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Show i AMUSEMENTS. I ! I The engagement of "The Virginian" at the Salt Lake theatre next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with matinee Wednesday afternoon at 3:30. will doubtless afford much satisfaction to the patrons of that theatre. "The Virginian" is delightfully refreshing re-freshing in its characterization, in its heartiness, in its roughness and in the picturesqueness of cowboy life on the western plains, with Its romances, its real comedies and tragedies, its home life at the ranches, the cattle-stealing episodes, etc. The cowboy hero of both book and play appeals to all on account of his manliness. He Is not perfect as judged by the standard of perfection, but he has lived the life common to the plainsman In the early '80s, but he respects re-spects women, his heart is big and he Is honorable. The story of the play, as In the book, is absolutely interesting and relates principally to the Virginian's love for Molly Wood, the dainty school teacher from Vermont, who is Tlrst introduced to him by reason of his saving her from drowning in Bear creek, through the overturning of the stage coach They meet at the christening at Uncle Hewie's, where her cowboy hero declares de-clares his love and is repulsed. From then on there Is a continual strife between be-tween her narrow prejudices and his determination to win her, until his manhood and sense of honor brines her to a realization of his virtues and she surrenders. This happens when the Virginian's deadly foe, Trampas, swears to kill him on sight, should, he remain in Medicine Bow after sunset. The threat is made on the eve of their wedding, and Molly, when told of this, begs her lover, to flee, averring that should he kill Trampas there can be no wedding. But when the news is brought to her shortly afterward that Trampas has been justifiably shot fry her lover, she capitulates and goes to her lover with outstretched arms and a willing heart. A novel departure has been made by Charles B. Hanford in his magnificent spectacular revival of "Antony and Cleopatra," which will be displayed on Thursday and Saturday nights at the Salt Lake theatre. No play in all the classics affords greater opportunity for luxurious embellishment. One incident-alone incident-alone of Cleopatra's career, her appearance appear-ance on the River Nile In a jeweled, silken-sailed barge, has afforded one of the most tempting themes known to painter or poet. The Hanford production produc-tion introduces the barge scene with both pictorial and dramatic effect. The role of Marc Antony is. of course assumed by Charles B. Hanford. His success in it this season is, in a sense, a continuation of his triumph in portraying por-traying the same historic personage in Julius Caesar the year previous. Miss Alice Wilson has a nart hnttir, vs,t distinguished talents in Cleopatra. Friday night an opnortunity will be afforded to see Mr. Hanford in one of his former successes, as "The Taming of the Shrew," is announced for presentation presen-tation that , evening. ' Preceding the comedy he will present the one-act Napoleonic Na-poleonic play, "The Old Guard." Saturday Sat-urday , matinee "The Merchant of Venice" Ven-ice" will be presented, with Mr Hanford Han-ford as Shylock and Miss Alice Wilson as Portia. i |