The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-20

The sublime dramatic poem Of the life
of a certain type of the human race, as
told by the Morse dramaust. lbsen, ~
Peer Gynt," was presented at the SAT-
Lake theatcr on Thursday night by Louis
James and his company. IL was the
first OF the Ihsen dramas to be pre-
sented here. Peer Gynt' was never writ
ten by the Norscman for the stage.
aud when he prepared II for the Norwe-
glan stage he cut tine poem merclless-
N. Afterwards Richard Mansfield re,
stored about one-third of the original
manuscript 10 Ibsen,s version, II is the
Mansfield version that Mr., James pre-
sents. he having purchased all the scenic
embellishments which the late Richard
the Interpretation OF Peer GyDt' Is be-
lieved by many 20 be the best charac-
terization Mr.. James has, ever portrayed
upon the stage during his long career
before the feotlghts
There is but little plot to peer Gynt."
The scene. OF course: Is In Norway. Peer
heart ambition finally awakens. He longs
TO be kaiser Attending wedding
feast he is scorned by the women and
taunted by the men. lie rails at the fate
which had brought upon him the contempt
Of those among whom he had been born
and reared, and he finally decides TO turn
his back upon them. In spirit Of braVa-
do and pique rather than FOR any affec-
tion for her he steals the bride OF the
wedding feast and takes her to the noun
rains with him. Although doomed TO
II
turns to his native village 10 he at the
death bed OF his mother. 10 whom he was
devoted even though he had tossed her
upon the matched roof Of her cottage
when he had left her a few weeks be-
fore. Going out into the world Peer
Gynt finally finds fortune on the coast
of Morocco, He s,tll longs for power,
having ambitions to be emperor OF the
world. False friends and a dancing girl
betray him and he loses his fortune. En-
barking on n Norwegian ship to go to
but he reaches land in safety. Going
back 10 his hut in the mountains, he
finds his childhood sweetheart Solig walt
ing for him. aud in her he receives refuge,
peace and happiness In his little home
he sees the kaiSerdum for which he had
really longed. His adventures. his travels.
carry him through the forest, over the
sea, across mountain ranges, over his
own county and TO far-away lands. II
is a story OF human life. embracing all
the elements OF the pathetic, as well as
the tragic, the real and the unreal, tho
actualities and the dreams, the ambi-
tions the hopes. the disappoIntments, the
dread and terror and the final resurrec-
ton in love Of the human soul. There
is opportunity for magnificent stage set"
thugs. and the opportunity Is availed, and
in several instances the settings are
gorgeous.
He is the Jolly boy. the prosperous mer-
chant. the aged man. And when his
age is considered. Tor he is 90 years
of age, his portrayal of youth l. most
remarkable. Aphic James Is a splendid
Soveig, aud the manner in which she
enacts IN" role shows her the finished
actress. Laura Frankcnheld. who por-
trays the character OF ASc, the mother OF
Peer Gynt. is splendid, and she plays
difficult part most admirably. Anne
Schaefer as the grccn-Clad woman, also
carries out role in a splendid manner.
The dancing of Miss Frances llarcourt.
in the character OF Anita, was very
clever, as was tho work of Miss Ida
Tup AG pf hp
j Arthur NouDgs characterization was
more than well done. The music is spe-
cial music. and the entire, production is
on an elaborate scale. All OF the sup.
porting company We're good. Peer Gynt'
goes again tonight, tomorrow night and a
matinee Sa,urday
For the second half OF the week the
Grand thcater management opened
Thursday night with the initial perform
ance IN Salt Lake Of Why Girls Leave
PLAYERS. The intent ot the piece is to
present i picture OF the causes for way
wsrdness. and sometimes reversIon TO a
particular instance Pearl Sherwood, por
traycd by Hedda Laurant. is tho head
strong daughter Of Puritanically sensi-
tive mother, who puts restrictions upon
wha; the girl iinagines 20 be innocent
amusement and harmless llirtenoD. The
Young lady, while tentatively recognizing
Sam Stone (impersonated by Arthur j..
Walton) as her sweetheart, engages the
attention OF Joseph White, q professedly
sincere admirer. Mr.. Ii. s. Rowe. who
assumes this part. does some very good
acting in playing the smooth lovcr-vilain.
There Is also the indignant brother. the
part taken by Leslie +. Webb. BIT way
ward himself but determined 10 defend
the family honor and sisteriy virtue. Be-
tween his emphatic opposition, the jeal.
ousy OF the lover and the stiictness OF
the mother. the heroine sister imagines
herself TO be imposed upon aud her nat
urai headstrong disposition drives her 10
the verge Of wrong. The complications
TO all concerned when The shifting comes