The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah — John Shaqi
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in UtahLindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Religion
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah
Lindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Latter Day Saints; Theater -- Utah -- History
White had but little trouble in organizing his corps dramatique, so
far as men were concerned, but the female contingent gave him much
concern and considerable trouble to secure. Women in the camp were
scarce, and female talent was at a premium. There were a few officers
whose wives were with them and some "hired help" of the female
persuasion, but none of the women of the camp had any experience in
theatricals. Several were willing, and even eager to try; so White
made a selection and cast a play and put it in rehearsal, but "woe is
me!" the women were all such tyros that he was almost in despair,
until he suddenly conceived the project of engaging one of the Social
Hall actresses to play the leading female character; if he could do
that, then, he reasonably argued that he could get along, but could a
Mormon actress be induced to come to Camp Floyd?
Here was a dilemma; but the bold Richard perhaps thought of the lines
of his renowned namesake, Richard Plantagenet:
"Dangers retreat when boldly they're confronted,
And dull delay leads impotence and fear,"
so he took courage. He opened up a correspondence with Mrs. Tuckett of
Social Hall fame. White was an accomplished writer, and poetical, and
there is no doubt he could write a winning letter. We have no
knowledge of what inducements he offered, so can only surmise that a
liberal salary was the temptation held out to her. Suffice it to say
that Mrs. Tuckett accepted the offer and joined the Camp Floyd Theatre
Company, thus making a noticeable weakening of the Social Hall force,
and creating a commotion among her fellow players in Salt Lake, and
the people generally, as she went in opposition to the wishes of her
husband and friends and the church authorities. It was regarded not
only as an unwise step for Mrs. Tuckett to take, but a discreditable
one.
It was a reproach to the Saints to have one of their number go and
mingle with the ungodly soldiers who had come out here to destroy
them. Mrs. Tuckett was looked upon from the moment of her departure as
a lost sheep from the fold. These apprehensions were not unfounded,
for Mrs. Tuckett, whether wearied of her Mormon environment, or led
away by the unusual attentions shown her by the officers and men of
the camp (with whom her acting soon made her a great favorite), lost
any former love she may have had for Salt Lake, and sundered all
social and family ties there.
"Dick" White, poet, actor, artist, achieved another conquest; not only
had he succeeded in getting Mrs. Tuckett away from the Social Hall
company, but later on he won the affections of the Mormon actress and
took her completely away from her family, friends and church. In some
way White severed his connection with the army before the breaking out
of the Civil War and had gone to California "taking the fair Desdemona
with him." He married her and they lived together in Folsom,
California; only a few years, however; Mrs. Tuckett-White died there
in '63.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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