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
There had been some trouble on the male side of the cast also. On
Lyne's first appearance the part of "Pythias" was cast to the old
Social Hall favorite "Jim" Ferguson he had played the part with Snow
in the Social Hall and was "accounted a good actor;" but on this
particular occasion, one of no small importance, being his first
appearance at the Salt Lake Theatre as well as the first appearance of
Mr. Lyne, Mr. Ferguson did not win fresh laurels. No doubt the fact of
appearing alongside of a veteran like Lyne, made "Jim" more or less
nervous. Somehow he did not "screw his courage to the sticking place,"
whether from nervousness or other causes, and failed to give a
satisfactory performance of the part; he was over-excited, and the
Calanthe complained that he was too realistic. He terrified the
soldiers of Dionysius to such a degree that they wanted to desert, and
Mr. Lyne declared he was the most vigorous Pythias who had ever played
with him, but he could not rely on him; his stage business was so
eccentric and uncertain. "Jim" thought he was making a great hit, but
the managers decided to make a change. At the following performance
the character was essayed by Mr. John R. Clawson, who if not so
brilliant as Ferguson, proved to be less erratic and more steady and
reliable.
Ferguson never again appeared on the stage but devoted his brilliant
talents to his paper, The Mountaineer, and the practice of the law.
John T. Caine was now nominally the leading man of the theatre. He had
played with stately dignity the parts of "Dionysius" in "Damon and
Pythias" and "Pizarro" to Lyne's "Rolla," and before the season was
over a number of leading characters in plays such as "Eustace Baudin,"
"Senor Valiente," "Serious Family," "All That Glitters," etc.
Each of Lyne's characters was played twice or three times, and went
far toward filling up the season as the company played but two nights
in the week. The Stock Company filled out the season of '62-63 which
closed after the April conference, '63. Soon after the opening season
of '63 and '64, the Irwins were engaged, and opening on November 4th
played the entire season till April 10th, 1864.
When the Irwin engagement began, November 4th, 1863, this put Mr.
Selden Irwin in all the leading parts. Early during this engagement
Mr. David McKenzie, who had already scored a success in "old man"
parts, came strongly to the front in the play of "Evadne" in which he
was cast for the part of "Colonno," a character of the "Hotspur" type.
He made a distinct and pronounced hit in this character, fairly
dividing honors with Irwin, who played "Ludovico," a character of the
"Iago" type, and second only to that "great villain," perhaps, in the
whole range of the drama. This performance brought McKenzie
conspicuously to the front so that he was promoted to the leading
position and held it with public approval for a number of years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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