample justification for graf
ihcation at her treatment here.
Nobody In the audiences that saw
Blanche Walsh's closing performances,
"Wednesday. matinee and evening. knew
that she was suffering excruciating
NNr,Iv,,-I~-~
Walsh was attacked by a sort of pleu-
risy that kept her confined to her bed
until noon. She would not have risen
then II the matinee had not been sched-
Uled. AS it was, she got up when she
should have remained quiet and went
through both matinee and evening per-
fOrmances like a Spartan. That is one
of the trials Of stageland that the peO-
pie "in 'front.' are never informed Of.
The following programme will be rem
dered az the Grand this evening by Held's
band:
March. American Victory,
fa) Famous Minnet'' -. PaderewSsSxi
tbB Dixie Land" .--.--...-..-....... Haines
american PATROL requesp %: -Meacham
Basso solos: ia) The Old Sexton.
fb) Rocked in the Cradle OF the
p Mr.. P. odenwaiter. '''''''''
Grand Selection OF Irish Airs.
Ballet Music and Soldier March from oHirey
soprano gi,n soios ea5 He Was Princes aeSsHi
llS mes
Cb) 'sThe, Flag Without a Stain"
......... ..-.-.-----.-...-.--..-... White
Miss Grayce Berge-
Grand popular selection, THE Chape-
rOns .---.--..---.- -----.--.- Nllmark
Overture. Der Freischutz' C. Won Weber
= =
/,
gagement Of that most capable western
actress. Mise Florence Roberts, Miss
Roberts played here recently TO record
business. The seat sale which "a now
on indicates that that record will be
oquailed. IL not surpassed, this week.