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Show TRUTH Spencer forced to confine himself to the embarrassing limitations of Sir Tristara, Johnny Spencer cannot soar on the wings of comedy as the inoffenSalt and Theater tonight, Lake Today Salt sive Sir Tristam. At times, howLake Opera company in "Martha. Hendricks in "Ole ever he breaks, through his confineGrand Theater-pBement and then the auditorium is in a toOlson, today and tonight. Helds Band convulsion of laughter. Poor Johnny, morrow evening. I really would like to strike off your COMING ATTRACTIONS. shackles and give you a few brief momSalt Lake Theater "Way Down East.' ents of comical hysteria. week beginning Fehuary 10th, with WednesAmong the vmany surprises to be matinees. found in Martha there is none more and Saturday day y pleasing than Mr. Eleventh "The Hour, Theater Grand Pyper as Lionel. amusements n : Feb-uar- matinee. "Man Mexico, Saturday Febuary From 16th. Held's Band, Febuary matinee. the Salt Lake that to It is easy say 10-lS- th, Wednesday 13-15- th, Opera company in Martha has scored another success the expession is, in fact, a stereotyped adulation of the local press. The company has, however, scored another success in Martha, trite and hackneyed 'as the expression may sound. Not only here, but elsewhere, the public incense of approval has been burned before this latest lyric offering of Salt Lakes opera company. To say, however, that Martha is the greatest triumph of the home company is a concession I cannot make, without a mental reserThe Wedding Day with its vation. light, tuneful melodies still remains, in my opinion, the bright particular flower of the home companys operatic bouquet its music still lingers in the air with all the sweet persistency of . : We all know that Mr. Pyper has a charming tenor voice, sweet and caressing in its tenderness. But it remained for Mr. Pyper as Lionel, the lover, too keepalive and burning the vocal flame of passion in a manner that could not fail to woo the ears. Most lovers operatic lovers, especially are too stormy and obscure the flame with impulsive smoke. But Lionel, in the hands of Mr. Pyper, is a refreshing bit of vocal ardor happily free from lyric bluster. Mr. Graham, as the sheriff, though in a minor part, pleased us with the responsibility of his office. Miss Barrow, cannot be completely obscured in a small role and gained new admirers. .The chorus of the Salt Lake Opera company is always a delightful fea 3 s ture in every production. Among professional companies the chorus is a factor which appeals more to the eye than the ear a living picture gallery of blushless animation. With the home company, while graceful deportment is not wanting, yet it is most properly subordinate to lyric accomplishment. Our local chorus is not only vocally assertive but aggressive as well. The scenic effects and costumes of Martha are in keeping with the high standard for which the . good fellow, but somehow the passed liim by and refused to let the footlights shine into his big, open blue eyes. It was, however, an opportunity not to be lost, and popular Ben Hendricks sized up the situation just right when he Stepped into the shoes of Ole Olsen. From the first Ole Olson jumped into popular favor and every season he has been growing bigger in the affections of theaters goers. Though no stranger to Salt Lake, yet Ole Olson is as much a favorite now as when he first, made his appearance here some years ago. The plot of Ole Olson now running at the Grand, grows out of circumstances perfectly natural and gives rise to situations entirely legitimate indeed, it is a plain story of plain every day life such as happens every day to real men and women. There are climaxes, thrilling to a degree, but they are not the lurid climaxes of the usual melodrama the dramatic fires, jn this wholesome Swedish play, glow with a congenial warmth. Running through .Ole Olson is a thread of comedy, positively delicious, and as Wealthy as sea air, which we may breathe and breathe again. In the portrayal of Ole Olson, Mr. Hendricks givfes one of the most enjoyable bits of character acting ever seen on the stage of. the Grand. He scatters about him an;: atmosphere of comedy and pathos which almost force a blending of laughter and tears a dramatic feat which shows how sincerely Mr. home company is famous. Professor McClellan and the enlarged orchestra are entitled to praise and plaudits for the instrumental music which makes Martha a success. Today and tonight completes the engagement. ft ft . The German, the Frenchman, the American all nationalities, in fact-h- ave been heroes of the drama and strutted up and down the footlights in all the glamor of stage romance, with the flags of their countries