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Show THE ORPHEUM. B ! Have you ever noted a bird rising with a B , broken wing, fluttering for a moment, gaining B i a few yards through a supreme effort, only to B gradually fall? B The opening bill at the Orpheum was fair, fl but was forgiven because it was the opening, the fl second ( offering was excellent, and packed the B ' house with appreciative audiences, and, then, the B " On the average there are about seven features B in thevOrpheum bill, and in the olio each week B ' following that beginning January first, there have B ; not been more than a couple of acts worth the B time it took, to witness the performance. 1 stand for a twenty-five cent raise over other Orpheum Or-pheum houses might be interestingly explained, but as yet no explanation has been offered. However, How-ever, even the seventy-five cents would go, if there happened to be a bill to warrant if. As for the performance this week, it is a dreary wait until the Barowskys appear. The Barowskys are four in number, and a cleverer troup has never been seen on any stage in this city. Of the four, the little Barowsky is the star performer, and the novelty of the act is the pure quill. When not in action, they appear awkward, but this is only feigned, and the originality origin-ality of their acrobatics is marvelous. Ethel Whitesides and her picks were rather l OJB IN GOU jB Generously the public has paid and been dis- B appointed, and generously will this public pay H and pay big if the worth of the money is f orth- Bf coming, for there is room and reward for every clever performer who will come. B But while this public is not over critical, there B J is. a limit toany bunko game, and. a, "twiqe-shy" patron refuses to go against any particular kind Bjj passed over the footlights more than a couple H off dozen times. We need an Orpheum here, and we need an Orpheum circuit more, but not enough to fill a Bt house eight times a week at seventy-five cents a Bjfj seat, 'to witness a show which at best has been Hi mediocre. JK And that seventy-five cents is another prob- Mm ' lem to conjure with. Just why Salt Lake must clever, the picks especially taking with the audience. audi-ence. Then there was more of the dinge. "Mr." Carlisle and "Mr." Baker, piano players and singers, sing-ers, did some raggy stunts on the upright and sang some songs which were not clever. They were quiet about it, though, and not in the class of the former darkies seen at the Orpheum. The Kinodrome flashed a new set of thrilling pictures, representing a mine explosion with horrible hor-rible scenes enough to make bad dreams for a wee,k, so realistic were the pictures. Deedy and Mbrrell were great bores, and "Mr." Jacobs entertained with three or four popular songs. Gardner and Revere were positively funny, though not along the lines they imagined. The man of the team is a wonderful dancer, but he was handicapped by the lady and the other jokes he had. This lady rendered "In Mexico" in a way that would start a revolution in that country coun-try before she finished the song. Orpheus is described as "a musician who with A his sweet lyre charmed the very rocks and trees m to follow him," and the only reason the rocks ' 7f didn't follow this lady on his latter day circuit J was because the audience failed to take them to the theater. Poor old Orph, little did your parents, Ap-pollo Ap-pollo and Calliope, know what the modern followers fol-lowers of that lyre would do, else they would never have paid for your music lessons. HANFORD. The appearance of Charles B. Hanford in a local playhouse is never an occasion for artillery salutes or other demonstrations of frenzied joy. The appearance of Mr. Hanford and his company during the week was chiefly notable because Miss Blanche Kendall Thomas made her debut before a Salt Lake audience in the company of the tragic Hanford. As she is a Utah girl, and one of rare accomplishments, she was naturally the chief attraction at-traction at the Hanford performances. Miss Thomas has a peculiarly graceful stage presence, pres-ence, and gives to her friends the strongest encouragement en-couragement that before many theatrical seasons become history, this dainty little actress vill have achieved considerable note. Her Jessica in the "Merchant of Venice" was a most refined and intelligent piece of dramatic art, and her work was even more delicately captivating as Melanic in "The Old Guard." If Miss Thomas is not more prominently heard from within the next theatrical season or two, it will be a very great surprise to those who had the pleasure of seeing her during the present week. Returning to Mr. Hanford, he did "The Old Guard" in a way which was quite a revelation