The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-23

ollS HhlnneT closes MS engage ment al
The Salt Lake theater this evening. Mr.
skinner is one OF the most popular per-
sonalities on the American stage, and
his return here In his latest success. a
want by Messrs. Booth Harrington and
Harry Leon Wilson, has stimulated the
Keenest interest among the clientele OF
playsoers who have long admired his art
In the most eNacting and capricious roles
II is the play different. There is n eli
max in every act. The company is a
superb one. You should see the play
There will be matinee this afternoon
So very American that 1t appeals to
every American. is THE Lion and the
Mouse" that famous play which ran for
three fun years In New York, and which
has been seen by millions OF playgoers
II will be presented In this city by
Henry p. Harris al the Colonial on sun
day. The production has had an eXtraor-
dinary success since It's first appearance
on the Stage. and II would appear from
the interest that is being taken In this
famous drama OF Charles Klein. that Il
VIII endure FOR many years 10 come No
little interest is attached TO the return
OF the play from the fact that Walter
Edwards an excellent and favorite actor
Is the leading man OF the company and
VIII be seen in Ready Money Ryder"
which Is exactly suited to his ability
Mr.. Edwards was last seen here at tho
head Of his own stock company FIVE
years ago.
Julius steger. who is playing at the
musical dramatic playlet. ''rhe Way to
the Heart, Is an enthusiast over vaude-
vile. He declares that art ana vaude-
VIE, Is not misnomer. In talk with
Mr., S,eger said:
" Art and vaudeville Is not
phrascologicai mlsnomcr II is just this
combination that has succeeded in max
Ing NutIIe Will. h1s oil ,Ia
OF theatergoers In New York and
throughout the country as an entertain
ment so far above the ld-tlme variety
that there scarcely remains a semblancc
OF some OF the material that years ago
made the variety stage dumping
ground for banality and trteism
When went into vaudeville (only
three, seasons ago) there were friends
who believed honestly that / was losing
caste by so doing, because my previous
experience had been in big Broadway
lerent from those that had hcen familiar
In vaudeville. This was a silly way
OF looking a. 1t, OF course. for already
there had been examples furnished OF
some Of. Americas finest players in the
musical and dramatic fields. going on the
vaudeville stage, with more or less sue
cess. But the idea was n new one stiIl
and therefore there were the usual mes.
simists. Today there scarcely is a man
or woman in or out of the profession
who is not convinced that vaudeville Of
IeTS as me opportunities Tor tlfe able
and ambitious player as does any other
line OF stage endcavor. and. Of course
this is entirely apart from the financial
consideration. which. however, is a mat
ter that none OF the workers of the stage
can afford 10 overlook, pratc as they
may about their love OF art
II had faith In my Offering. or, natu-
Tally enough. l would not have brought
ii 10 the attention OF managers and
asked for their bookings. Perhaps have
been similarly fortunate. Ny little play
let. The Fifth Commandment a happy
combination of song and story. was re
ceived from the very outset with omen
city OF this great country. Newspapers
have praised IL everywhere. and in some
notable instances have honorcd it with
editorials. while clcrsymen have recon-
mendcd 1t from the pulpit as being an
uplifting entertainment worthy of being
a player hope for. even in the legitimate
field?
There must be this 10 say OF the
American vaudeville audience; II has
grown as eXacting as the audiences 10
be found in any Of the theaters devoted
know what dramatic value Is they know
that vaudeville is no longer a synonym
for slapsticl methods for double en-
tendre. for the mawkish, for the cheap,
the tawdry and the obvious. They have
been educated TO appreciate and there
fore 10 exact a higher class OF enter
| talnment than ever before. That i9
why there is today art In vaudeville
II am certain that n very great deal
OF this newer appreciation of the artis-
/ tic in vaudeville audiences can be traced
directly TO the attitude OF men who.
like p. +, Keith, +. F. Proctor. Martin
Beck. Percy williams. r. f. AIbee and
William Hammerstein, have constantly