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Show With the First Nighters r I The announcemet that the improvements which have been contemplated for the Salt Lake Theatre have at last taken definite" shape is most welcome to the theatreg&ers who, through many seasons, have learned to love the old playhouse, and who, while regretting the possibility of the theatre being torn down, have realized that a great many improcments might be made which would add materially to the comfort of patrons without destroying the accoustics or the general plan. It would seem, too, that no better time than the present could be chosen to make the changes for the clatter of the workmen, even if a night shift were put on, would pleasantly divert the at-, at-, tontion of the audiences from the majority of the season's offerings. The deadly dullness of the season of 1908-09, ! however, is not the fault of the management, neither is it confined to any one theatre, for every western city has suffered from a paucity of good new plays, which have been, held the , other side of the river a policy on the part ol ' the controlling powers incident to a year that 1 began in" a panic and started to finish with a ) presidential election. Such years may be ex pected four or five times in a score of seasons, but this has been particularly dull, and to a town which boasts of nearly twenty theatres and a public that will sell its shoes for the price to pay homage to the Thespic art, the fall and winter hoi been more than unkind. Since September there have not been over half a dozen plays worth seeing, and this including includ-ing every house in the city where road shows are booked. This statement has no reference to vaudeville, for in all candor it must be said that the Orpheum offerings as a whole have Improved a' hundred per cent over other years. There are practically four months left of the theatrical season, and a fair number Uf fine productions pro-ductions are scheduled for the intervening weeks before the different managers make their new bookings, and from what can be learned at this early date, the season of 1909-10 will be a real one again. But that is seven months off, even if Sothern and Nazimova do intend to pay us a visit before the summer comes. 0 & & THE BUNGALOW. After a rather unsatisfactory month or two of melodrama Mr. Cort has turned the Lyceum, the newly completed Cort theatre on South State street, over to Willard Mack and his company for the remainder of the season. The house has been rechristened "The Bungalow," and the change in name ought to be for the better, as well as tho change in the policy of the house, for the Bungalow Bunga-low is attractive and something of a departure from the general run of names given theatres. Tho new house is completed, and the interior is prettily finished, Mission lights and furnishings adding to tho effect. Mr. Mack will move from the Colonial to the Bungalow tomorrow night, presenting pre-senting Paul Armstrong's drama, "The Heir to the Hoorah." This play has not been seen here since it was presented two seasons ago, and will doubtless doubt-less prove an attractive offering. It is announced that Mr. Mack has secured the rights to "Raffles," "Raf-fles," "The Christian," "Tho Virginian," "Richard Carvel" and other high-olassi plays for future production at the new theatre. Blanche Douglass, who has made such an excellent impression, will continue as leading 'woman with the Mack company. com-pany. & & The reopening of the roller skating rink at tho Auditorium under the management of Mr.' Phil S. O'Mara has proven so popular among Guj Edwards' Blond Typewriters, at the Orpheum those who enjoy the sport, that for three even- H lngs during the past week, there have been no H skates to be had after 8:30 p. m. Held's band H is in attendance afternoon and evening, ana Mr. H O'Mara and his associates are doing everything H for the comfort and pleasure of their many pat- H rons, among whom are a large number of ladies H and children. For those who are cooped up in H offices during tho day, there is no better way of H exercising than in a roller rink. H & & H THE CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT. H The forthcoming production of Mendelssohn's H great Oratorio "Elijah," by the Salt Lake Choral M society, continues to be the main topic for dis- H cussion in music circles. With the promise of splendid work on the part of the musicians the house will doubtless- be crowded at the one performance which is scheduled for next id- H nesday evening, January 27th. Manager Pyper H has completed arrangements for enlarging the H stage to provide proper seating capacity for the musicians. H The Oratorio has been divided into two sec- tlons with a separate set of soloists for each sec- H tion. The soloists for the first part are Mrs. Anna H Colborn Plummer, soprano; Miss Edna Dwyer, H