to those who might have already had some respect re-spect for his talents. This part was last essayed here by Clay Clement, and Mr. Hanford's portrayal por-trayal was almost brilliant by comparison. Nothing Noth-ing that he has ever attempted is quite so full of merit, which suggests that Mr. Hanford might greatly increase his histrionic standing by confining con-fining himself to character roles of that nature. He was far less in his zone in the laborious and obsolete Ingomar, a play which should long ago haye been consigned to the theatrical ash heap. . Miss Drofnah was neither more pathetic nor tragic nor graceful than usual, and of others who supported Mr Hanford, there were one or two who were worthy of certain commendation. Charleybhanford (pronounced adhesively), as he is affectionately termed by his co-workers on the stage, certainly affords to the transrMissis-sippi transrMissis-sippi youth a splendid example of unfailing courage cour-age and industry. & t t SAVAGE ENGLISH GRAND OPERA COM- , PANY TO SING HERE. Local music lovers and theater goers generally gener-ally in this city and its surrounding territory are eagerly awaiting the visit to this city on Thursday, Thurs-day, Friday and Saturday, February 1st, 2d and 3d, of Henry W. Savage's celebrated English Grand Opera company. The four operas in which this admirable company com-pany will be heard here will be. given with all the completeness of detail that has marked the performances per-formances of Mr. Savage's superb organization- in previous years. The coming engagement offers of-fers some rare musical opportunities. , The Salt Lake Gity repertory has been arranged ar-ranged as follows: Thursday evening, February 1st, at 8:15, Gounod's "Faust;" Friday evening, February 2d, at 8:15, Paccini's "La Boheme;" Saturday matinee, February 3d, at 2:15, Verdi's "Rigoletto;" Saturday evening, February 3d, Wagner's "Tannhauser." & & & "THE YANKEE CONSUL." An event of unusual importance will be the coming engagement of the delightful musical satire, sa-tire, "The Yankee Consul," which will be the at-h at-h traction at the Salt Lake Theater on Monday, I Tuesday and Wednesday next, with Wednesday V ' matinee. Manager John P. Slocum, under whose direc tion the play will be seen, has selected Miss Vera MichSlena and Harry Short as the stars, with a large supporting cast. "The Yankee Consul" is the joint work of Henry M. Blossom and Alfred G. Robyns. The book and lyrics, which abound in bright, delicious humor, are the results of Mr. Blossom's efforts, while Mr. Robyns is responsible responsi-ble fr the bright, tuneful muic with which the play abunds. In two acts, both laid in Puerto Plata, San Domingo, the story of "The Yankee Consul" is told. It hings around the adventures of a typical New Yorker who is sent away on a consular mission mis-sion through the efforts of relatives who have suffered long and silently by reason of his well developed penchant for turning night into day. They cause him to be sent away in an effort to cure him of his prowling about in the wee sma' hours of the morning. In the San Domingo city he falls in love with a widow, well supplied with the goods of this world, and the story is woven around his love affair, together with the love affairs af-fairs of the governor of the province, an American Ameri-can naval officer, and the daughter and niece of the widow with whom the "Consul" is enamored. A miniature revolution also figures in the story, and there is sufficient action throughout the life of the opera to more than supply laughter for the two and one-half hours it endures. The many song hits which are introduced during dur-ing the action of the play are: "Ain't It Funny What a Difference Just a Few Hours Make," "In the Olden Days," "In Old New York," "Hola," "My San Domingo Maid," "The Mosquito and the Midge," "When the Hammers Ham-mers Go Rap, Rap, Rap," "We Were Taught to Walk Demurely," and "Cupid Has Won My Heart." LYRIC. That extravaganza is growing in favor with theater goers of Salt Lake was fully demonstrated demonstra-ted last week, when the Dreamland Bdauties packed the cosy "little play house at every performance. per-formance. For the coming week, commencing with the matinee this, afternoon; The Innocent Maids are announced, who entertain with two burlesques and eight big vaudeville acts a bevy of pretty girls in gorgeous costumes add to the merrymaking. fcy t$ The Orpheus club will give two concerts in the near future. The work of collecting enough money to guarantee the appearance of a fine musician mu-sician for each of the concerts is progressing rapidly, and the friends of the popular organization organiza-tion will be glad of the opportunity of hearing them again. In "Hazel