The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-22
ADJUSTMENTS
"YoUR HUMBLE SERVANT

Otis Skinner, who shares the claim to
be called the first American actor with
Mantell, SOthern ana Warfield, is at the
Salt Lake theatre in his latest success,
Your Humble Servant. At his opening
performance last night a small audience,
made up of the people who know, greet
ed the famous actor, The question is;
If the playgoers of Salt Lake do not
want to see Otis Skinner, just what is it
that they do Want?'' If il is to be amused,
laugh-provoking humor in Your Humble
Servant than the sum total of musical
comedy can furnish. If it is to be moved,
entranced and given a glimpse of what
the real stage people are doing, they
should go to see Mr.. Skinner. To Mr..
Skinner himself the scholar and polished
man of the world, familiar with the en-
thusiasm of capacity houses III New York,
the lack of appreciation here may seem
only another phase of the wild and wool
ly. He thanked the audience that APP
plauded him last night for the apprec1-
alton it showed, but he must have had
mental reservation about the audience
that was not there, and which he had
every reason to expect.
After making his reputation in the clas-
sic plays, or plays in the cassie form,
Mr.. Skinner has in the last few years
appeared in modern roles. OF these, the
part of Lafayette Towers, in Your Hum
BILE Servant, is the most daring depar-
ture from his hitherto dignified imper-
sonatiOns. As Mr.. Skinner presents him,
LATE" Towers is an optimistic, ranting,
vagrant transformer of a broKen-doWn
tragedan. In the first act and again in
the third ne is absurd with his stage
mannersms, but likable and entertaining
in every mood. In the second act he is
stranded in New York without an en-
gagement. Then HIS cheerful optimism al
most gives way, and tears and smiles
keep close company as Mr. Skinner I'M
fha cipDnlp hr9UprU nf the
upon his spectators.
In the last act he is down and out be-
cause his ward, the little girl for whom
he has made every sacrifice, has made
needed. He prepares to go quietly away,
out of her life but the true-hearted girl
reveals her secret-that it is "Lafe' she
loves. She has to do the wooing her
self, for it is hard in the plainest words
to convince him. The final touch of sur
prise and Incredibly is one of the most
artistic touches of the impersonation.
The girl, played by Miss Izetta Jewel,
is a charming young thing with the dear
est ways and bravest spirit in the world.
1t is not easy TO distinguish between the
role and Miss Jewel s personality. as the
part seems to fit her exactly. The puns
that have doubtless been made upon her
name would not be misleading. She has
won recognition for exceptional ability
and is the sort of support needed by Mr..
Skinner in this play.
AS in all Oh Charles Frohmans pro-
auctions, the piece is admirably staged
and the cast uniformly good. Charles
B. Wells and Edward Fielding are su-
perior in their parts and won their snare
Of recognition. Two acts played behind
the scenes Of a THEATRE give a peep into
the world of theatrical people that is al
ways enjoyed. Three performances-Gn
Tuesday and Wednesday night and We'd
nesday matinee-remain of this notable
engagement.