Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-11
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LeanderRjChardSOn' Letter
une

Special Correspondence.
NJ Ew YORK, Feb &c. s VIII
M lards second play adapted by
Y Louis Parker from the French
OF Alfred Capus viii probably
carry the actor through the remainder
Of his New York season at the knick-
erbocker theater. This work, now call
ed 'Tho Brighter Side, IS not at all In
the nature OF an experiment having
been Tried OUT last year under the
TIE The Opumlst In the original
French It was named LA Chatealne.' -
ana 1t ran through whole season In
Parts. IN story, construction and treat
mcnt the piece is essentially French
dealing with the matrimonial theme as
viewed by Partisan. eyes, There Is
woman whose husband bores her and
she falls In love with a friend Of the
family whose attentions interest her
The husband has wished to get rid OF
his wife in order TO prosecute his
am0urs without responsibility or inter-
ference, but when he finds out that
madame wishes to be divorced from
him in order 10 marry his friend his
feelings are outraged, and he stubborn
~ realsts, In the end he Is induced
10 withdraw obstacles TO the severance
OF hg marital relations and the pros
peclive marriage OF the wife TO the OBJ
ject OF her choice Ia shown Mr. VIII
lard plays the friend with finished ar
t.stry and lightness Of touch that is
quite delightful. The literary quality
OF Mr.. Parker's manuscript is OF course
Of tie highest worth and the action II
swift and spirited Mr. WIZARDS very
large following will ind a great deal
10 enjoy In 1.-THE Brighter Side" which
al told lives up TO It's title In every
particular.
"'Op o. Me Thumb" the one-act play
produced oy Maude Adams ot the En-
pire as a curtain raiser to THE Little
Minister" IL a delicious little drama
Of pathos woven around the PERSONAL
ity OF a London drudge working In
laundry. The girl who Is very poor,
builds up mental structure derived
from the cheap novel trash which she
has absorbed In her scant leisure. She
lmagines herself the daughter OF man
or wealth and position, and that she Is
courted by handsome prince In gor-
geous raiment For months there has
beel unclaimed at the laundry a shirt
which she irons and treasures as
though II were a garment OF priceless
value, and she In some way connects
this shirt with the prince who is COM
Ing to WOO her. When the owner H.
nally turns up she finds that he Is
only common coster, but she falls In
love with him Just the same, carrying
on her imagery Of his beauty and gran
deur, He. however. doesn't see It IN
that light. and laughs at the little laun-
dress, who, with breaking heart and in
jured pride, tells him she was only
making game OF him all along--and at
this point the play Closes. II is quite
easy to foresee 'Whsr Miss Adams must
have done with this material, which
flts into every side and groove of her
charming and enthralllng personality,
The great audience which gave her
greeting on the opening might of "'Op
o. Me Thumb" fairly roS. TO her at the
conclusion OF the piece, and with their
faces still wet with the tears she had
compelled they called her again and
again before the curtain. The demon-
stration was one OF the greatest that
has been seen In a New York thoater In
many a month.
Ada Rehan's brief engagement at the
Liberty theater began with the revival
OF flaming the Shrew," with Miss Re-
han as Katherine and Charles j. Rich
man as Petruchlo. Miss Rehan and
Mr. Rlchman I'm opposite roles natural
~ brought back to mind the old days
at Days theater when they occupied
similar relationship professionally.
There Is not much TO be said Of the
present revival that has not already
been said, beyond the fact that Miss
Rehan Is palpably advancing I'm years
and no longer fills the eye as the beau-
tlful young bride that Shakespeare
drew. But she is still I'm command Of
the regard OF large section Of the
public, and the Liberty theater viii
doubtless be well filled during her en-
gagement.
The current two weeks at the New
York theater win be charged with mer-
riment, for Ward & Volses are here
with their newest piece, called "A Pair
Of Pinks'-meaning that Mr.. Ward and
MIR. Vokes impersonate a cOmical and
grotcsque pair OF Pinkerton detectives.
The piece is Of the customary Ward q
NDkes pattern, calculated solely TO
arouse laughter without revealing any
considerable Dlot or ulgIeSSlns lllto lie
trlcate complications, II serves It's pur-
pose admirably II Ia pity all the
same that George M, Conan and his
Little Johnny Jones" had to leave the
New York theater In order to I'LL book
lngs elsewhere, for during the stay ~
this attraction the immense au-
duonum was packed and jam
med as never before In It's
history. Mr. Cohan might unques-
tionably have continued on Broadway
straight through the season with very
large profits had II been foreseen In
time that ne would be In such extraor-
binary demand. Little Johnny Jones"
is Enthusiastically the musical comedy
hit Of the season,
From now until the end Of the amuso-
ment torm David Belasco viii be i'm
practical control OF no less than three
| New York theaters-which isn't doing
so badly for a manager outside the in
huence OF the Theatrical syndicate.
These three houses include the Belasco
and BiJou theaters and the Academy OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS nn1Iuni