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Show At the Theaters J Romeo and Juliet Splendidly Sung at Salt Lake IX music that will live for its beauty and emotional strength. Gounod has told Shakespeare's immortal tragedy of love, "Romeo and Juliet." This grand opera was given its opening local presentation presen-tation last night at the Salt Lake theater by Miss Lucy Gates and her company, with an audience that packed the historic his-toric theater and brought to the star and her principal support numerous curtain I calls. Talented, gifted and experienced as j Miss Gates is, she should realize that a polyglot production does not meet with the unqualified approval of Salt Lake opera lovers, the vast majority whom speak and understand only English. The role of Miss Gates was sung in French. Every other character represented, the chorus as well, sang in the tongue all of us understand. The fine effect was naturally nat-urally spoiled in the dramatic and power-lul power-lul duets, trios and quartettes. As Juliet, ill-fated by reason of her love for Romeo, of the house of Montague, in long-standing feud with the house of Capulet. of which Juliet's father is the iiead, Miss Gates gave an artistic and intense presentation of the role that opens with the overflowing joy of love and closes with a self-sought death in her lover's arms, as he, too,- expires. Her waltz song and her opening duet with Romeo, in which the eternity of their troth . becomes apparent, were demonstrations demon-strations of her power, and she sustained the strength of the role until the end. David Reese, tenor, who sang Romeo, proved a co-star with Miss Gates, his support throughout being effective. In both his solos and duets his ennuncia-tion ennuncia-tion and acting were excellent. Mr. Reese has a good voice and an excellent stage presence. The other characters were In capable hands, with special mention to be made of Hugh W. Dougall as Capulet, Horace S. Ensign as Friar Lawrence, Florence Summerhays as Ptephano (page to Romeo). Miss AinSie Williams as Gertrude, Ger-trude, Frank Smith ns Mercutio. O. D. Romnev, Jr., in the dual roles of Grcgorio and the Prince of Verona, and Donald Nichols. The chorus has fewer opportunities for effective work than in most of the great operas, but the numbers given were acceptably ac-ceptably sung, that of the guests in the first act being the best. The orchestra, under the direction of B. Cecil Gates, played well, although not with the familiarity fa-miliarity and su renews that marked the presentation of " Kaust" by Miss Gates and her company more than a year ago. An innovation that brought hearty ap-pin ap-pin use was tiie "curtain raiser." when principals and chorus sang "The Star Spangled Banner" before the overture was played. "Romeo and J uliet" will be given tonight to-night and tomorrow night. Fat Man Scores Big Hit at the Liberty fflHE Liberty theater is starting the' new year with one of the brightest and most laughable shows ever seen at the State street playhouse. The Three Misfits furnish the headline act and are termed "regular gloom chasers," and they live up to the title. . One of the members of the act weighs about a quarter quar-ter of a ton, while another weighs less than a hundred pounds. The third fits in between the other two, and all three make a regular joyfest for the patrons. 1 Their eccentric and Itnockabout dancing is only second to the originality and wjt-tiness wjt-tiness of their sayings and the' cleverness of their songs. Maluby and Musetta present a character charac-ter singing and impersonation act, which. I enhanced by costumes to fit each charac- j ter, makes a good impression. Allen and Allen, those different gym- j nasts. with a lady in the act who scores ' ' a real knockout in a boxing contest, add interest to the bill. Harry Davis, master juggler, handles golf and cannon balls alike and has a strain of comedy running through his act that helps carry out the "all comic" feature fea-ture of the programme. The Thompsons, novelty entertainers, contribute their share to the fun. Pa the Weekly closes the show. DRAMA AXD VAUDEVILLE. PANTAGES Six features. Three shows daily and four shows Sunday. ORPHEUM Sophie Tucker and her five Kings of Syncopation. Matinees daily. SALT LAKE Lucy Gates in "Romeo and Juliet." LIBERTY Vaudeville; "The Misfits"; Joy Carnival, five other feature acts. WILKES "Bought and Paid For," by the Wilkes players. Matinee tomorrow. to-morrow. MOTION PICTURES. AMERICAN Mildred Harris in "The Price of a Good Time." STRAND "John Ermine of Yellowstone." Yellow-stone." Comedy. Current events. BROADWAY Today and Saturday, Theda Bara in "Heart and Soul," produced by William Fox. RIALTO All comedy day. Alice Howell in "Her Bareback Career," Mack Sennett-Keystone. Other features. PARAMOUNT Pauline Frederick in "Mrs. Dane's Defense." Burton Holmes in Yellowstone, Paramount Dictographs. |