contralto; M. J. Brines, tenor, and Horace S. En- H sign, baritone. For the second part, Mrs. Emma Ramsey Morris, soprano; Miss Hazel Barnes, H contralto; Fred C. Graham, tenor, and Hugh W. M Dougall, baritone. Miss Edna Evans, soprano, will sing the part of the youth. The soloists M have beeen working on tjie scores for several weeks. The chorus meets for rehearsal three fM nights each week and those who have attended H predict a unlliant success. The "Elijah" is perhaps the best known of all M the great Oratorios and is considered Mendels- H sohn's greatest work. Solos and choruses have H been sung at different times by local singers, but H this is the first rendition of the Oratorio complete. M Some of the heaviest choruses have been re- H hearsed by the Choral society for" the past four H months and a rare treat is in store for lovers of H choral music. The addition of a large orchestra H will improve the rendition materailly as tho H Mendelssohn works are peculiarly adapted to or- chestral effects. Several rehearsals of orchestra, chorus and soloists have been arranged and by H the time the date of the production arrives tho H i i musicians will be prepared to give a finished ren- j ', dltion. I , ORPHEUM. ' The headllners at the Orpheum this week are 111 George Primrose and his dancing boys, and the Ikinodrome. Of course George comes first. We are always glad to see him, and his appearance with his company in the sweet melodies of the I 'jj South and the old-time dancing act at which they arc such adepts, puts one in a reminiscent mood, wondering where are the minstrers of yesterday, H 01 rather, why we have no more great minstrel H organizations such as those headed by Primrose H and West. J3y the way, George promises that H " there will be another big minstrel troup before H another season rolls 'round, and his promise is H opportune, for the time is ripe tor me perfection H of such an organization. George Is about fifty H years youngjand just asjjraceful ak of yore, with H all of the intricate little steps that made him fdm-H fdm-H ' ous at an eariibi day. H j1 The kjMdrome pictures of the fleet at Sydney H are among the finest ever exhibited liere. So In- I terested were they in fact, that the taste is m spoiled dinythingUTfft""ls mediocre. They are m really inspiring. B I The Imperial male quartet consisting of four m Salt Lake's leading vocalists, who are hnv ng fl a tryout at the Orpheum this week, met with m popular approval. The quartet is excellent, but H needs a manager or at least a program builder, H for the songs were too much on the same order B and.it would be .easy to show neuer Judgment H in choosing the selections. H The , sisters DeFaye make things lively with H some banjos and mandolins. They are dressed H as a couple of mature apple blossoms, and add a H touch of bright color to the first part of the bill. H Harry Linton and Afliita Laurence make a hit H in their sketch "Married Now" even If they do H put over several that we have heard before. As H a whole their sketch is worth seeing and heiti- H ing. Happy Jack Gardner was bettor in his rmsi- H cal monologue than in the rest of his work. H Leander De Cordova and his company in the H sketch "Wrieless" have a good sKetch which H could be greatly Improved If Mr. De Cordova H would not rant. There is no necessity for the H contortions he goes through, and as it is in him W to do better, it Is a pity he doesn't. H And .then, lest -we forget, Ida Rust oil and H G-racie Cliurch appear In what Is called a comedy H . act. They have a fine dog which received much H applause., For next week G113 Edwards' Blond Typewriters B will head 'the bilf. Arthur Conrad is with them H and in their musicarcomedy "A Ticnic for One" H trey have made a fine impression all over the H west. CasteHane and Brother have a daring eye- j ling act, folfdwed by Harry -rates' English com- H pany in "Motoring," a satire, fcngnor Travato, H Uie Phillpino virtuoso is also on the bill, and mW Ward and Klare and company in "The Twin H Flats," have what is said to be a hllarioust sketch. M Wr. and Mrs. Allison in a singing and dancing H act, and Piquo, comedy gymast, wijl complete the H bill. H & & & MM ANOTHER SYMPHONY SUCCESS. H The Symphony concert on last Sunday afforded H all music lovers an afternoon of true pleasure. H The varied program awakened and delighted all H the emptlons of harmony and the orchestra H had the sympathy of the audience from the first 0H strains of the masterful Overture to "The Magic 4H Flute," by Mozart, to the last triumphant sdund B of Svendsen's splendid C onation March. Hi The First Rhapsody by Hallen was beautifully mm rendered and the skill with which the introductory H horn sol j, was given by Chris Jesperson stamps him a finished artist with this difficult instrument. instru-ment. The "Peer Gynt" suite by Gvieg was especially espe-cially appreciated, and its sweet weird melody caught every, poetic fancy and carried it to that fairyland where dwelt the hero of this dream story. ' The voluptuous strains of the Strauss waltz aroused the dreamers and brought them back to earth. In no number on the program was the intelll- K B$ " " JjBBlrlHI 3mtmSiMmmmmwmmmlMmV E EVtyESiUtiHH mmmmimml' --JliBtfiJiffTivL BBBBBBHifc-..