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Show IT Is a number of yearn slnco Isabel 3rving appeared in Salt Lake, but many remembered the winsome young actress who was last seen hero with John Drew, and so wero anxious to seo her since she has mado the success sho has in her chosen profession. They were anxious, too., to sec "Tho Crisis," which was dramatized by the author from ono of Uio most populnr of tho later novels nnd which was seen here for the llrst tlmo Inst night. Tho story, as readers read-ers will readily recall, deals with thV events of tho Civil war and the intense feeling existing between tho North and tho South, and the author has given a very faithful dramatization. Judge Whipple Whip-ple s law office Is made the opening scene of tho play. It Is hero that Stephen Brlco, a young Alxilltlonlst from tho North, comes to study law, and tho morning or bis arrival buys a slave woman at public auction and sot hor free. His action arouses the indignation of Virginia Carvel, who wanted the woman for a servant, nnd of her cousin. 1 Clarence Colfax, who thought tho Yankeo should vleld to the wishes of his cousin. Tho second scene, and which, by tho way. is tho prettiest of tho play, shows Col. Carvel's country home, with Its wide verandas, broad, llower-studded lawns, the whole bathed In moonlight, with fireflies flitting about. Hero a daneo is given in honor of thu birthday of Virginia Carvel, and among thoso present i Stephen Brlce. the despised Yankee, who brings news of tho expected election of Abraham 3Jlncoln. The nows causes the most Intense indignation indigna-tion nmong the guests, and it Is declared by all that the South will secede. In the third act the war is on; Stephen Brlco has enlisted in the service of tho North; Col. Carvel and Clarence Colfax In the servico of tho South. Camp Jackson Is captured by the Northorn troops and Liout. Colfax is saved- from death in tho house of Virginia Carvel by Stephen Brlco, who orders ids men to retire nfter pushing young Colfax Into a room adjoining adjoin-ing the parlor. Tho fourth nnd last act shows again tho office of Judgo Whipple, with tho latter dangerously HI and Virginia Vir-ginia Carvel and Mrs. Brlce. mother of Stephen, endeavoring to nurse him back to health. Hero it is that Stephen Brlce finds Virginia and the bonds of prcjudico aro broken down by his vows of love. The play is full of dramatic scenes and events nnd presents some splendid opportunities oppor-tunities for the players. Miss Irving, whilo pleasing in her portrayal of the winsome Southern girl, lacks the forco which tho unfolding of tho story demands, and in the lntcnsest moments sho was winsome only, never strong. Wilfrid North also waa a disappointment as Stf-phen Stf-phen Brlce, and ono wished as he followed tho lines, which portray a splendid man, mentally, physically, morally, that Mr. North might put into them some of the strength which tho author intended. Charlfs Lamb, In tho role of the Impetuous Impetu-ous Judgo Whlpplo, and Thomas A. Hall, as Col. Carvel, antagonists regarding tho fdavo question, but the best of friends, were both excellent. Jacques Martin appeared ap-peared as Ellphalct Hopper, a character who has tho antipathy of everyone, nnd whilo portraying a different type of man from that given to the world by Churchill, was sufficiently debased to win tho dls-llko dls-llko of th? audience. Seymour Rose appeared ap-peared In the role of Clarence Colfax, and the other roles of the play wero in good hands. "The Crisis" will be repented tonight to-night and tomorrow night, with the regular regu-lar Saturday matinee. Up. under the roof at tho Salt Lake Theater lat night Joy was unconllned. Few eliows can hoyo to win the unqaull-ficd unqaull-ficd approval of tho free-spoken critics of tho top seats, but "McFadden's Flats" is one of thorn. Thoso ardent admlrern of the real thing cannot help feeling disgusted dis-gusted ofton with what they sec on tho stage. Many a time will they spend a wholo evening without seeing an actor slap another anywhere on his persdn, to say nothing of giving him the Justly famous fa-mous swift kick. Thero will bo nothing, perhaps, but Just plain action, such as ono might see for nothing in real life. No tripping up and falling down, no bumping, bump-ing, no mechanical upsettors, no monkey business, no horseplay, nothing! Which is certainly very discouraging. This dearth of good things, however, makes tho fun all tho better when a really meritorious show cornea along. Ono came along last night. It arrived somewhat some-what late, to be sure, which was not Its fault. It having been delayed. But when it was once In action you could, seoin a mlnuto that It was a swift one. Its peo-plo peo-plo raced around so fast that they were Irresistible. Waves of merriment commenced com-menced beating against the decorations on the ceiling and they kept on boating against them all night. These did not by .. ll n, lint- Ml) JI1U.IU3 ill! ouill llm HI" tuii uv.., though Its occupants wero ever ready to see nnd acclaim the good things In a play written by the loved author of "Chlinmle Faddon." No. these things we call waves rolled up from every gallery nnd from the ground fioor. Down in the parcjuetto thoro were femlnlno screams of delight. So we may assumo that even Intellectuality Intellectual-ity was not yroof against tho tickling influences in-fluences of the merrymaking. One cannot undertake to dlascct the performance per-formance or analyze its charm. Ono . knows that there aro in it Irish, German, tramp and lndy comedians, all fleet of foot, trim young girls In costumes scant and costumes scantcr, musical specialty people of skill and versatility, and a yellow yel-low kid. But as to what they all did ono can havo but an impressionistic memory of kaleidoscopic doings. The performance will be repeated to-night- "Sag Harbor" will bo the conference bill at the Salt Lake Theater, nnd seats are now on sale. The Elloford stock company will open its season at the Grand next Monday night In "A Flag of Truce." New Theater for Chicago. CHICAGO. March 31. Ground will be broken in May for a theater on tho site of 'the Ferris wheel park. Wightwood ave-nuo ave-nuo nnd North Chirk street. The promoter of the enterprise, Adolph Engel. former manager of the Haymarkct theater, said the new playhouse will cost $150,000 and will be devoted to high-clans productions. Tho theater will be known as the Lake View theater and' will havo a seating capacity ca-pacity of atw. |