The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-17
Observation-Disclosures

, Inc least that can be said of The
barrier Is that 1t is Il powerful play
.l. Inc novel was written by Rex Beach.
which is assurance that the dramatist,
Eugene W. Presbrey, had annie nafc
| rial from which TO weave four acts of
as intensely suspenseful and interesting
uraiiia as has played upon the emotions
ot the theatcrgoing public I'm many a
day. This excellent piece OF dramatic
Workmanship. when placed in the hands
OF Such cast of players as is headed
,, 10y IMAM ihgersoll; would seem TO have
pccn evolved into the acme of dramatic
art And this assumption Is amply con-
lirncd by the welcome reception accorded
mr. lngersoll and his company in ''Thc
| oi this piece at tho Garrick theatcr sun
day night; which Is 10 say that the play
| is produced in the excellent manner that
mas mas become matter OF course i'm any
| thlng produced by the Ingersoll COM
| pany. Aside from the studied character
| representations by the players, the touch
| OF genius Is apparent In the staging OF
the play. Such effects as arc achieved I'm
the present production OF The Bar
| rler cannot he gained by ordinary stock
! stage management. but are due TO a
deep penetration by one who is a mas
| ter of stage management and direction
The story of "The Barrier began
twenty years before the opening of the
| play II terminated in the dark. the
table and lamp having been overturned
| when the flash from a pistol and tho
Iaint rays of the moon revealed to us
two men In terrific. CORY hand TO-
hand struggle, in which death OF one or
the other must result. When the lights
are on one Of them lies with knife
thrust through his ribs: the other wound :
ed in the arm. For twenty years the
| man who got his Just deserts i'm the
combat had been pursuing his opponent
| IN order TO have him hanged for a crime
that lie himself had committed He had
| shot and killed his own wife AS she was
clopins with his rival, who immedia tcly
| consolcd himself by marrying q suuaw
But he had taken The infant from the
| slain mothers breast and that girl Is sup
| posed 10 be his daughter. a half breed.
At mining camp. where lie keeps Il
| general store and barroom. a United
States captain falls IN love with her.
Presently the enemy enters. coming from
some distant bailiwick and orders a
drink, and the trouble begins. If the
character were one that one could re-
| spect, Walter Seymour's acting would
| count as the best that he has given
OF his talents to amuse Salt Lakers. AS
| 1T Is, IL is only fine acting devoted to
| character that does not appeal but
| essential TO the proper carrying out OF
| the play. The girl is discovered TO be
| white and not a half-brecd and gets her
captain. The circumstances concerning
| Iler are exceptionally romantic. and Miss
| Frances Nelson has a good opportunity
OF which she avails herself. In giving to
| her audience another phase of her vcr-
satility, the delineation OF the supposedly
semi -barbarouS Nccia.
There are other parts that stand out
| for naturalness I'm the acting and pas
| sages. William Jngersoll has not the dif-
| tlcult part in the production. though tc
The character which he impersonates is
| due the direct action of the piece. His
portrayal Of the "blue -bIooded'' captain
is natural and handled with ease. and Is
| quite effective where the part would
most likely he decidedly fiat were II
| placed in the hands OF one not so tai
| ented an actor, J. David Herblin, in the
character OF Poleon Dorct. a French
| Canadian hopelessly in love with the girl
gains the bulk OF sympathy that is gained
John Gale, around whom the action oi
the play ccntcrs. Mr.. Crosby is scarcely
of the stage during the four acts, and
| most of the time his position is a trying
one. But there is not a break in ~
| portrayal he seemingly gathering
strength up to the climax, in which Inc
| plays Il conspicuous part. Warren Il
Emerson Wilson Day Albert L. Peters
| and Miss Jessie E. Pringe give the
| closest attention 10 the minor parts
| bringing them on plane with the fin
| ighed portrayals of the principals OF the
! company. Tic house was sold out at
o'clock and many were turned away una
| bic TO obtain seats.
| 1.-The Barrier" will he PLAYED through
| the week, with tho usual matinccs
| Tho bill at the Orpheum this week is
| not UP To the usual standard The head
| liner picked out by the press agent falls
Dream. as presented by the Top % tn
! World Dancers" has too much horse
play III IL. at least three quarters of the
pantomime could he cut out and still
| leave enough for all purposes. The wom-
on who dance are Comcly and shapely
- nIrI, II, Il,