-r-fe - - . - j v b. -v. . JSSHsKmm Salt Lake Choral Society as it appeared just before the Eisteddfod in October, i 4 Since, more than fifty members have been added. gent and artistic work of the orchestra and the able leadership of Mr. McClellan more strongly manifested than in the rendition of the Andante fiom. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The solo work by Fred Smith deserves the highest praise. His Is a rich, full melodious bass under complete control, and the perfect quiet and poise of the singer and the ease with which every passage in the difficult aria from Magic . Flute was sung, charmed his audience. He responded re-sponded to the well merited applause by an aria from Verdi's opera "Simon.'1 "To a Wild Rose," by our American composer MacDowell and as orchestrated by Mr. McClellan touched every heart, "and thrilled it with pride In the meritorious achievement. The applause which greeted this exquisite number was so spontaneous spon-taneous and hearty that the number had to be repeated. re-peated. ' Too much praise cannot be giveh to Mr. Mc Clellan and the members of the Symphony Orchestra Or-chestra for the excellent, painstaking and comprehensive compre-hensive work they are doing. There is a distinct place in Salt Lake for the Symphony Orchestra and may it have the support It so richly deserves. 5 i "FIFTY MILES FROM BOSTON." T With the exception of "Little Johnny- Jones" those shows which have come here under the Cohan Co-han brand during the season have really been mavericks under the manar. lient of several great unknowns. There is a delightful exception at the Salt Lake Theatre this week, for in "Fifty Miles from Boston" Cohan & Harris themselves present the play. It is the first time "Fifty Miles From Boston" has been seen here, and it comes with all of the catchy music, action, and other Cohan accessories that go to make up one of those peculiar mixtures for which Cohan is famous. fa-mous. In the cast there are several notable people, or rather, people who are making themselves notable. no-table. Charles Willand as Nathan Wescott, and Joseph M. Sparks as Tim Harrigan, are splendid in the roles they essay, and their chronic belligerency belliger-ency which grows out of the trouble betweeen their sons, is a scream from the time it starts until the end of the performance. Master James Helton as Eddy Mosely is a perfect delight. Young Helton has the making in him of a real actor unless he is spoiled in the making. At present as a loquacious American boy, realizing that he is camping; out because he does not live in a city, his work is remarkable, and made one of the big hits of the evening. Thomas Emery as Jed Woodis did one of the cleverest pieces of work of the kind ever seen here. At no time was it exaggerated and it is a part calling for fine discrimination to keep from over-doing It. Hazel Lowry as Sadie Woodis, and Douglass Stevenson as Joe Wescott, were both sweet, and Miss Lowry is very attractive, though neither one of them have voices to amount to anything. Suzanne Leonard Westford as Mrs. Til ford, everybody's every-body's favorite, portrayed the part of the village busy-body in an excellent manner, though her work would be ever so much more effective if she would tone down her makeup, for her clothes are greatly exaggerated and their extreme freak-ishness freak-ishness detracts from the part. Not the least pleasing part of the performance was Whitney Bennington, the musical director, who created no end of Interest among those who watched his work during the evening. 0 iS Fred Langtree is now the treasurer at the Colonial. Mr. Langtree has been assistant treasurer treas-urer of the house since ho came west with Ea-nest Young ,the latter acting as treasurer at the new theatre until this week. He resigned Monday to go to Chicago where he takes the management of the new Garden theatre in that city, which has just been completed for the William Morris vaudeville vaude-ville circuit. The theatre .is one of the handsomest hand-somest of Chicago's new houses and aside from the management of the house, Mr. Young will act as Mr. Morris' business manager in Chicago. During his brief stay at the Colonial Mr. Young made many friends among local first-nighters. Mr. Langtree is just as popular, and Is thoroughly capable to handle the box office end of the Colonial. Colo-nial. O c? o The Grand has had something of Its old-time audiences this weeek with Theodore Lorch's performance per-formance in the "Lieutenant and the Cowboy." |