Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07

The above are the theatrical attractions for
this week.
The managers of the Bijou Theater were not
at all confident that "The Crystal Slipper
would achieve great success here. They Thought
that the public had been taught to be incred.
ulous about the merits of spectacular extraya.
ganzas by the succession of dismal deceptions
offered to Pittsburg under that name in recent
years. This view was correct. The public had
grown suspicious. 1t took some proof to con-
vince them that 1.-THE Crystal Slipper" was not
what is vulgarly termed "a fake"
A friendly reader of The DISPATCH, in a
note pertinent to this subject, observes that he
is pleased with the criticisms published in this
paper, for the simply reason that they seem to
him to be founded on basis of truth. It is
the intention of The DISPATCH, as 1t has been.
to always tell the truth about the plays and the
actors that come here, without favor and with
out fear. Even If in matters of Judgment the
critic may err, he can still efficiently serve the
public by telling the truth and nothing but the
truth.
"The Crystal Slipper was cordially recon.
mended to the public in these columns, because
itwas all Its producers claimed for il, spec
taeular extravaganza, well acted, rich in good
scenery and coloriul costumes, and, as things
go nowadays, unobjectionable in its ballets and
advertisements. The result Of its quality has
been pleasantly demonstrated to the managers
Of the Bijou in growing audiences. For the
theater has been crowded.
This simply shows that Pittsburgers will pay
to see worthy performance Of this kind; iust
as they will not pay to see the tawdry second
hand affairs which the Kiralfys and others
have been foolish enough to bring here. If
Manager Henderson keeps up the liberal policy
per" he will command steady patronage for
every dramatic venture which bears his name,
50
JUDGING from the expressions of opinion
that very many women have favored me with.
orally and by mail, it would be just as well if
Little Itch were dropped out Of "The Crystal
Slipper" he is not necessary, and a great
many people think his appearance is disgust
ing. Perhaps the dime museum or the variety
stage is his proper place. Still with very
large. part of the audience he is immensely
popular.
Jim, the PenmaD," in the hands of a COM
pany bearing the name Of the Madison Square
Theater, and that of Manager Palmer of
course will be well acted, but everyone will re-
gret that Miss Ada Dyas is not to be seen here
once more IN tho character which she PLAYED
with such wonderful ability last year. Miss
May Brooklyn, who has high reputation,
much for Miss Dyas, and she was obliged to
leave the company about two months ago.
Hs~
OF the others in the company, Mr.. Whiting
and Mr.. Ferguson are still upholding the char
acters OF jim the PennlGn and the detective
respectively. Harry Eytinge is likely to be an
improvement as the Baron, whom Mr. Ian Rob
ertson made SO harsh and overdrawn last year
cessor in the part of Louts Perciual. In fact.
the company seems to be still remarkably
strong.
1t is some time since Pittsburg has seen Miss
Madden, and it is to be hoped that they will
give her very hearty greeting She is such a
plucky, orthodox little actress, contented in
her reliance upon her own gifts and hard work
to bring her the fame that other women upon
the stage have bought with beauty, alleged
social distinction and everything, almost ex-
cept brains and industry.
In the West she has much bigger reputa-
tion than Pittsburg dreams of, but the day
must surely come when the most brilliant
young woman upon the legitimate stage will
climb into the place that is rightly hers.
e.
Here is Mr.. A. c. Wheeler, on the recent
answer of Mr.. Willie Winter to Mr.. Boucicault
writing in the Dramatic Mirror.
"1f ever Mr.. Winter issues from his retreat. it
is to take weary and contemptuous glance at
the disgusting contemporaneousness of things
and turn up his nose at democracy. His elabor.
ate and elegant essays on the stage are tuneful,
but 1t is the tunefulness of Palestrina not of
the period. The thin and piping quality of his
manliness relegates him to the Past. A lean
and slippered sensibility makes him unfit to
deal with the virility of the Now
II hnd him acknowledging that he never
reads anything disagreeable about himself If
it isn't sugary he puts it in the fire.
He advises actors to do the same-'it may
impair their usefulness by wounding their
senslbilities and gfieviug their hearts, to read
that which is disagreeable.'
This is the epicureanism of dotage.
ACTORS who mean business have got to have
their hearts prieVHd. They nuef fo1oba.
themselves to the fight, If they would win If. Il
is by the attrition with men who do not think
| as you do that character is evolved.
ITO be put away in pink cotton with a copy
OF Goldsmith under your head, may be very
pretty to the readers Of Rdrperss Weekly
round the rural evening lamp. But to know
well as give, blows. and that reminds me to say
that the exact difference between Boucicauit
and Winter is simply the difference between
pulling gangs and well healed scars"
Mr.. Wheeler does not mince matters. but
when man gets into such a condition as Mr.
Winter has reached he needs sharp correction.
SsG
Pittsburg is TO have one Of the twentieth ami.
versary series Of monster musical festivals. to
be conducted by Mr.. P. s. Gilmore in the
largest cities of America, this spring, in COM
memoration of his great Boston Jubilee. It will
be genuine jubilee in its character and maeni-
tude, swelled in grandeur by the greatest of all
bands, number of the most noted vocal celeb
rites. such as Campanini, Del Puente, Myron
Whitney, Signorina De We're the latest Italian
soprano, who stands on a plane with Patti
Jenny Lind and Gerster; the most charminc
American soprano, Nine. Blanche Stone-Bare
ton, the charming American contralto. Miss
Helen Dudley Campbell, and the dashinr
Swedish tenor, de Danckwardt from the Royai
Opera, Copenhagen.
The character of the music will be grand.
patriotic and popular, and in some of the mum.
bers enlivened by the beating of anylls and
firing of artillery, with the same wonderful ac-
curaey which astonisbed the world at the Bos.
ton jubilees. Gilmore will be the hero of the
present hour, as he was Of the jubilee times at
the close of the war.
The festival will take place in the Battery p
Armory Qate Fifth Avenue Music HaIl) Thurs
day,-May 2. There will be two performances
HEPBURN JOHNS
This Weeks Attractions.
THAT Rkrnnp maln.drama MlnnA.-..