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
Oliver Doud Byron followed them, opening on December 21st, and playing
till January 3rd, "Across the Continent," being his piece de
resistance. Ben McCullough filled out the week. Eliza Couldock, who
was in delicate health, and had been left here by her father after
their last engagement, was now called in for a week to assist the
Stock in a production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Miss Couldock was cast
for the character of Eliza. The writer, who was playing George Harris
and Legree, well remembers how nervous and poorly the lady was during
this week's engagement. She was over ambitious and worked beyond her
strength, and it was evident she was in a decline. This was her last
appearance, poor girl, and it was not long before we were paying the
last respects, and with loving hands laying her gently i' the earth,
alongside of dear Annie Lockhart, whom we had performed the same
service for only a short time before. "Lay her i' the earth and from
her fair and unpolluted flesh may violets spring."
Rose Evans came to us for a second engagement, after the "Uncle Tom"
week, and played from January 8th to the 27th, repeating her former
repertory. Stock company put in the following week alone, then
followed E. T. Stetson for a week in his melodramas, "Neck and Neck"
and "Old Kentuck." This puts us along to February 7th, '72, when the
Stock played another week without any star; then the Stock got a
week's rest, the time from the 15th to the 20th being filled by Purdy,
Scott, and Fostelle's minstrels. Refreshed with a week's vacation, the
Stock company started in afresh on February 22nd--great George's
birthday--and played till April 9th, getting through another
conference without the aid of a star. Here the company had another
brief respite while "The Child American Concert Company" filled time
from April 10th to the 13th, when the company resumed their labors and
played up to the 20th. On April 22nd, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Bates began a
stellar engagement which ran three weeks, up to May 11th. Mrs. Bates
was the lead horse in this team, and the repertory was selected to
give her prominence as the principal star, and the announcement should
have been _Mrs._ and Mr. F. M. Bates. She played "Pigeon the Torment,"
"Camille," "Leah," and "Lucretia Borgia," and all the great popular
roles for tragediennes, and was the first to introduce to us the great
historic play of "Elizabeth." The Bateses made a very good impression
and were so pleased with the result of their engagement that they
remained in Salt Lake during the ensuing summer. Blanche Bates, now a
very successful star under David Belasco's management, was with the
Bateses then, and as she had not been christened Blanche, she was just
called Baby Bates.
May 13th to 16th was filled by Berger's Swiss Bell Ringers, and Sol
Smith Russell, who was then doing specialties with the Bergers little
dreaming of his "Poor Relation" or "Peaceful Valley."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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