The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-17
ADJUSTMENTS.

Ihe Merry Grafters, Harold Orlob's
latest effort IN comic opera. contains a
Iot or WhisuY music and a good deal
OF clever dialogue. Allowances must usu-
ally be made for a first presentation. the
same having come to pass in the Salt
Lake theater last night, but few are nee
essary in this instance. large audience
DraVed the rain and the applause through
out was genuinely hearty. 1t NAV be said
mat Mr.. OrlOb had a friendly people TO
deal with, and this, of course is true, be-
cause the young man is very popular i'm
the city in which he was reared Never
t IN the approval was deserved, and
II the opera had been presented in ANOTHER
city, with local illusions adapted to that
municipality. the composer and author
would have scored as decided a success.
ne opening scene of THE Merry Graft
efS Is iald on Antelope island, where The
loVlal Mekanithief. splendidy character
lzed by Hugh W. DOugaH. rules in alco-
hollc state. He wants his daughter to wed
the emperor of Woods Cross, but she de-
cllneS with thanks. . In the action that
follows. POrChclimbeT Fired c. Grahaml.
a politician from Salt Lake. arrives and
wins the love of the Princess Chicken
oane Miss Edna Evans. POrchclimber
Is thrown INTO prison. whence he escapes
ana. with the princess and her chaneron.
sails for Salt Lake.
The second and last act is laid twenty
wears later. Much has happened. The
forces of poor old Mekanitbief have heen
routed and he is a king without a king
dom. Switchgrass Lew HalsetD his
faithful prime minister. is stll with him.
the sole remnant of his court. The daugh-
ter appears. looking wonderfully young i'm
spite of the passing of the years. A recon
citation follows. a corporation for the
sale of titles to be conferred by Mekani-
thief is formed. and all ends merrly, as
should be the case with all well regu-
lated comic operas.
II has been possible to give only a faint
outline In reality the plot is attenuated.
but IL serves as a string on which to hang
lot of funmaking and some music that
many of you will want TO try on your
pianos. Miss Evans was not in her usual
good voice last night and she seemed
somewhat nervous, which was only nat
uraL with another performance or two
she VIII doubtless score heavily How
ever. she won much commentator last
night especially with her big song in
the second act, Spirit of Love" This
Miss Evans did splendidiy.
Another woman of the company who
was altogether charming was Mrs Harold
OTlob seen for the first time here as
Dehskeeter. the royal chambeTmaid. The
part was too small for Mrs Orob's UNI
doubted talent-she was on the stage when
the young composer won her-but she
managed to sing and dance her way into
the hearts of all that heard her The
comedy parts Of TWeedie Dunn and TWee-
die Dee in the hands of Sid ClaWsOn and
George Margetts. were eXcellently done.
Fred Graham was successful as Porch
climber and one of the most enjoyable
solos of the evening was that sung Dy
Mr. Halsett in the second act.
The opera was dressed most artistl
cally and the young women of the chorus
were the very prettiest seen on the Salt
Lake stage in many day. And they
sang in a manner that did credit to their
training. All OF the ensemble numbers
were splendidly sung. indicating painstak-
ing rehearsals as well as a superior quail
ity of music.
AT the close of the first act the ap-
plause was lOng-continued and there were
many calls for Mr.. Oriob. He finally made
his appearance before the curtain with
Mrs OTlob, and was given an ovation.
There is no doubt that the material for
road success is in THE Merry Graft
ers." Changes must be made In the lines
to suit general conditions, but the music
is there. That "MT NewhOuse' song that
was 50 literally applauded, for instance.
can be made TO fit any town. Drink
Hearty" is another that will go any
where. and so will He's Crater II
the applause that greeted each number
last night. though, may fairly be taken as
an indication. all of the numbers will win
approval wherever they are heard.
THE Merry Grafters' viii be the offer
ing at the Salt Lake theater this after
noon and evening. Ii will be seen again
at the theater next Saturday afternoon
and evening. when the engagement comes
to an end.