The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-11-15

G HbooN nave Salt Lake thcater
- goers seen two such powerful
plays as ''The Woman and
Bought and Paid For" in one
week. Those who witnessed both plavs
at the Salt Lake theater found it diff.
flcult to award the palm OF superior
merit. Both are enthralllng studies of
current life; both are realistic. con.
ylnclng and Intense "The Woman -
Is more realistic in scenic detail and
IN stage business. s'Bought and Paid
For is moro realistic in it's portyaval
OF character It is less meIodramati
and less theatrical It's fun. revolving
mostly about the character Of Jimmy,
is more appealingly human. Tbeye is
less din In The climaxes, but quite as
much power and intopsity.
Both are problem PLAYS. "'Tbe
Woman analyzes the national problem
of graft, while "Bought and Paid For -
deals with tho more intimate and.
therefore, more gripping problem of do
mestic iiscord.
These two plays are the highest
product of contemporary playwright
ing 4 generation ago either Of them
would have been considered n phenom.
enon. Today American dramatists are
turning out half dozen such plays in
a season. All Of them are admirably
accurate pictures Of American life of
today.
Robert Stafford. captain OF Industry
WHO has risen TO sreut riches by his own
effort, decides lo make Virginia Blaine,
telephone girl. his wife. She accepts
hinl after battling with her ideals and
marries him while admitting ihaL she
does not love him. After the marriage
size learns TO love him with all her soul.
Al first she is heppy in the thought
tnat she has given an excellent home to
her sister Fanny and 10 Fannys hus-
band and their baby Fanny's husband
is Jimmie. the shipping clerk Of wonder
position at 500 week and one night
when intoxicated makes il $3.50. adding
With laugh, Jimmie, when you are
really worth $50 a week III make 1t
5000
Ii the foregoing were the only elements
OF the Plot the pla lay might be ella ssed
with such mild and pleasing productions
as 'Rcbecca OF Sunnybrook Farm and
'jfomander Walk" but the author has
added another element that supplies the
motif and the problem-drinl. It is an
with many melodramatic scenes that
permitted the orchestra to play trernulo.
But there is nothing of the Demon Rum"
sentiment of = Ter Nights 10 Barroon."
surpasses the loftiest reaches Of melo-
drama.
When intoxicated Robert Stafford is a
beast. One OF the most fascinating and
at the same time repeiling scenes o! the
PLAY is in the second act, where the
millionaire returns home intoxicated and
displays the worst side OF his nature 10
his wife and to his brother-in-aw and
this state many times and she knows
that tho parting OF the ways has come.
The finale Of, the scene rs quite as
risoue as American standards viii per
NIT II is employed TO show 10 what
depths q noble-minded man can sink un-
der the influence Of strong drink On
penlant and when chided by his wife
makes sufficient amends as far as mere
words will 90, but The time has passed
when the wife can accept the repenlant
spirit as comprehension iot oiS'O''S'N"i
II have bought YOU and paid for you.
and all the property that l puy an9 pay
for is mine 10 DO with what ! Viii nc ne
night before, She feels the sting OF these
words In the depth OF her soul, knowing
that they have a basis OF truth.
The wife gives Stafford his choice. He
must promise never to drink again or
she viii leave him. Proud. stubborn, ac-
customed TO rule. with will that has
never been broken; nay. has never even
bowed To 5lctation, he accepts the alter
native OF separation. He tells her that
she win come back TO him: That she can
not Stand the loss of luXury, ana ma.
she will Ultimately send Tor h'n1, ;ri.' sne
swears shat she viii never send !or him
and lie vows ne will never go 10 he!-
The ANAL act shows Virginia, Jimmy
and Fanny in q cheap fiat Jmny hss
left is Virgin'a's 3, a week. Then
.ummy has the ono brilliant idea OF his
life. He calls I'D eta ford h. phone and
tells him that Virginia las sem 10y pi,,; ~,
iob and the iuSuEies Of high Me i9N
the brilliant idea works out forms the
denoucment Of the play, ,o,
The leading role is conspicaous'T thal
Of Robert Stafford. it rs enaHted ny
Charles Alill~ard. Who is poesossed or a
commanding and graceful stage presence.
Of Favershar. and this is high praise. II
would he difficult to imagine hhe'
conception or the part.
Virginia Blaine is p!ayed hy Miss Jnne
Herns: Fanny Blaine ny Miss DOROTHY
Uavies, and James Gillc>. Jimmy, by
George Wright. All cf them play. very
natural charact crs In q very natural way,
holding the mirror I'D 10 nature nj just
tho right angle So that there is no dis
toriion in manner or cnera cseriSatiolL
Al least a line shou;d be devoted 10 tho
ssillf,,l work OF Clyde Crawford as Oltu,
the japanese servant.