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
With woeful shortsightedness they put up for the opening, "Damon and
Pythias," with Lyne starred as "Damon," a character he had already
played three or four times at the other theatre. Lyne probably
thought, however, with Richard that "the king's name is a tower of
strength, which they on the adverse faction want." Such did not prove
to be the case, however, as the "adverse faction" having in view the
opening of the opposition house, put on a strong new bill with Mrs.
Hayne in a new and powerful character, so that there was no apparent
diminution of patronage, and the Salt Lake Theatre kept on the even
tenor of its way "with not a downy feather ruffled by its fierceness."
Potter and Lyne had succeeded in getting "Jim" Hardie away from the
other house by offering him the part of Pythias and a larger salary
than he was getting at the older house. "Jim" at this time was the
youngest actor in the Salt Lake Theatre company, and had not yet made
much advancement; he was ambitious, however, and this opportunity to
play "Pythias" to Lyne's "Damon" was very alluring to him, so he
deserted the ranks of the D. D. A. and allied himself with
Lyne-Potter, et al., with what poor judgment the sequel will show.
The new theatre was christened "The Academy of Music," with what
reason or consistency no one could ever conceive, unless it was to
give it a big sounding name, to allure the unwary, for it was as
utterly unlike an Academy of Music as anything could be.
On the opening night, the novelty of the new theatre opening, and
curiosity to see the Academy and Mr. Lyne with his new support,
sufficed to draw a fairly full house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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