The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-06


The Salt Lake theater on Monday had
its orty.ninth annual opening. Next
sary. And II its first opening in 1862
was auspicious, that of Monday was
equally so. 1t was fitting that it was
so. And those who were present at
production Big audiences were present
on both occasions-not only big audi
ences. but capacity ones, And they
came a,1so away from the the play having been
ing seen on old friend. an accomplished
actress, a gifted woman. And they were
glad that they had been present.
ton OF a play that has not yet been seen
In tho east, and the audiences were
critical, Their Judgment was asked as
10 the merits OF play, Tho verdict
was not only good, not only better. but
Salt Lake audiences are extremely
critical. This for two reasons First,
actors, actresses and musicians than any
other city in the United States Other
people In other cities, both In America
and In Europe, have pronounced their
who have sought histrionic honors or ap-
pealed to the populace as song birds;
Hence. when new play is produced
here they are. as said, extremely cHti-
Monday Henrietta Crosman presented
at tho Salt Lake theater her latest play.
1t was Percy Mackayes saurical
comedy. Anti -Matrimony. There are
six people In the cast. Five do the
work, present the play. And their pro
duction is away up at the top. In fact,
the acme is reached.
Possibly upon Monday afternoon the
company was inspired by the presence of
others in the same profession and who
by the way were generous in the merited
applause which they bestowed. for in one
OF the stalls sal Margaret Ellington and
her husband and Mr.. Ellsner. her stage
manager and author OF her play Until
Eternity" BE that as it may, Henrietta
Crosman never appeared 10 better ad-
vantage than she did on Monday.
Her play is a whimsical comedy. 1t
deals with "a question, and logically too.
that is as old as the hills. that VIII always
be q question, but which presents and
handles this question from an entirely
new standpoint il Is powerful story
The playwright who is master OF dram
attic art has not only made IT so hut he
presents story brim fun and orerhoWlns
with fun and all about "us married peo-
pie ;" Young as well old, II Is a play
that has fallen like bomb from the
theatrical sky into The cobwebbed atmos-
phere OF the ordinary drama and in eX-
ploding has created what? Why, ono of
the funniest comedies of the day, Tho
steps into the place IN tl&
theatrical armament left vacant by the
death of Clyde Fitch.
Anti -Matrimony" deals with series
OF incidents i'm tho lives of two brothers.
the Rev. Elliott Grey. u MASSACHUSETTS,
newly married and with mo
sense of humor, and Morris Grey. So
cialiStic dreamer who finds in marriage
what he considers the curse Of humanity.
He arrives at the minister's house after
a prolonged absence abroad and brings
with him his "soulmate." as he styles
hcr. Tho minister and his wife arc
shocked beyond measure and arc horr'hcd
At the doctrines laid down by Morris
Grey. who invcighs against matrimony
and tells OF Its dangers.
Mildred Grey. the minister's wiie.
played by Miss Crosman. UNI
dertakes to straightcn out the tanSle by
her husband TO apparently fall
in with his brothers wild philosophy and
agree to 1t. Mildred asks the tutclagc
OF the abbcratcd brother who readily con
sents, He imprcsscs her with IN" ncccS-
sity OF the throwing off the ShacklcS OF
matrlmonY and she with her good hus-
bands consent, appears 10 agree. The re-
suit Is jealousy on the part OF the soul
mate" and n thousand and one compiler
tions that seem 10 get into "a tnnglc
from which there can be no cXtrication.
Womanly wit and intuitvc common sense
however accomplish the seemingly i'm
possible and the reYiler OF marriage set
Ties down into the most duttful husband
Imaginable.
There Is a climax in every act. and it
might be truthfully said that there are
ScNelIl EIlWhNtS III every dt(' MISS
Crosman has evidently found the part of
her career. Her comedy work has al
ways been delicious but in no other role
has she displayed the wonderful gift in
so delightful "A manner. There is
charm TO her fun making that Is at once
and lovabIe, Her role is a
long one and she Is on the stage nearly
all the time, but there is never moment
when she is not turning the shaft of
ridicule on the unsound theories of her
msed brother-in-law. and you are in
love with her from the first While she
was pretty as a girl, pretty when she
was In her teens she Is beautiful as IL
matron and she has never played better
than she does now.
Miss Crosman has surrounded herself
with n most carefully selected and cap
lnan--all stars, AS the misguided broth
er Morris. Mr.. Gordon Johnstone plays
the part 90 perfection. II rs not over
drawn. 1t is Il thorough appreciation OF
n most difficult part. Of a most singular
part, AS the minister. Rev. Elliott Grey.
the role could not have been placed in
more capable hands than that Of Herbert
Foriier.
The character of the ''souImalc' is
played by Miss Grace Car
lVe who last season was starred in
''The Thief" by Charles Frohman. and
who lis Il proteEe of Miss Crosman. Pretty
as n picture graceful as a fawn, she cap
tivatcd tho audience Miss Elizabeth
Baker as Mrs, Grey. the mother OF the
tbcr the CONTINGENCIES of tho comedy.
while The minor characters are all cast
with view OF excellence OF intcrprcta-
tiun,
''Anti-Matrimony" is another link in
the chain Of proof that Miss Crosman is