The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-01

Harrison Grey Ffske. but the fact re-
mains that Mrs Fiske in Salvation
Nell Is great as production, rather
than as q personal triumph.
IT is difficult TO conceive any actress
doing better TO say nothing OF as wen
as Mrs. Fiske in the different scenes
Nevertheless. the part does not abound In
great calls for the powers OF the actress.
In the first act she come in, pleads lit
tie. loves desperately. wipes the tables
and looks on at a possible murder, ter
ror-stricken. and all so infinitely natur-
ally that one is drawn Immediately out
of any reserve.
In the second act she occupies the CEN
ter Of the stage. and shows the mother
love and the affection for man who is
unworthy, and vet whom she loves.
In the third and last act. she is almost
q lay figure until the final crisis when
the best in the man leaps uppermost, and
her soul leaps TO meet his.
Mrs Fiske in all her work, eXempllIles
the modern school of acting having been
2 pioneer in repression and IN the eA-
preston of powerful emotions and pow
erful thoughts through the medium "
stage business" and suggestion. The
plav seen last evening does not give her
full opportunity. but nevertheless, II ar
fords a wonderful example of this kind OF
art. Mrs FiSke is a great intellectual
actress. She can express, and she holds
Selecting her plays with care, studying
her productions. and bringing out the en-
semhle with tremendous effect she al
Ways dominates and sWayS her audiences
on the worlds stage today she has ONLY
two cha Observation-Disclosures. who eXcels in
versatility. and DUse. VINO is emotion
ally tragic in her personality, but who
has not the brain ike Mrs. FlSke to con-
Cetve great characters and carry out re
maTkable productions.
As for the production. It affords sub
jeCt for study which would require many
columns to discuss with any adequu,y.
The first scene is laid in tough bar
room. The booze gTafters. the bOuncer
the free-lunch grabber and all the rest
of the characters are portrayed with such
remarkable verisimilitude that one must
conclude Mr.. Fiske-of course, not Mrs
Fiske-has studied carefully at first
hand
The second act is simple but the third
act with its tenement flights and its va
rious street incidents. winding up with
the redemDtion of Nells lover, is an
other wonderful piece of stage plctur1ng-
The picture is not laid out in tmpres-
slonistic fashion, but is worked out 70 the
smallest detail Of tWitch and movement IN
manner to excite wonder.
Every member of the big cast is splen-
did
To sum up. Salvation Nel' is q start
ling. hesrt-rending picture Of sordid.
sQualOrCus and disgusting conditions
which actually exist It UWangs pathetic
and tragic chords in the heart, and 1t
commands infinite respect and 7dm1ra
ton for the artistry Of the production.
Turning to another phase, II may be
stated that Mrs. Etske and her husband
have often been suspected of making
false and unearued capital out of their
opposition to the so-salled theatrical
syndicate The CRY of art for art 5
sake has not always Tung true. Despite
this suspicion. however, IT may be stated
that any person who has been a regular
attendant at the run of syndicate attraC-
lions with one over-tOuted. Over-esti-
mated star, one single setting throughout
and a supporting bunch which ought TO
be working as section men on q railroad
Just to pass the time away. will vel
come Mrs Fiske and her really adequate
production. It is q matter for congrat-
ulation that the Shuperts and others have
organized an antitrust and that there
will be q semblsnce Of competition.
Mrs. Fiske will remain at the Grand
until Thursday evening. Those who do
not care to see the greatest American
actress in play OF exceptional artistic
merit probably will not attend. It Is 10
be hoped others will.
Finding new strength in the character
of John Storm. Ralph Stuart opened a
weeks enEa cement at the Colonial last
night in The Christian" that famous
drama of the church which has wealth
ered the criticisms of countless thou
sands and has grown more popular with
the passing Years IN the varied roper
tory of Mr.. Stuart the difficult role Of
John Storm brings out more strongly than
any of the others his sterling dramatic
ability
A large audience witnessed the perform
ance last night and showed its appTeCi-
alton in no unstinted measure. Miss Mary
Hall was al her be- in the character Of
Glory Quale. the country girl who an
swers the call Of the great London, rises
TO undreamed heights on the stage, and
then when she has all London at hey
feet turns her hack upon the theatre
and Joins John Storm. her girlhood sweet
heart. in his fight for the uplift Of the
poor.
Both stars are well supported by the
Mack stock company. Airing AlClne, q
ArChdezCon Wealthy, though suffering
from recent injuries, rose to his best in
rhe last act. the mob scene in the church,
In his dpnunciatiOn OF the young priest,
NauEhtou as Mrs Calendar, was espe-