The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-01

On the programmes at the Salt Lake
theater last night the audience was
informed that THE Country Boy" was
n play OF city life by Edgar Selwyn. II
Is doubtful whether Mr. Selwyn called it
that, for the play is decidedly one OF CITY
hfe versus country life Incidentally. It
is a play that gives some excellent adj
VICE 70 the young man who complains
mat there are no opportunities where he
nVes-who wants to go away and sue
ceed In other fields
The way Fred Merkle. the snge OF the
play points out its moral 1t tells the
story OF young man, born and reared
IN N ,as quiet st country town OF 5000 inhabi-
looks for big opportunity and concludes
that ne must go TO New York to find
one he has very sensible sweetheart
VINO wakes him UP TO the fact that ne
is nothing but a big boy. But she urges
him 10 go to the city and see life. trust
Ing that II will give him the character
that he lacks Then. she tells him. II he
still loves her to come back.
he goes to the city and the next act
finds him in a theatrical boarding house,
fun OF the hand-to. mouth types that
Gnmss Gnase to e2ist In ,h The snd He be-
is Interested in him because he Is such q n
unsophlsticated country boy. Attention
10 her results in the loss OF his position
ri
discovers that the show girl was mis-
leading him, He hears that his sweet
heart at home Is going to be married to
one OF the village boys. He is without
money and the boarding house proprietor
orders him out. In his parlor bedroom
he prepares TO turn on the gas and end
II all. II is then that his friend, Merkle,
an old. oroken-down newspaper man
saves him.
In talking the situation over, the boy
mentions that there is an opportunity for
a newspaper IN Fairview, his home town.
The outcome Is that the two take in a
partner. q theater ticket speculator, and
decide TO establish the newspaper, The
hoy decides 20 go back HON a failure,
face the Sneers and make good
The final act shows the old home The
newspaper Is making good. The boy
makes good his reputation and tho girl
lets him in on the secret that she wasn't
engaged 10 the other fellow-that Il was
all rumor
The play Is full OF homeiy philosophy.
I portrays viyidly the fight TO exist in
sented 1t last night was a very capable
one. Each part is unusually we'll adapted
10 the one who fills the role.
One young woman, Eleanor Haber, who
plays the part OF Jane Beknap. the coun-
try girl. is OF special interest TO Salt
Lakcrs Miss Haber was here two years
ago as leading woman IN The Barrier
praise from local critics. who predicted
That she would soon rise 10 bigger things.
Miss Hnber has far differen, part in
THE Country Boy than she had as the
semi savage Neca OF Rex Beach's story.
But she demonstrated her versatility; her
part was spledidly handled.
Jason Robards played the part OF Tom
Wilson. the country boy. II was a dif-
Icult role and Mr.. Robards's boyish ap-
pearace. which Is so essential to the part
belied the nasterful way In which he
handled II. Mr.. Robards seems TO be Just
the boy he portrays and yet his spien-
did Interpretation would seem to lndi-
cate yearS of experience on the stage
Gardner w. Ryder was the other hit of
the cast, as Fred Mer6le. tho philosophical