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Show Madame Butterfly. . Anent the approaching presentation of the grand opera at the ,alt Lake theatre, Saturday matinee and night. Feb. 15, some idea of the beauty and merit of Puccini's latest opera. "Madam "Ma-dam Butterfly," may be gained from the reports of the recent engagement in New Orleans of the Savage grand opera company. As is well known, New Orleans is the home of French, opera in America, and has had little use during dur-ing the past fifty years ,for aity otlrr style of lyric art. In the old times, when Charles A. Hess. Emma Abbott. Mrs. Thurber and other attempted to introduce English opera In this country, coun-try, New Orleans was generally considered con-sidered not on the map. Any visit to that city with operas sung in any other than the French language was invariably decried. Even the Metropolitan Metro-politan production of the German and Italian operas failed to arouse enthusiasm enthu-siasm of New Orleans music lovers. It Is a notable fact that when Maurice Grau took his. company, from the famous fa-mous Jean De Reske, Madam Scalchi, Sembrich. Emma Eames and the supposedly sup-posedly matchless Calve, the first time, to New Orleans, most of the singers, figuratively speaking, were sent home to study. However, it was to this hotbed hot-bed of French opera' favoritism that Mr. Savage jntroduced his English singing artists in "Madam Butterfly" a fortnight ago, taking the proud Louisiana city by storm. . Widespread interest is manifest among theatre-goers in the forthcoming forthcom-ing presentation here of the famous musical comedy "Coming Thro' the Rye." which will occur at the Salt Lake theatre Feb. 21 and 22. We were to have had this production last season, sea-son, but it went to Boston for a brief engagement, and its success there was so pronounced that the time was extended ex-tended to ten weeks, and it was sent into the larger New England cities immediately im-mediately thereafter. Its record all through that section was literally phenomenal. phe-nomenal. Theatre managers demand-cd demand-cd its return two. three and even four times, and it is a matter of theatrical history that upon "each repeated performance per-formance the houses were invariably crowded to 'overflowing. Thus it was that the delightful "song play" remained re-mained in that territory until June. It is said that this production, in every particular, is as nearly perfect as it i-; possible to achieve. "Way Down East" will no doubt receive re-ceive its usual cordial reception uponi its presentation here again soon. The play and its story are familiar to all classes of theatre-goers, and it is a matter of general information that but few plays of any character have ever enjoyed the long life and continued con-tinued prosperity of this Lottie Blair Parker rural comedy. Its characters are so unique, so well varied, so strongly contrasted, so skillfully handled, and so thoroughly well acted, that it is impossible not to find entertainment and deep interest in all their phases and almost every action. ac-tion. In the way of life-like portrature, with just sufficient exaggeration in the drawing to give dramatic impressive-ness impressive-ness to outline and color, there is nothing better to be found upon the English speaking stage today than these creations of Miss Parkei with which "Way Down East" is peopled, and through whom its fiction is told. The story has serious moments, sections sec-tions of truth, as it would seem, taken boldly, yet artistically and with great nicety in choice, from life itself It is a most interesting life, too, that supplies sup-plies these scenes and incidents, a life full of pathos and heart appeal, one of sympathy and convincing force. These facts are not new; thousands bear witness to their pleasant knowledge knowl-edge of their existence by repeated visits to the play's pfcrfymance, and it is safe to say that the great majority of theatre-goers have been present at the story's stage recital upon many previous occasions. That is the miracle mira-cle about this greatly discussed piece, that it never seems to lose interest or force for the general theatre-goer through repetition. People go again and again to its presentations and always al-ways to enjoy it as though it had come 'fresh from its author's pern- ' Again, Messrs. Brady and Grismer never permit it to deteriorate in any way, and in its staging, general equipment equip-ment and acting Is as bright, as new, as vigorous and of as great importance to all interested in all affairs, as though being shown for the first time. A splendid eiuartette renders the Interpolated In-terpolated songs with great effect, adding interest and. pleasure to the performance. , |