Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-13

GRAND OPERA HOUSE Prof Hermann
HARRY WILLIAMS. Rice's Syndicate of Stars.
CASINO MUSEUM. Novelties, etc.
The above are the theatrical attractions fol
this week.
Booth and Barrett, with their unsurpassed
company, have come and gone. The engage
ment was more successful in every way than
that of last year, and though the prices were
high the house was well filled at each perform
ance. 1t was easy to see that Hamlet" with
the eminent tragedian in the title role was the
favorite play. There was a packed house on
Wednesday night, and although the staging of
this drama was least satisfactory of all, the
audience, despite this fact, followed with most
eager attention every movement and word of
the players. Booth may not clay Hamlet bet
ter than he plays other parts, but Pittsburgers
seem to like him best as ''the melancholy
Dane.n
Every one who saw "Julius Cesar" "AIer.
chant of Venice" and "Othello'' was at once
struck by the beauty and appositeness of the
scenery and costumes. The artistic effect OF
these accessories it would be hard to estimate,
yet no one could fail to find his enjoyment and
understanding of the play greatly enhanced
thereby.
In the last number of the Mirror, Nym Grin
kle, discussing histrionism and embellishments,
says: Il have said repeatedly, and repeat it
now, that Mr. Irving has done more than any
other actor of our generation to make illumi-
nation take the place of Interpretation and he
has succeeded with the help of Tadema and
other painters, in completely confusing the
minds of shallow persons with regard to the
proper distinction"
He then goes on to cite in support of his as
sertion, what Mary Anderson says in the Janu-
ary North American ReUietC and evidently
thinks Miss Anderson a very poor authority on
the subject which she attempts to discuss. She
talking about q dramatic
artist" and gives what she calls IAN instance
illustrating it." 1t was in the Mounet-Sully
production of Hamlet at the Theater Fran
caise, which she confesses to have followed
with eager interest no less than eight times.
For what? Mainly for this which she describes
as illustrative of the remarkable skill shown in
conveying the illusion intended by the author.
SIN the first place." she says, "the curtain
went up on a scene in which there was an atmos-
pheric effect so skillfully devised as to suggest
most vivldly the blue cold of winter night in
Denmark. For some moments there was
silence on the stage, which was deserted. Then
there was heard in the distance tie clanking
sound of man in armor. The sound ap-
preached nearer and nearer and then a guard
appeared upon the scene, beating his hands
and blowing his warm breath on his fingers.
He crossed the stage and disappeared without
a word. All this was DONE" said Miss Ander-
son, without a word being spoken, and it was
intended to show just what kind of a night it
was"
And tins" observes Nym Cr1nkle, rs what
struck Miss Anderson in a performance of
Shakespeare's nasterwork. The time of night
it was The state of the thermometer n OF a
word spokenl Oh, the intensity of an empty
stage! What intellectual heights we have
scaled when We know what the weather is I!
This then is the power of the dramatic artist
to bring out the meanings of the author"
Exactly and that is just the way Mr.. Irving
always brings 1t out. And it is the way Miss
Anderson set to work to bring it out in 1.-THE
Winters Tale" These illuminators think
more of interpreting the time and place and the
condition of the atmosphere than they do of in
terpreting the character and motives of the
living souls.
"Mr. Edwin Booth and Mr.. Lawrence Bar
rett are far greater histrions in the true sense
than Mr.. Irving, but they will never see the
day in which they will approach him as lamp
lighter. And wish you would put on record
for me the individual opinion that Mrs. Potter.
within the circumscribed limits of her ability,
is a far more conscientious histrion than the
gifted Mary Anderson"
sxs
The performance for the benefit of sufferers
by the late accident, to be given at the Grand
Opera House next Wednesday afternoon,
ought to be largely attended. The entire re-
ceipts are to be used to relieve cases of genuine
distress. Prof Hermann is sure to give per-
formance that VIII delight and mystify all who
see it. 1t is to be hoped that the house will be
crowded at this benefit matinee.