The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-28
NEW YORK SEASON OPENS

NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-Little by lit
N tie each year sees the opening OF
the dramatic season brought
about a few days earlier, until one be-
E-ns - question il soon there viii ba
any vacation at all. This year matters
are in full swing in advance or Labor
day, which only a few years ago was
considered the formal and actual be-
ginning OF the whit RS campaign. 1t
would be difficult 10 say just what has
brought this about, but whether the
cause be merely stress OF competition
or in response 10 genuine public de-
and. the fact is that all the theatres
IN have IneriUOriOus attractions are
4. ing splendid patronage even in
IN, iOttest OF the dog days. Where
the audiences come from Is a puzzle,
but the most plausible explanation Is
that they are largely composed OF re-
turning tourists from mountain, lake
and seashOre who linger a Few days
In New York before proceeding home
ward, and that the great army or buy
ers from the large mercantile houses
Of the interior which descends upon
New York the latter part OF every
summer TO a large extent makes up
the remainder.
Another innovation OF the last year
or TWO is worthy OF more than passing
mention This is the custom or open
iug the season with the same play that
closed the house the previous spring
This year there are at least half
dozen such instances al hand, and IN
q few DAYS more the plays that stopped
short from heat stroke IN the early
summer Will be vying again Tor pOpu-
1aTity with the new productions ana
the summer shows, which are OF klnu
peculiarly their own. and hold the Ileid
with varying success, according TO their
merits, against the increasing competI-
tion.
Speaking OF these summer shows.
their most striking popularity is that
- NNsl hl Il
seemingly beyond redemption at the
start, but somehow they always man
age TO survive; and theatrical mem
ory which goes back for twenty years
scarcely serves TO recall single one
which failed to live out its allotted
period. Their pliable form makes II
1asy to change and inject eNtraneous
c1atter; summer audiences are pfoFerpi-
ally indulgent, and the diminished com
petition and small. off season salary
list complete the result
FOlIIes OF 1919.
OF this years crop the most preten-
fi0us, as usual, IS Florenz Ziegtleld'
%'Follies Of 1870" which has been draw
ing .arge audiences since early in June
10 the Jardin de Paris, another name
Tor the roof garden on top or the New
cork theatre. Begun here three sum
mers ago, these reviews as the man
egement prefers 20 term them, saJlr-
fling passing or recent events IN real
life or on the stage, have pecOIne an
established institution of the heated
term In point OF music and genuine
comedy, however. this years entertain
Elent is hardly up to the standard OF
previous seasons, although no expense
has been spared in providing gorgeous
costumes and splendid scenery.
The music is commonplace IN Inc eA-
IRENE, except for one or i've caicuy
songs, and the comedy rarely rises
above the level OF slapstick burlesque
enc brilliant exception must De noted
however. in the case OF Bert Williams
the noted colored comedian who Is the
bright particular star Of the perform
ance. He fairly eNudes the character
istic humOr OF his race He IS quietly
and effectively funny in burlesque or
The recent Jeffrtes-Johnson prize Ighl,
IN which he impersohales t1e colotsS
champion. while his monologue ana
songs are convulstvely laughaele. the
entire performance, In IucL, Is DuI d
string OF loosely hung toSetner Nauue-
VILE specialties in when me PRINCIPALS
are assisted by more or less OF
chorus, as the eXigencles OF the case
may demand.
The one distinctive feature of the per-
Torrance is the fact tna- II ls played
not only on the stage. but all over the
euditorfum as well. Actors and
actresses bob up from the most uneN-
nectrd places, until one Iully expects
10 see his next seat neiShbcr rise up
and take part in the b performances. The
.e-lOnOred swing song is worked "a
again, hut this tune the comeiy maiden
l. EWING far cat Over the heilcs az
The eUdience fully haif wa back 20
tha doors Not once, Dut habitlaEy
the chorus comes trouping down the
afsles. until the beWlldered spectator
finally sees the curtain fan with a sigh
OF relief as he YEARLY feels for MS
aehines reCk. which has been twisted |
ike thar 81 a cOnJOrti0uist in vain eff /
forts 10 keep his eyes on all the per- |
formers all the time
Jack barrymore Makes Hit.
OF the plays that hold over and be- |
gin the new season where they were
Interrupted By the summer vacation, |
none has had a longer run nor en- /