The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1906-02-02
LEWIS MORRISON ENTERTAINs
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE

OF the Park opera house that Lewis
Morrison would appear as Mephisto
in Faust in this city last night,
We're faithfully kept and Morrison
himself certainly played the devil.
On the strength that Mr. Morri-
son would appear there had been an
immense sale of seats, in fact there
was not a desirable seat in the house
for sale by six O'Clock Wednesday
night. The opera house was filled
to overhowing. 1t was a great aud
fence, a representative gathering of
representative people not only of this
city but of Palisade, Fruita and the
country Immediately surrounding
| Grand Junction. Over seventy Pail
SADIE people were in the audience.
We must say that in many res
poets we were disappointed in the
production and in the work of the
veteran actor Lewis Morrison is
nor the Lewis Morrison of old. His
impersonation of "Mephisto" of to-
day is hardly to be compared with
his delineation of the character that
made him famous in the years gone
by. Age must tell on every man and
Mr. Morrison cannot induce Father
| Time to pass him by without leaving
| with him the marks. the weakness
and nirmities that characterize the
evening of life. The assertions of
the press agent that Mr. Morrison's
Mephisto possesses the same siren
9Th the same great power and scope
of voice as his Mephisto of ten or fif-
| teen or twenty years ago. is untrue.
While today Mr.. Morrison is still
great in his portrayal of the central
character of that wonderful and an
cient dramatic and operate master
piece Faust" his work today must
be greatly discounted when compar-
ed with his work of the past years.
The resembling. soul-stirring laugh
that used to be one of the greatest
characteristics of Morrisons Mephisto
was missing last night and it Is to be
taken for granted that the veteran
actor is no longer capable of giving
that wonderful laugh In some OF
the great scenes and situations there
was a lack of the old time fiery vital
lty' ana the movements OF ms SATAN
ne majesty were more democratic imam
of old
Still there was that remarkable
iac'ai expression the tue Morrison
speech. the mighty. perfect tones that
only Morrison himself ever put in
the mouth Of Mephlsio' the terfihc'
l.
pitlhs scareasm' the horribly grim
humor' an these are sun with MOTIF
SON ana ms perfect employment OF
eaeh is Just apout as perfect as IN
the days gone ny But when 1t comes
10 the deelamatory powers there is
where we think that Morrison is fast
failing In his makeup Morrison is
as uehdishly handsome as ever
| we believe that Morrison would
| nave been more satisfactory last
night had he taken more interest in
ms appearance before Grand juno
tlon audience AT times he seemed
to be simply ming IN ms INES with
out living the part as he can and
should do If Morrison could not give
his best work to last night S audience
he cannot conscientiously give 1t to
any audience for more appreetal-
i've and larger audience OF repre-
sentative people he Is not often call
ed upon 10 entertain. This idea and
custom OF some Of these great actors
to either pun on an understudy in
the small cities or else to act in
half way manner is to their dis
credit IN every instance
But stiil everybody FOUND much en-
, ioyment in the work OF the veteran
and distinguished actor last night
even If he is not as good as he used
TO be. After all who can play Mephis-
TO like Lewis Morrison? We are glad
he came and glad to have had an OPP
portunity TO see him again.
Mr. Morrison's support is very fair,
I Miss lneZ Foreman who PLAYS Mar