Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-28

company opened lts engagement at
the Grand last night In the stirring
melodrama, 1.-The Fighting Chance,
play laid In the mountain feud coun-
try of tho southern states. IL Is the
same old story OF the girl of one
murderous father. falling In love with
tho son of another blood-thlrsty killer.
While we OF the north and of the west
sometimes laugh at their blood
thirstIness. yet now and then real
echoes from the feud land como to us
through our papers. and With n shud-
der we realize that such foolish quar-
rels do demand their toll of blood.
r. T. Hazlett as the hero gave good
Satisfaction. and bids fair TO be como
popular with Grand patrons. He is q
handsome fellow, with a pleasing voico
good stage presence and more than
average ability. Jack Conway and
Reed Clark. ns the blood-thlrsty dads.
were more than good" Ira Earl had
but small part, but no did that well,
and there Is strong family resem-
blance between him and brother Bob.
Rex Wilson as the small brother Is a
real boy and a smart one at that.
Tho two "niggers" might shorten their
last scene to advantage. and Mandy
was rather too much of n caricature
even for the gods In the gallery;
Whitaker WAS not half bad. Mr.. Alfred
swap. created much laughter. MacWil-
son, as Mrs. Carter, had the right con-
ccptlon of the woman OF the feud wars.
Prean Oultrim. the leading lady. just
acts well enough to save herself. The
house was about half filled.
COLONIAL-The audience assembled
Mt the Colonial last night to see isis
Hopkins" waited over an hour and n
half before the curtain went UP finally
on the comedy. the delay occurred
through the railway misadventures
which brought the company to Salt
Lake several hours after the scheduled
time. 1t was nearing 10 O'Clock when
the curtain rang up, the audience hav-
ing endured the walt with a wonder
full good nature. aided chiefly by tho
excellent Colonial orchestra, which,
with a program of classical. patriotic
and rag time melodies beguilcd the
otherwise tedious time. The actors
who faced the audience finally, did so
with lcery ION guard" expression, as
IL doubtful whether imprecations, eggs.
OF applause might greet their debut.
If there were any real apprehension,
howover. 1t was quickly dispelled by
the attitude OF the house, which met
with undimlnished good nature the ef-
forts OF the capable company to make
up for the accident.
The actors are all clever and Rose
Melville as Sis Hopkins gave an in
imitable portrayal of the girl pumpkin.
with its awkwardness and gaucherie
toned by the simplicity. innocence and
good nature with which II was en-
dowed. In Miss Melvilles hands the
part, which in less artistic ones could
easily merge into intolerable horseplay.
is q screaming picture of genuine
humor throughout. ludicrouS, yet stop
ping short of the offensive pitch. Ma
and Pa Hopkins arc the ideal country
couple and Obidiah Odlum. Ridy Scar
borough. Bart Varnum. Addison Vibert
and the various other characters are
all we'll sustained.
The farm yard in front of the Hop
klns house. with the barn and live
horse, the seminary music-room with
its faded grandeur and types of ar
old-fashioned, precise feminity. were
all excellent and helped to make a
picture of the play 1t goes for the
rest of the week
BUNGALOW-The Margaret Whit
ney Opera company In 1.-The Sub" plays
Thursday evening. The Willard Mack
company are actively rehears!ng Polly
Primrose" which goes on New Years
day.
MISSION-Tonight sees the last pro-
sentation of the bill of the week, to
be followed by a complete change to-