The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-01
ADJUSTMENTS.

It's daring-very daring, this inviting of
comparisons all around. That is what
| William w. and Joseph Jefferson are do
| ing. They are seeking to follow in their
fathers footsteps, and Furthermore, they
are choosing as a vehicle play assOci-
ated not only with him, but with scores
of others of the most distinguished actors
of over century. They appeared last
evening at the Salt Lake theatre in THE
Rivals
'Twould have been much easier-this
matter of succession-if Joseph Jefferson,
pere, had been dealer in dry goods. or d
banker Had he been a sordid business
man, and died, the sons might have been
lmDeclles or m1sers or profIigates, and
even then well trained subordinates.
schoOled for a lifetime in the business,
might have continued the house as ''Jo-
seph Jefferson's Sons, Bankers" and
kept the honored name and pelf. IN this
actor business, however, the situation is
different The sons cannot hire subordi-
mates to do the work while they get the
glory. II is purely a matter of individu-
atty The sons must stand on their own
merits.
To compare them with their father is
scarcely fair TO the boys. There was the
greatest comedian of modern times, if not
of all times He was no buffOOn like the
majority of present day comedians, but
man of deep intellectually and a subtle
magnetism even more OverpOwering than
his humor. His gentle smile and his in
imitable infections will linger until death
Will lAOSe VINO nave witnessed the
formances of the elder Jefferson in his
prime, and he will eX eT remain in their
affection rs Joe"
The house of 'Jefferson's Sons. Actors"
has been experimenting for some wears
now as to the best method for preserving
the family reputation and encouraging the
family revenue. Success has not ALWAYS
smiled plenteously on them. but in The
Rivals they have probably found the
happiest vehicle for their efforts.
This delicious old comedy is inst az
goOo now as IL was over a century ago.
It's very quaintness adds charm. while
us intellectual humor and its brilliant
character drawing are so far ahead of the
run of modern comedies that one wonders
IL the worlds genius is going TO seed
But to come to the jefferson bows as
actors Iney have been before the public
long enough now so that they have mad
time TO live down to some extent the
fact that they are sons of a distinguished
iather- The only just way to Judge them
IS 10 oblterate all memories of dear old
Joe. their sire. and look upon them rs
legitimate actors who are not seeking To
ride into public favor with the momentum,
OF 1athers popularity, but who are seek
my 70 new out way FOR themselves and
by their own efforts. From this view
point, William. who takes the fat mar
OF BOB Acres, may be ciassed as a beffer-
than-ayerage actor, while Joseph. in the
part OF Sir Lucius O'Trigger. NAV be de-
nominated fair. But William Won 5on,t
pegln TO reach the wonderful numerous
possibilities of that great part. And los
eph. YOU are far short of the acme in the
portrayal of the clustering. fire-eating
As for the rest of the compauv-aeair
we come TO comparisons. Every Part re-
quires a star 10 bring out anything near
all there is in il, and aIl-star casts of
The Rivals have been great events from
time to time for over a century The cas-
was far from being aIl-star and vet tho.
did not mutilate this great comedy. Tho
best bit was Philip Bishop as David
while I. G. Hamilton as Sir Anthony All
solute and Leopold Lane as Captain All
solute. were reasonably acceptable Tn
rest We're neither very bad nor very good
But the play II is one of the ereaT
classics since the time OF Shakespeare
and no opportunity should be missed 10
see il performed by any reasonably GOO
company a few remarks We're made re
Gently in these columns about those nor
sons who feel they must PROSTATE them |
selves and beat their wOuld-be bulgiue |
foreheads on the ground before the nnvstic |
figure OF lbsen- To these persons the s,,.
gestion is made that they will not sacrific |
any OF their prestige as being intellectual !
by taking an interest in '.The Rivals GO |
and see this comedy of Sheridan-s ana |