Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03

The above are the theatrical attractions fol-
this week.
Though Manager Harris has not yet an.
nounced that he will build a new theater, it is
pretty clear to see that he will be building a
new place Of amusement, or have made ar.
rangements to obtain q house already built
about this time next year. The Coleman heirs
have practically decided to erect a large build.
ing on the site whereon Harris Theater now
stands, and Manager Harris lease runs to July,
1890.
AS has been said before in this column, Mr..
Harris has obtained too strong and profitable a
hold upon the people of Pittsburg to quietly
consent to allow himself as a theatrical pro-
build new theater if he cannot succeed in get
ting the only theater which at present seems
likely to change hands.
About the same time that Manager Harris
opens his new theater-which we may assume
will be new in any event-the Bijou Theater
will be brought down to the ground floor level,
and will undoubtedly be one of the safest,
largest and handsomest theaters in the coun-
try. The enlargement of the Bijou will not be
confined to the auditorium but the stage also
will be given the additional space it needs
1t is painfully apparent that up to this date
Miss Margaret Mather has not benefited much
by the rupture of the alliance with Manager j.
M. Hill. Miss Mather remains happily the
same impressively charming actress as ever,
but her company is not SO good as that which
Mr.. Hill provided, and it is a dreadful descent
from the scenery she has carried with her in
former years to the inappropriate and scanty
provision from the Opera House store. AS
to Miss Mathers difficulty with Mr.. Hill
there is no occasion to speak, but If
that difficulty is to permanently relegate Miss
Mather to the rank Of those actresses, who
have yet their mark to make, and to the eco
nomical methods necessary in their case, the
public will deeply regret that 1t exists. The
disappointment Of her friends in regard to the
defecrs alluded to has been loudly heard dur
ing the week. Miss Mather is too great an
actress to be thus hampered and be-harle-
quined.
We are not to escape 'tRobert Elsmere" in
dramatic form after all Though the accom-
plished William II. Gillette and Manager Pal
mer have abandoned their plan to twist and
crush Mrs. Wards novel into an actable article
of commerce, the dreadful deed is yet to be
done. Charles Frohman and Harry lockwood
have fully determined to place dramatiza-
tion Of ''Robert Elsmere" on the road this sea-
son.
They have already engaged E. II. Wander
felt, John I. Sullivan, W. II. Thompson, Doro-
thy Dorr and Efie Shannon. Their route COM
prises the chief cities and theaters of the coun-
try. They open in March, playing for one week
in small cities between New York and Boston;
then at the Hollis Street Theater in Boston on
March 25, for two weeks
*xA
It is satisfactory to hear that the Anti Cru
city Society benefit which will occur on We'd
nesday afternoon at the Grand Opera House
promises to bring needed financial help to
very worthy object. "The Donagh," with Jo-
seph Murphy and his company in the cast and
presenting also the panorama of the Lakes Of
Killarney, is on the programme.
The Anti-Cruelty Society has been in exist
ence nearly two years, and during its first IL
months investigated and took action in over
1000 cases of cruelty to children and aged per-
sons. Its officers are all prominent citizens,
1t does great deal of good in the community,
Donagh" on wednesday afternoon will be earn
ing reputation for philanthropy very cheaply.
The management of the benefit is in the capa-
BILE hands of MI. Frank Connolly.
xxs
Robson and Crane will be seen together for
the last time here in 1.-THE Henrietta" at the
Grand Opera House the week of March Ii.
The assurance is given also that "The Henri
eta" will be staged and set with the wonderful
finish which characterized the production of
York. Robson and Crane viii compensate Gus us
for that which we have endured.
Among the noteworthy features of the en-
gagement of Emma Abbott, which will fill the
week of March 1S at the Bijou Theater, will be
the production for the first time in Pittsburg
OF Gilbert & Sulli 6an's "Yeomen of the
Guard" When such tepid and tasreless cruel
as ''Nadjy" is deemed worthy sending out first
class comic opera company to torment the
dwellers in big cities it seems passing strange
that Gilbert & Sullivan's latest work should
not have reached Pittsburg in somebody's
hands before this. Thanks to the industrious
and plucky Emma for this late relief.
HEPBURN JOHNS