The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-27

Londoners go to a new musical play
they would be surprised not to be sur
prised.
For example, when THE Toreador'
was in vogue neither of the four wom-
en- in important roles sang keep OFF
the Grass" The girl who stepped out
from Obscurity, at ten-thirty every
night. and entranced the Johnnies, who
saw no cause to arrive earlier, was the
Rosie Boote who now is the Marchion-
ess of Headfort. 1t was the same thing
that Billie Burke did in 'FThe School
Girr' by her winsomely vivacious yet
half bashful way of singing Rock Me
In My Little Canoe" and the grace
fully sWaying dance with which she
concluded it. And for the time the
usually petted Edna was forgotten.
Edna Gets LimeIight.
When Edna May came back to New
York with 1.-THE School Girl she was
permitted to take the song for herself.
Her modest manner made it go charm
ingly. And it would be unjust to call
her piggish, for the usage here is to
| give all possible opportunities to the
company's leaders. No other school
! girl must outshine the star school girl
for even a moment. So, just as Adele
| Richie interpolated Keep Off the
Grass in her role in 1.-THE Toreador,"
Edna made use of the canoe song.
Billie Burke stayed in London and
doubtless we'll satisfied, for she went
into serious drama and presently be-
came leading actress for Charles Haw-
trey. When she appeared in her own
country, in star-like part with John
Drew, she had left song and dance be-
hind her. Still, she would have liked to
convince at least one American au-
dience that she could coo and cuddle
as nicely as Edna May in the dance
that first fcated her. Billie cuddled
beautifully but her cold hurt her COO
ing; and SO. at this matinee. the hero
inc OF 1.-The Bracelet like her of
Sympathetic Souls" had an annoying
mishap.
Belated American acclaim of Henrik
Ibzen, the Norwegian and Maurice
Materlinck. the Belgian-not as dram
Artists, but as dramatic poets-broke
out at an evening performance of a
part of Brand" and all of SISTER Bea-
trice" in one evening. The enthusiasm
was intelligent, too, and not faddish,
although it happened at the million
aires New theatre. The boxfuls of ul-
ira, extra mOdish subscribers were
stirred out of their usual pose of calm
indifference, and they Joined with the
equally fashionable. though hahitually
less apathetic people of the parquet in
applause.
Both brand" and Sister Beatrice"
are plays of piety. In Brand" the
Christianity set forth is very austere.
Brand is a physically rugged but gen
thy loving husband of a delicate wife;
but he is a preacher of hard. harsh doc
trines of Gods severe demands on His
creatures; and when the wife still
grieves for their child year after it's
death, he pronounces it a sin to be
sorry for any bereavement, because
God has willed it for divine purpose.
She won't go to heaven unless she ac-
cepts without tears-even with a glad
smile-the loss of her beloved little
boy.
A Christmas Eve Drama.
Only the last act is given, but it is
q drama complete and coherent. The
time is Christmas eve. The wife lights
last years Christmas tree and sets if
in q window, where 1t will shine out on
the boys grave. That seems to Brand
sinful censure of Gods purpose in kill
ing the child; so he commands her to
close the curtain, and she obeys. Next
she takes the lost ones articles of
clothing from a trunk and fondles them
as sacred mementoes. Thereat the
preacher forces her TO give them TO q |
dissolute woman for her child of
shame. What seems to his austere |
mind a religious duty is sacrilege to
the grieving mother. Again she does
his bidding. At the moment OF his |
triumphant Joy over her obedience TO
his torturing mandates, she slips from
his embrace and lies dead at his feet. |
So, you perceive, one-ouarter OF |
Brand" makes a complete drama: and |
with the Brands portrayal by Annie |
Russell and Lee Baker, the mothers |
appeal is pathetic, while the fathers |
cruel preachment is less likeable.
1t may be said of the New theatre /
that 1t works while others talk. For |
years productions of brand" and Sis /
ter Beatrice" have been projects, or at /
least staple conversation. of several |
star players. Only a month ago the
Nsw aaa8Aasaa IL Intention t0 adopt