The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-09

So preached George Bernard Shaw, NOR
alist and free thinker to two big audi
ences of Salt Lakers yesterday who filled
the Salt Lake theater at the afternoon
and evening performances of Mrs. War
rens Profession"
He said other things, but they came and
went too quickly TO catch. Perhaps it IS
as well, for with the paragraphs above,
they but form part and parcel of a pur-
poseless. useless and obnoxious piece Of
stage literature which, outside its sbil-
ity TO furnish an evenings entertainment
for theatergoers who care to get into an
argument with the author as to whether
or not it's the right thing socially and
morally for woman TO make a living
by operating a string of disorderly houses.
possesses only the merit of brilliant dia-
logue, incisiveness of characterization and
a goodly amount of nicely handled satire
Here is MI. Shaw's proposition. as ex-
pressed in the story of Mrs. Warren's
Profession" A young girl, whose moth
er is half owner of a dozen or more houses
of i'll fame on the continent, has been
brought up in an atmosphere of respecta-
bility. Suddenly she is brought face to
face with her mothers character, and
her source of wealth The mother, who
really loves her daughter, attempts TO
Justify her life and business on the ground
that wealth gained thus is better than
honest toll and poverty.
Shaw's heroine promptly sewers all ties
that bind her to her mother and earns her
own bread honestly
Right in the middle of the final act Mr..
Shaw has the daughter stand up and
choke this down the audiences throat:
Il don't want mother
The story of Mrs. Warren's profession
is told with brutal frankness and IL
doesn't teach one single thing that
could not be said and preached in a doz-
distasteful ways. 1t isn't a nasty play
and it isn't shocking. Last nights au-
dience applauded now and then when Mr..
Shaw sent a shaft home, but Il refused
fn cfo acrlz ct Of iTlni rs or
lines and Bernard's egotism would have
suffered something of shock if he could
have personally observed the reception
his sermon received. Shaw has more than
once declared that the biggest and sill
Hest fools in the country are those who
attempt to take him seriously.
Forgetting. however, for moment the
mans impossible story, one cannot but
admire his cynical satire. his cleverness.
his perfect flow of English, his construc-
ton, his stage surprises and the intel
lectual brilliancy of his play. He has
few equals along these lines and his lines
are full of surprises.
You may detest the characters he ere
ates, but you must admit that they are
well supplied with brains.
There are only six characters in Mrs.
Warrens Profession" and they are so
many puppets. Every time one Of them
opens his mouth out pops a Shawism.
Give Shaw a gramaphone let him talk
his entire play into II. reverse the rec
ord and turn On the power and you have
the production of the piece
As Mrs Warren Miss Rose Coghlan
was acceptable, though more could be
made of the role than this actress sue
ceeds in doing. Lucille Stanford is some
thing of a mystery as Vivie Warren She
IS expressionless most of the time, but
in the third and last act OF the play
handles some strong scenes effectively.
The Sir George Crofts of Lynn Pratt is
unquestionabiy one of the finest pieces
of acting ever seen here. 1t is a diff
ficult bit of work and perhaps overdrawn
a trlIle as Mr.. Pratt does 1t. but taken
as it is given ii Is clever and versatile
Paed and Mr.. BAYFIELD, makes salts
factory Rev. Mr.. Gardner. As his son.
Forrest Orr is likable for his smile chief
ly and his boyishness. but his acting is
utterly impossible.
This weeks bill at the Lyric theater is
one of the best that has been presented
this season. 1t has as the head liner
Walter f Deaves, with his Merry Mani
kins. in an act that appeals particularly
to the young people. 1t is on the marion
cite order. only greatly improved. Deaves
carries his own miniature stage with him.
including n full orchestra. and the act
closes with a transformation scene in
Fairyland
Frank Cushman, minstrel. is the next
on the list, with a monologue Of up-to-
date stuff. while in the musical line the
Martelli trio give a fine performance on
xylophones.
futile and May present a smart sketch
entitled "An Unweleome Visitor" The
male member of the duo is an actoT-that
is saying something-while Miss May is
not only talented, but really handsome
The Human Top works under the name
of Omar, and gives several oriental
dances.
Leon CHARTERS. the baritone, has a new
song about willie" while Professor
Mills. the lyricscope director. has NOV
ing pictures of the great San Francisco
strike in which the strikers and strike
breakers are shown in deadly combat.