The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-23
NST. ELlfO.o

Fear of a recurrence of earthquake
shocks combined with general lack
of knowledge of the excellence Of the
production injured the attendance at
the Colonial theatre last night to see
the opening of EST. Elmo" Belasco's
dramatiZation of the famous and alb
sorbing novel by Augusta J. Evans.
That it is the Belasco production can
well be believed from the careful at
tention that has evidently been paid
TO its staging and to the careful re-
hearsal of the competent cast that is
handling the play.
st. Elmo hurry, a rich young south
eTn planter in ante-bellum days, be-
comes engaged to his cousin. Agnes
Powell. He discovers her clandestine
love for his intimate friend, Murray
Hammond, son Of the Rev. John Ham
mond a sanity country pastor. he
challenges the friend TO a duel and
kills him. The killing is witnessed by
Edna Earl, granddaughter of poor
blacksmith. The blacksmith also dies
as the result of excitement following
the duel, and the abusive language
of St. Elmo. Miss Earl becomes i'll
from brain fever after the two deaths.
and from brOOding over the fact that
if, who was following him. Upon her
recovery, she is injured in a train &C
cident, and is carried into the home
of St. Elmo, where she is cared Tor
by his good mother, and incurs the
enmity of Miss Powell, who is also
an inmate of the Murray home.
st. Elmos sad love affair embitterS
his life. and changes him from a
trusting. cOnfiding young man into a
misanthrope and cynic. His gradual
redemption through Miss Earfs influ-
ence his attempt to kill himself at
the grave of his former friend and
the aged blacksmith. and his rescue
by Miss Earl, Who declares her love
for him at last are wildly told in
the story and equally well presented
In the title role. Charles E. Gum
distinguishes himself, his splendid
stage presence and vibrant. resonant
most capable work. As the false
friend, George Baldwin does as well
as he did when a valued member of
the Mack stock company at the Bun
galow and Colonial theatres a year
ago. Mr.. Baldwin gave much promise
during his former work here, and his
departure at that time was regretted
deeply. That he has progressed in his
plainly evidenced.
AS the heroine of the play. Gerda
Nelson in the role Of Edna Earl gave
satisfaction occasionally marred by
overacting and a tendency TO pedantry,
which, however, can be readily for
given for her really clever work where
she confesses her love for St Elmo in
the parsonage garden, but spurns him
because of his evil acts. This is an
exceedingly striking scene, with the
light from the rustic chapel stream
ing through the window and throw
Ing into bold relief the likeness Of
the Christ. Mr.. Gum also rose to star
ION in his depletion Of remOrse, and
by what must be genius failed TO be
nelod-amatic, as a less capable actor
certainly would have done.
The others of the cast gave excel
lent support TO the principals. The
stage settings are handsome. and failed
% look as trayel-worn as the fag end
IF the season would have justified.
Tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday
nights will be benefit performances for
local charities, and should inspire
large houses even If the merits Of the
production fail to do so. In charge
Of the production is Harry R Pottery,
one of the best known men in the the
strical business. The production runs
for the remainder of the week, with
matinees Wednesday and Saturday.