The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-06-17

TT would require the inspiration Of
l. the Ragtime Muse adequately to
describe the syncopated merits of
"The Passing Show" But before
dwelling upon the undoubted merits OF
this iridescent spectacle, it is we'll to
say, politely, but firmly, just what the
show is, so that no one can plead ig-
norance. Ono word expresses the
idea-nudity. If nudity is art, then
'tThe Passing Show" is mostly art.
But this kind of art does not always
spoil an entertaining performance.
One OF the spectacular scenes of the
play shows a dozen nymphs diving Into a
tank. Attired in Jaeger suits. the nymphs
topple. fall and somersault into the pool.
When one states that this Is perhaps the
least suggestive of the nude scenes. the
reader can obtain some idea OF the wholly
unwarranted extent TO which the pro-
ducers of this spectacle have gone in
making the heshly the dominant note IN
an entertainment that ought 10 be a sue
cess by sheer merit Of Its vaudeville and
scenic features
Before leaving the pool let IL be re-
corded that Trixie F'raganza makes quite
q splash when she jumps into the tank
in her burlesque costume Of a ballet
dancer. AS she emerges bedraggled and
foTlorn she gets the laugh that Is the the
cause OF all her salary. The festive
Trtxle is much stouter than in the days
when, she achieved fame by fantastic and
Show she has wisely permitted the play
wright TO do some OF the work, for she
has many witty lines that make up for
the absence Of the G9n5ortons Tnlch
In New York the critics agreed that she
was without merit, and the public agreed
that she was great. Without any guild
Lake public Will be permitted to take its
choice--to be right with the critics or TO
enjoy itself.
Ono of the most pointed scenes last
dancer ran tack into his right foot He
did not appear to be half as happy as
the spectators over this trivial incident,
He was compelled to turkey trot on one
foot for several minutes, madly striving
to extract the tack with his right thumb
and ,foreflnger. Compelled to desist. he
sought an opportune moment to hop OFF
by the company's dentist,
One OF the novelties of the show is the
runway extending from the stage almost
the stars spent much of their time out
on this gangplank or skipping along the
aisle beside and below 1t. The frisky
Texas Gulnan woke an elderly gentleman
from his dreams by kissing him smack
ingly in the middle Of his bald pate as
She fiirted down the aisle to some allur-
Ing ragtlme tune. All of which forecasts
the day when the spectators will occupy
the stare watch the 111a
ing 4a"S feature t"e Of ofa'fi the play that has
been emphasized with almost frantic
stress. by the press agent is the burlesqu-
ing Of popular shows. One OF the most
difficult feats OF the stage is a good bur-
lesque and one of the easiest is a Door
one In most instances the players last
night took the easiest way. For example
the progra mme tells us that the traves-
ties show the funny side" of the vari-
%eser Plays Grimm Fancy nia gGny bS1esovs sld1 to
ghastly failure and some of the others.
while not. at all CHASTITY. are insipid and
almost pointless.
A bright particular comedian Of the
in Ylddish impersonation, then as the
Japanese servant In Officer $685." and
then as waiter: In the last impersona-
ton he acts with Eugene Howard, who
is a sort OF gentlemanly interocutor, and
gives Willie chance to explode a rapid
succession OF witticisms, Few OF them
miss fire. Eugene Howard has a pleas
ant voice with grand opera tendencies.
and with the aiding and a'betting OF his
brother ne gives an excellent burlesque
Of II PagIiacci
In the first act one Of the attractive
song numbers is "The Wedding Glide"
which affords Texas Guinan. Edward Cut
Ter and the chorus a chance to portray
a ragtlme wedding The parson who ties
the knot In ragtime is made 10 resemble
none other than Woodrow Wilson. But
this IS the only scene in which any
travesty at the president is hinted at.
whereas Theodore Roosevelt is presented
in various guises and DISCUSSES In the
DISCUSSES ne IS betrayed by suggestions
the latest one being 4 reference to mint
juleps. Bryan Is not wholly forgotten,
although 'the crime of T3' and Sixteen