Kirke," now running at the Grand, Theodore Lorch and his company are pleasing large audiences. Mr. Lorch, who has the part of Dunstan Kirke, is very good, and Miss Rita Harlan Har-lan was acceptable in the title role. & & & The "Woodland" engagement comes to an end this evening. There will be a matinee this afternoon. after-noon. & & & "The Girl from Sweden" might, have stayed there without anyone who saw her at the Grand the first of the week loosening up the lachrymal secretion. The play is an old mixture of most everything fierce when the usual vilyun and the hero meet but that did not prevent Master George Falkner, the star of the company, from winning some well warranted applause. "The Missouri Girl" and another revival of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will fill the week at the Grand beginning Monday, January the 29th. $ & S VERDI'S EXQUISITE MASTERPIECE "RIGOLETTO." In the all too brief forthcoming season of Grand Opera in English at the Salt Lake theatre, which Henry W. Savage has allotted this city, it is a pleasure to notice that he has arranged his programme so as to include a single representation representa-tion of "Rigoletto," at the Saturday matinee, Feb. 30, by far the most exquisitely tender and powerfully power-fully dramatic grand opera conceived by Guiseppe Verdi, sincerest of all the great Italian maestros. In ante-bellum days Max and Maurice Stra-kosh Stra-kosh and the Count de Vivio annually gave the country a season of Grand Opera in Italian. Their repertory seldom changed, and consisted of "Ernani," "Sonnambula," "Norma," "Lucia," "Trovatore," "Rigoletto," "Barber of Seville" and "Don Pasquale," with an occasional representation represen-tation of "Robert the Devil," and "Don Giovanni." Giov-anni." Of all named, "Rigoletto' was the favorite, something in its intensely dramatic story and the beautiful music of its melodic score catching the true fancy of musical taste. Just after the close of the civil war, De Vivio toured the west with Italian Grand Opera, pre-( hH senting "Rigoletto," with Mario, the greatest Hl tenor of his day, and the original Duke in the 91 London production of "Rigoletto" at Covent Gar- 31 (Continued on Page 14.) Wmm I I I VERDI'S RIGOLETTO" (Continued.) I den in I860, as the Duke of Mantua, Mmc. Miolan-Carvalho as Gilda, Carlotta Patti, sister f of the great diva Adelina Patti, as Maddalena and Sig. Brosa-Garcia as the hump-backed' jester "Rigoletto." In spite of the increasing age of this noted j quartette of the world's greatest voices the music was sung superbly. Like everything in the way of Grand Opera done in those days though, ' the ensembles were wretchedly rendered and the ! staging of the most niggardly character. I, "Rigoletto" will always live, for it has some of the most exquisitely beautiful thoughts of Verdi. Written at a time when all Europe be- lieved the brilliant young composer then only 38 years old had written himself out, or ex hausted his font of matchless melody, smarting , from the failures of "II Masnadieri," written in 1848, for Jenny Lind, and the subsequent failure f of his "Luisa Miller," in 1949, and "Stifellio," in 1851, he succeeded on March 11, 1851, in producing pro-ducing his "La Maledizione," at Venice under the title of "Rigoletto." This made a success equally as great as his "Ernani," produced in 1844. Following Fol-lowing "Rigoletto" in rapid succession came "II Trovatore," Rome, 1853;; "La Traviata," Venice, ! 1854, and "The Sicilian Vespers," Paris, 1855, all successes. From thence on Verdi was always considered the greatest melodist of the age. a In the Henry W. Savage production of 1 "Rigoletto" we are promised all the lyric, I dramatic and scenic beauties of the opera. With the Savage combined vocal and instrumental force of one hundred and fifty people we will enjoy I a full realization of the grandeur of both the I choral and orchestral values of Verdi's master- work. The magnificent stage investiture, which I is always part of Mr. Savage's equipment, will jj be there to give an adequate idea of the proper ! scenic atmosphere. Add to this an elaborate scheme of historically accurate costuming and one can easily realize what a treat "Rigoletto" affords when sung by the Savage Grand Opera company in English, with the following great cast: The Duke of Mantua, Joseph Shee-han; Shee-han; Rigoletto, Mr. Winifred Goff; Spara-fucile, Spara-fucile, Mr. Harrison W. Bennett; Count of Mon-terone, Mon-terone, Mr. Romert Kent Parker; Marcello, Mr. Martin L. Bowman; Borsa, Alfred Best; Count Ceprano, Mr. Joseph Parsons; Gildo, Miss Florence Flor-ence Easton; Giovanna, Miss Helen Petre; Maddalena, Mad-dalena, Miss Claude Albright, and the Countess Ceprano, Miss Winifred Baldwin. |