OCR Text |
Show AMUSEMENTS. . Wilton llarrett a "Claud Ian" at the Salt 1 Lake Theater. , - One of the largest and most brilliant audiences that ever assembled within ils walls witnessed the, performance of "Claudian" by tho Wilson Barret t company com-pany at the Salt Lako theater last evening. even-ing. Of the phi' itself itis not proposed to treat, save to say that it is an impossible im-possible and unreal ' classical melodrama, melo-drama, with many fine situations, beautiful scenery and inagniliccnt costumes. cos-tumes. The language is poetical aud pathetic, ami tho interest centers in tho fate of a dessoluto and licentious young Koman noble, upon whom, in tho prologue, a curso is pronounced by an aged . early Christian nionk, who condemns him to live a century, still retaining youth, but restoring only the curso upon those whom ho may love. This young Roman is Claudian, and as portrayed by Mr. Barrett, the character char-acter assumes all tho beauties one is led to expect from a penitent, who while loving the fair young wife of an arti-zan, arti-zan, and who lives him in return, dares not make his love manifest for fear of injuring her. One attempt at carress-ing carress-ing her results in her being struck blind, and ever after he resists his own inclinations and her wish, with torture to himself aud pain to her. Tho acting of Mr. Barrett is perfect throughout. Kvery move, every gesture, every step he takes combine grace and ease, the unstudied nature ofowhich is Indicative of constant study and hard work, the evidences carefully concealed by his eonsumate art. Mr, Barrett's reading is a poem in itself. One can listen with closed eyes and still enjoy; .ind his climaxes are always well brought out in a manner so thrill ing as to convey the impression that Claudina and the fourth century are a living reality, ami that the nineteenth century aud Wilson Barrett have no place in the surroundings. Mr. Barrett is also very painstaking in even tho smallest details. The play has been mounted under his personal per-sonal direction, and there is not an auchorism visible nor a point missed in any position of the drama which the most critical eyo can detect.' The support afforded Air. Barrett Bar-rett is excellent. Miss Kastlako makes a charming Almida, aud in her blindness blind-ness creates a sympathy amounting to pity. Her voice is not good, however, unless it bo that the lady was suffering from hoarseness last evening. In the prologue the scene in tho cave, when the curse is pronounced, is exceedingly ex-ceedingly beautiful; and later on, when fho predicted earthquake occurs and tho whole city tumbles into ruins about Claudian and Almida, realism caunot be more closely simulated, nor can fancy picture nature's augry mood more graphically. The audience w as in instant sympathy with Mr. Barrett, from his first coming on in the prologue until the. death of Claudian in the third act; and numerous numer-ous calls before the curtain wero mado and responded to amid unmistakable evidences of enthusiastic delight. This evening Mr. Barrett will appear in "The Silver King," which is said to bo his greatest part. CLEVELAND'S MINSTRELS AT THE UUAND. Decidedly tho best troupe of minstrels that has over visited Salt Lake began an engagement of six uights and two matinees mati-nees at the Grand last evening. There was a packed house, standing room even being at a premium, and tho laughter, merriment and applause was continuous throughout tho performance. perform-ance. Len Soim-rs makes a fine interlocutor, inter-locutor, and Billy Kice is just as funny as ever as tambourine end man, only more so. Billy has become somewhat rotund in his proportions,' and thisadds to his always comical appearance. Raymond Shaw has a phenomenal voice for a man. It ranges between a contralto and a mezzo-soprano; and his rendering of the new ballad, "A Curl From the Baby's Head," was rapturously rap-turously received. The choruses were especially line, and, as is always the case in minstrelsy, the low refrains charmed as well as enthused the listeners. listen-ers. The make-up of the troupe in the introductory in-troductory portion of the programme was an innovation upon old-time methods, meth-ods, the participators being costumed so ns to represent dark skinned Venetians Vene-tians of tho thirteenth century. Mr. Somers announced that the Cleveland: will appear , at the Grand every evening this week and at matinees mat-inees Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. |