The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-07
MACK GETS DRUNK;
PLAY IS SPOILED
Once More Audience at the
Grand Is Disguised and
Disappointed.

Patrons of the Grand theatre who at
ance of ''Thelma" yesterday. with the
expectation of seeing a fairly creditable
production, were sadly disappointed.
The play was put on all right, but it
was a burlesque on the production as it
should be played. The reason? Willard
Mack was drunk again.
The expected happened in the second
act of the afternoon performance. 1t
was apparent to all matinee-goeFs dur
ing the plays progress that Mr.. Mack
was seriously indisposed SO indisposed
was he, that he persisted in webbing
about the stage, much to the discOm-
future of other members of the cast. His
acting took d drop from the sublime to
the ridiculous. when he vainly essayed
to make love to the wrong woman. The
crisis came in the second act. 1t was a
climax that the lines did not call for.
After suffering through his part for
several minutes, and holding on to
whatever was handiest TO keep from
falling to the stage, it became evident
to all present that his indisposition had
taken an aggravated form; that he was
no longer sick, but was dead drunk.
James Rennie was substituted in the
part as Sir Philip ErringtOn, and the
play went on. 1t was not Mr.. Rennie's
fault that he could not make more out
of the part than he did. He certainly
did the best he knew how, but the ex-
pected had happened so unexpectedly
that he had hardly time to memorize
the lines before being called on.
During the night performance Mr..
Mack was not in evidence at all He
had partaken too freely of the cup that
qhaprc nd o1 in,
mon parlance. was down and out.
A. B. Pelton of the firm of PeltOn &
Shutter evidently realizes that it will
take longer than twenty-four hours to
sober Mr. Mack up, and so announce
ment is made that "Thelma" will be the
offering at the Grand theatre tonight
instead of THE Squaw Man." as was
billed.
Mack, of course, may or may not ap-
pear, according to his condition.
At the close of the second act at the
afternoon performance, Manager A. B.
Jensen announced from the stage that
it was plain to be seen that Mr.. Mack
was incapacitated, and that the play
would go on without Mr.. Mack's pres
ence in the cast.
Manager Jensen of the Grand theatre
announces that owing to Mr.. Macks
condition "Thelma," which has been
the offering at the Grand the past week
will continue tonight At the matinee
yesterday it was plainly to be seen that
Mack was in no condition to appear
but managed to get through the first
two acts.
At the close of the second act Man
ager Jensen announced that James
Rennie would appear as Sir Philip Err
ringtOn in the succeeding acts in
Mack's place. Mr. Rennie made his ap-
pearance and was every acceptably re-
ceived by the audience.
Mr.. Mack did not appear at the night
performance, and when Manager Jen-
sen was asked where Mr.. Mack was he
answered in no pleasant tone: In his
dressing room. asleep" Mr.. Jensen was
very sorry that the patrons of the
Grand, who come exclusively to see Mr.
Mack. should be so disappointed, and
intimated that a new man would be
brought from New York to take Mack s
place.