The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-05
ADJUSTMENTS

Theodore Roberts. actOr-greatest char
aeter actor on the American stage today.
THE Right of Way" drama-powerful
drama in action and gripping in human
poFtraiture.
Guy Standing. leading man-excellent
Leaning man.
All these three are to be seen at the
Salt Lake theatre for the rest OF the
week, the engagement opening last even
ing.
In addition. there is a splendid COM
pany and altogether superb produc-
Those who have read Sir Gilbert Park
ers novel may be inclined to attend this
performance in a highly critical mood
The mental pictures are so vivid and with
al so varied that no dramatized version
could realize the Individual or even the
composite ideals of those who have read
the story. They who attend determined
on comparisons between play and story
are likely to arrive at varied conclusions.
On the other hand. those of intelligence
who cOnscieatiOusly judge the production
on its dramatic merits alone cannot fail
to arrive at a COmmendatoTy verdict.
From an artistic standpoint. the main
flaw in the drama is the capitulation to
The popular demand for a happy ending.
The original story reaches a climax which
Is artistically glorious, in spite of the
tragedy. The play weakly kills off the
wife, who is an obstacle to the appro-
Pirate union of souls, and leaves Charlie
Steele and Rosalie to live happily ever
after Ills Is a stump DQL
necessary in order to make the hoi pollot
act advertising agents for the show.
In the book, the characters are Char
lie Steel and others.
In the play, as given last evening, the
characters are Joe Fortugais, Charlie
Steele and others.
The character of a French-Canadian
habitant, taking human life recklessly for
the sake of woman, caninely loyal (for
such absolute gratitude and devotion to
one who has done a favor is more COM
mon among dogs shan mankud). self
sacrificing to the last degree, unintelli-
gent yet dumbly faithful, requires mas
ter for adequate portrayal.
Theodore Roberts is the master.
At the instant OF his first entrance ne
reaches out and lays hold of his audi
ence- The humble peasant and murderer
becomes a powerful personality. Roberts
actually is the lowly man. with his man
nerisms and his accent to a needle-point,
possessed, despite his limitations, of the
almost sublime inspirations of . divine
guardian angel. when dealing with the
man to whom he owes gratitude and
life.
Mr. Roberts triumphs in Arizona and
THE Squaw Man pale as the intrinsic
merits of his performance in THE Right
of Way" are considered.
This is not intended to belittle Guy
Standing, who Is one of the co-stars, ac-
cording to billboards and programs. Mr..
Standing is a splendid leading man. From
q literary viewpoint, the character of
Steele. cynical. skeptical, cold. drunken,
brilliant and prOfligate at first. later
earnest and warm and sincere, though
infidel. is the most tremendous concep-
ton. On the stage, however, the charac-
ter does not require the unusual gifts
which the role of Portugais eXacts. Mr.
Standing NAV have powers reaching far
beyond the role in which he appeared, but
in this case about all which can be said
is that he played the part feelingly. ac-
curately and satisfactorily.
The company is without a weak spot
If possible. see the play.
The engagement closes Saturday even
ing.