waving over mimic deeds of bravery. r But people grew weary of the constant partiality shown to a few nationalities, while others were neglected. The Swede, as we all know, is a royal is a case, not of liking less the company work in Martha, but of ft ft Frederick Warde was always a popu- lar actor in Salt Lake. In his three . i enthusiasm. As big, bluff Mr. Sir Plunkett Goddard surprised even his admirers. Vocally to the manor born, Mr. Goddard has a physical conception of Sir Plunkett which almost borders on the ideal. It is a disappointment to see Mr. g plays he gave us the most finished example of dranfatic versatility we have enjoyed for some time. The impulsively heroic Marc Anthony;' the mingling pathos and humor of The Mountebank and the kingly dotage of Lear, constituted a dramatic triology which placed on splendid exhibition the varied arts of Mr. Warde, the actor. A comparison naturally will arise as to the relative dramatic merits of Louis James and Frederick Warde, lx)th of whom we ' have seen within so short a time. Speaking for myself, my preference runs to Mr. Warde his earnestness and conscientious interpretations convince with all the force of sincerity. Without these elements no man can be a great actor, and, even with them, greatness is not always attained. But Mr. Warde not only possesses these requisites, but unites with them an artistic temperament, and a genius for sympathy which winshiaaudiences. All these Mr. Warde has, and they have endeared him to Salt Lake beyond, perhaps, any other tragic actor. Mr. James, on the other hand, always falls short of convincing us of his sincerity his nature is too unreserved to artfully disguise Mr. James and reveal instead the character in hand. As an elocutionist, Mr. James speaks the words of Shakespeare with all the lights and shades of varied feeling but in the storm and stress of vocal emotion he loses the arts of adaptation, the physical atmosphere, so to speak, of the actor. As an elocutionist, Mr. James is almost without a rival and excels Mr. Warde. As an actor, who fires conviction with the fervor of his own , . J er Hendricks has entered into the conception of his part. To hear Mr. Hendricks in his Swedish dialect is, in itself, positive enjoyment. Surrounding Mr. Hendricks is a company superior to the usual ;road companies. The scenic effects of the play are a feature worth v of special mention. At every performance the Swedish ladies quartette receives hearty applause the ladies have fine voices and they blend Ole Olsen will be re-- . charmingly. peated again today and tonight, It admiring it more in The Wedding a distinction of preference which Day is, I must confess, more negative than Martha is, in the main, a positive. tuneful, pleasing opera, with not a few ambititious musical requirements, which tax the lyric ability of the company, both in individual and chorus demands in a manner almost too exacting for amateurs. As amateurs we love and admire our singers. It is, indeed the head and front of their offending Martha that they are amateurs. and trios runs to quarduets, musically tettes a most captivating arrangement, affording vocal opportunities for exquisite colorings and shadings as delightful as mosaics. The principals of the Salt Lake Opera company have never appeared to better advantage, either in voice or stage deportment. Miss Ferrin, as Martha, not only by force of operatic circumstance, but by lyric ability, occupied the center Qf the stage as well as the entire circumference of sympathatic approval in an audience.; She meets all the requirements of her part with a confidence perfectly captivating in its easy confidence. Her rich soprano voice was never more sweetly responsive nor more electric with vocal warmth, than in this, her latest and best effort. In stage presence Miss Ferrin shows distinct improvement. She has added to her natural dowery of pleasing face and figure an ease and grace of movement 8 and repose which are the results of conscientious work and a responsive 8 The little lady has personality. schooled herself severely since her ap- 9 pearance in The Wedding Day. Hats off to little Miss Ferrin! The Nancy of Miss Clark is also entitled to the highest praise. Her rich .contralto is full of warmth and $ feeling, while she enters into the operatic conception of her part with vocal S play-writ- X all Lake Theatre D.ryVE. ALL. NEXT WEEK. GEO. Mcmajtr. Wednesday and Saturday Matinees. (Wednesday Matinee at 3 oxlock.) Ilf U It Hli i Dll All I Great Success Ai DDAnY Presents his AUetrope'itan Production of the Play of Them All. ....WAY DOWN EAST.... A play a OF UNIVERSAL SYMPATHY AND HONEST, $ HOMELY, HEALTHY HUMOR SEATS NOW SELLING.... PRICES Matinee Sc, 50c! 75c! I LOO.' 1B |