Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-20

There were days OF faster mot1on
For the ladies of the chorus,
When the public had the notion
That it liked wild burlesque.
Those were days of whirling mazes,
But nowadays the craze is
For chorus solid, solemn
And sublimely statuesque.
A VERY pleasant week of theatrical
amusements was that just now past. The
comic opera at the Opera House was far and
away the most gorgeously presented work
that Pittsburg has ever seen. It was remark
able on account of the inimitable Russell
sweet voiced, and type of complete lowell
ness-on account of the beauty of all the
women in the company; on account of the
splendid costumes and scenery, and some
what because of several magnetic measures
of real music. As cotemporary has rightly
said, the opera would not have been tolerable
without its superb equipment
'The Brigands" scored an immense financial
success, and after Wednesday seats were very
scarce in the house. This was the result Of
MIR. Aronson's honesty in giving the public Of
Pittsburg exactly what he had promised-an
opera on the New York scale in every respect.
Secondly, there has never been better adver-
tised opera than The Brigands." Everybody
within a hundred miles of Pittsburg knew that
''The Brigands' was coming, because the news
papers announced it boldly The success Of
"The Brigands' at the Grand Opera House
was superb testimonial to the value Of news
paper advertising when good thing was con-
cerned. 1t is curious too. that the managers
of that very theater profess to doubt the value
of newspaper advertisements.
FROM the beginning o. November to the sea
sons close the attractions at the Bijou Theater
will be of far higher class than those which
have appeared at that house SO far. Among
the opera companies booked for the Bijou are
McCaurs, with "Clova;" Duf's Francis VIII
sons, with THE 0olah," and the Carleton
Opera Company.
Mr.. ]. A. REED. who has been business man.
ager of the Grand Opera House since the sea-
son opened, has decided to make a change for
the better. He will assume the management Of
Charles Mccarthy in Zone Of the Bravest" at
Boston on Monday. The play and the star are
having immense success, and Mr.. Reed Will
doubtless add to his excellent reputation as
manager At the Grand Opera House Mr..
Reed has been a conspicuously pleasant and
competent official and his departure will be
sincerely regretted by all those who came in
contact with him there.
txs
1T will not be news to all THE DIsPATcH's
Miss Henrietta Crossman, who has achieved a
triumph in Mr.. Terriss production of Roger,
La Honte," in New York, is tho niece of the
late Mr.. J. Heron Foster, and in many other
ways connected by close relationship with
many families in this county. She is the
daughter of G. II. Crossman, of youngstown,
formerly an officer of the United States army.
and son of the late Brevet Major General G.
H Crossman.
From present appearances Miss Henrietta
Crossman is destined to shine very brilliantly
upon the American stage. lie Chat NoiT,
most conscientious and able authority point
edly puts what all the New York critics have
written Of her when it says:
''Of the other people in the cast Henrietta
Crossman, as the wife, was beautiful and force
full to the last degree, and was perhaps more
interesting throughout the play than Miss
Millward managed to make herself"
We hope that we shall have q chance to see
this new actress of American birth before long,
and give her the welcome she deserves
"a.
SOME foolish person-can 1t be the author
himself?-has chosen to mutilate "A Possible
Case" The part of the fascinating Mexican
villain, Senior de VidGs, has been cut unmerci-
fully. A strong situation, wherein de VIdGs
falls into the arms of the police, has been en-
tirely removed. The third act suffers i'm
mensely by these knifngs. 1t has not half its
strength. Perhaps the change is all the more
noticeable because the actor who plays the
villain this year is not the equal of him who
made us shudder while we admired his art last
year. HEPBURN JOHNS.