Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-28
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The JcEe1sons and The Rivals are so
closely associated that he who would
write a history of one must write the
history of the other.
The Jefersons and The Rivalsl For
Just 1873 Years those names have been
linked together For 1876 years this
distinguished family OF Thespians have
handed down from father to son the
production Of Richard Brinsley Sheri-
dams masterpiece until now, with
the fifth generation presenting it, it
is almost part o. the Jefferson family.
The Play Itself
1t was in August, l774 that Richard
Brinsley Sheridan then boy in his
tHenty-tllrd year, was commissioned
by the manager OF the famous old Covent
Garden theatre in London to write
comedy. With the exception of a very
few minor scenes, young Sheridan had
no idea whatever as TO what should
constitute the comedy.
5 Despite his youth, he was a writer of
considerable note, and confident of
his ability and strong in his hopes, he
set to work. Early in December Of
the same year, lie delivered to the
VA SONellLz Warden inca tTGH lldlllSSI tllc
manuscript OF The Rivals.
A masterpiece Of comedy had been
born and wonderful was the career that
awaited it,--;t career that would have
been lost to the world but for the per-
sistence OF its boyish author.
First Time Failed.
The play was Immediately put
into rehearsal aud on Jan. 18th, 1875.
it was produced for the first time on
any stage. 1t was dismal failure;
failure because of the wretched
performance OF the actor to whom
was allotted the role Of Sir Lucius
4 O'Trigger
His performance was so bad, and
it marred the work of the other artists
( to such an extent, that the play was
almost hooted from the stage on the
opening night.
Young Sheridan had faith in his
play and insisted upon its being pre-
scented the second night, 1t was pre-
sented and failing again, was then
z withdrawn. The author took his manu-
script made several minor changes,
Lucius O"Trigger and prepared to try
again.
A Dramatic Triumph.
The play, which had received the
widest notoriety on account of its
first nights fasco was again presented.
The audience assembled at the theatre
with the one idea of hooting the play
from the stage. But nothing Of the
kind occurred, This night, the genius
of young Sheridan was to be vindicated
The new actor, i'll the part of Sir
Lucus. had fully grasped all the deli
? of IL Ir,I ,,<,I,
IA finesse and artistic atmosphere to the
entire performance that the audience
sat spell-bound They left extolling
It's merits and the talent OF him who had
created it.
The play became fad The best
people Of London became enaulored
Of it TO such an extent that it was
not long until the fame OF the play
had reached the ears of the king.
The royal family witnessed the pro-
duction and with the approval OF
ROYALTY, The Rivals soon developed
i into the most astounding comedy
success that London had ever known.
Sheridan's fame was established and
In The Rivals one finds that indescrib-
able something that is a combination
Of boyish charm, youthful under
standing, boyhood philosophy. and a
knowledge of life that is totally different
from that exploited by the writers
whose youth, with its optimism, is
lost to them, and upon whom the pessirn-
Ism OF age is steadily epcroaching.
A Jefferson Enters.
In 1774, while Sheridan was working
on the manuscript OF The Rivals,
Thomas Jefferson, an actor who was
born in i746 and who was the first of
~, = -, ctaI fo,1,J1X IN, DGnNf a
stage career, became member of
The company then under the manage
ment of David Garrick, who was, at
that time, considered the greatest
rotor of his day.
Mr. Jefferson was essentially a come
dian, and about this time Garrck,
who had fondness for the heavier
styles of playing, decided to refrain
from appearing IN any comedies. ms
was the opportunity for Jefferson, who
at once assumed the principal comedy
roles in all OF the David Garrick pro-
auctions.
1t was about 1870 that Garrick
produced The Rivals for the first
lime. OF course it was only natural
that Garrick's principal comedian should
be allotted the part OF Bob Acres.
Here it was that the combination OF a
Jefferson portraying the part OF Fight
ing Bob began and ever since that
memorable night that combination has
continued
A Joseph Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson. the first, died
in 1907, leaving behind him a wife
and two sons, the elder of whom was
calls Joseph He was born in IVA.
A. young man, Joseph evinced a de
cided talent for the stage, and in 1895,
in very mediocre company. he por-
trayed Bob Acres in one OF the small
English cities, He appeared in the part
for several performances and then, fol
some reason which. is now unknown
abandoned the play.
Comes to America
He came to America in 1907 bringing
with him carefully constructed
prompt book OF The Rivals. This he
never personally used in America, ye'
he treasured it and gave it to his son