The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-25

cepted most OF the plays devised by Da-
vid Belasco, but there are many who
have failed TO recognize him as the most
conspicuous playwright that he country
has produced His immense power and
undeniable genius are revealed at their
best in this spiritiaIistic drama. And yet
1t has some noteworthy defects.
The play tells the story of the Grlmms,
descendants OF the Dutch who settled
New York two and more centuries ago.
In the family circle Of rich. old Peter
Grimm, who is Of our own day. are his
nephew Frederik. James Hartman. his
secretary; Catherine, his protege, and
William. a charity boy. Catherine is in
love with James Hartman, but Peter
Grimm IS determined that she and Fred
erik shall we'd He is especially anxious
to arrange this union after the family
physician, Andrew MACPHERSON. has told
him he may die at any moment Gather
Inc, impressed by the fact that she owes
everything to the Kindness OF Peter
Grimm, agrees to the loveless match,
Dr. Macpherson is 4 spiritualist. and
despite Grlmms skepticism in the matter
Of "spoolss,' makes a compact with him
that the one of them that dies first shall
return II he can and communicate with
the other. Peter Grimm dies and when
he arrives in the world beyond he dis
covers that he has made terrible mis-
take In arranging a marriage between
f'rederllS and Catherine. lie Is sent back
TO rectify this mistake and he reappears
in the household from which he has
been removed by death.
When his nephew and all the others
in the house pass him by unseeingly he
Is surprised. He tries TO communicate
his message, but at first no one is re-
sponsiVe.
Peter Grimm has returned to warn
been set for the following day, ought
not to take place, tirst OF all, because
ii is loveless match, and then because
Frederill. hard hearted. cruel and selfish,
was the betrayer of the simple and lovely
Anna Marie, whom everybody loved. and
that William, the charity boy IS Fred
erk's son, Deserted by F'redcrik, Anna
Marie has vanished from the vision OF
the Grinlms. They do not know that She
is dead. but Peter Grimm has met her
in the other world and it Is she who has
asked him to return to right the wrong
he did unwittingly.
Peter Grlmm's first attempt to COM
municate his message is made In the
presence OF Catherine, who is partially
receptive. The playwright has conceived
the fine idea of making Peter Grimm
utter the thoughts OF the one he Is try
Ing to influence. Or, rather. the ideas
OF the various characters are those which
as he would speak them were ne alive.
But nobody hears him 1t Is fascinating
TO the audience to watch the suggestions
of Peter Grimm reappear, so TO speak.
in the brain of the person he is seeking
TO influence. In the case of Catherine.
she sees as in mirror darkly. FrederilI
sees more clearly and at one instant even
has a vision OF his uncle which unnerves
him, but which he dlsmisses as the NOR
bid fancy OF an overwrought mind. Good
old DR.. Macpherson Is the least ,recep-
absolute faith In the power of spirits to
communicate with the living. 4.
Finally Peter Grimm finds that Will
liam, the charity boy. is the real medium.
The lad has fever and comes down from
his sick room to get drink OF water
and TO get something 10 eat. He sees
Peter Grimm's hat on the hatrack and
then hears his voice. Presently he re-
When Dr. MACPHERSON arrives TO at
tend his patient the lad declares that
he has been talking with Peter Grimm,
and the doctor. although startled. be-
lieves, In the presence OF Catherine the
boy. at the request of the doctor again
communicates with Grimm. and the mes
struggle, the stony~hearted and unre-
pentant Frederic confirms The truth OF
tho message. and Peter Grimm goes
back to the world OF spirits satisfied that
he has done his fun duty in reunlting
Catherine and her true lover Depart
ing ne takes with him the sick child,
William.
The first act Is the human side OF the
play. as IL were. The other TWO acts deal
with the splrltualstic side OF things.
While the second and third acts are
tremendously impressive and sometimes
as tremendously oppressive. they do not
give TO David Warhold the opportunity
he has in the first act. Here he is rep
resented as a crusty old bachelor whose
life has been softened by tho presence
OF Catherine.
The Peter Grimm of the FIRST act Is in
tensely and lovably human and there
is no actor on the stage who knows how
to interpret such a role so we'll as David
Warfield One OF the best pieces OF act
ing was his talk over the telephone with
the man who wanted TO buy out his busi-
ness and whom he had told a hundred
times that the business was not for sale,
Another quite as fine was his CONVERSE
4iar, x,-lth Dr.. MacPhnrsnn when the Lat.