Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-21

NA@lNI.H 2SSSsSSS
%aSSS
K/ IA h The HanIons
h Z/MW GRAND OPERA HOUSE
N 1ML ~ KelIar
VI The Main Line
~ ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
W. Leavitt's Folly Co.
CASINO MUSEUM.
Curiosities, etc.
The above are the theatrical attractions for
this week.
1t is pleasant to be able to say that Mr.. A. ].
Shedden of the Bijou management, is appar-
entity on the mend, although he is still confined
to the Allegheny Hospital. His spirits and
general health are better, and it is thought that
his recovery will proceed more rapidly now
than any one dared to hope week ago. His
friends are not yet permitted to see him.
80
It will be observed that the Hanlons are once
more at home at the Bijou Theater. The old
difficulty, which involved law suit. has been
satisfactorily smoothed over.
~a#
Lydia Thompson has not played to enormous
business at the Bijou during the past week, but
she has the satisfaction of knowing that her
burlesque troupe would have drawn much
larger audiences at any other season of the
year.
Ii Miss Lydia Thompson is going to play an
other season or two in this country, as her man
ager informs me she intends doing, it would be
just as well for her to cut some of the essen
tally British vulgarity out of her burlesque
1t is not possible to say that American audi
ences object to vulgarity of any sort but they
certainly do not appreciate the vulgarity which
is altogether foreign in color. The low comedy
of Penelope" abounds in gags that are only
intelligible to the cockney But anyhow the
libretto of British burlesque is always its
weakest part. Strings of cheap and elderly
puns and the thinnest of nonsense make up
But the dancing of Miss Thompson's company
is unusually good of Its kind; even Lydia her
self contriving to throw iii good deal of grace
and novelty into her efforts in this line.
So
If Leon J. Long were not SO efficient Clerk
of the Criminal Court, one would wish that he
had turned to the stage professionally. In the
Fall of Atlanta" this week his impersonation
of the old colored clown tickled the audience
at the Opera House immensely.
So
Mr. Kellar, and not, as the Opera House pro-
grammes announced on last Monday night, Mr..
Hermann, will exhibit his magic skill this
week.
So
Young Mrs. Blaine's career as an actress is
now well along into the Photographic stage.
The thrilling announcement is also made that
Clinton Stuart is adapting French play for
her, but the name of the play is not revealed.
When Mr.. Crane was here with his partner,
Stuart Robson, in 1.-THE Henrietta" a great
deal of curiosity was manifested as to his
plans, but he would not reveal them. His
manager now informs me that the campaign is
settled, and Mr.. Crane will not, as many thought
he would, place his entire reliance on FdLISta1
in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and Henry
w." He has long been desirous of shining as
an exponent of American humor. as depicted
by an American author, in an American play,
with an American theme, and he firmly be-
lieves that he has found his opportunity in a
play written expressly for him by Mr.. David D.
Lloyd, author. of .For Congressi and 1.-THE
Woman Hater." This play is in four acts and
is a brisk comedy Of life in Washington. A
lcng-standing but meritorious claim plays a
considerable part in it. There are more
such claims pending before Congress
than is commonly supposed, especially
where the claimants are poor and lack
influential friends. Some of them have been
drawn out longer than the famous chancery
suit of Jarndyce vs.; Jarndyce, as described in
"Bleak House." The claim which will be
treated in the new comedy is an almost literal
| transcript of one that was passed by Congress
a few years ago. after outlasting several gen.
| erations of claimants who died without get
ting justice. The piece has a considerable un-
| dercurrent OF pathos and dramatic interest,
but it is for the most part straight comedy,
with strong flavor of satire. Almost every
! phase of official life will be represented, and
| there will be one character that is believed to
| be entirely novel. One of the timely episodes
| will be a satirical representation of contest
| over South American diplomatic appoint
ment. Mr.. Cranes part will be that of a
! young Senator, elected against his will from a
''booming" Western State. The part is full of
| character and humor.
Besides this play, Mr.. Crane has secured an.
other, with an American theme in foreign
| scene. This is four@act comedy, written
| especially for him by Messrs. Brander Mat
| thews and George II. Jessop, the authors of
| "a Gold Nine" This play deals with the ad-
ventures and misadventures of a middle-aged d
! American who goes to Europe with his sister,
| his niece and the girl he is engaged to marry
| These tour are the only Americans in the play,
which the authors describe as "a Cosmopoli-
tan Comedy" The scene of the first act is laid
| in Paris; the other three take place in Switzer-
land. For the FIRST time the numerous Incl
dents likely to occur during the usual Swiss
! trip of an American party will be shown on the
stage. Mr.. Crane believes that he has found
| in the central figure of this play character
| exactly suited to his powers.
In addition to these comedies he will yet have
| a third which he has secured the American
| rights to through Samuel French & Son. 1t is a
| highly farcical comedy called "The Balloon"
which was first produced at the Strand The
ter, in London, by Charles Wyndham, and Is
now running there and nightly pleasing
! crowded houses. BY this it will be seen that
| Mr.. Crane intends providing his patrons with
as many novelties as possible. bis season will
begin at the Chicago Opera House, September
16, after which he will make tour of the prin-
| clpal cities of the country until Monday Janu-
| airy 20. 1890, when he will begin an extended en-
| gagement at the Star Theater, in New York
The company to support Mr.. Crane will be
| fully competent, and judging by the names of
the artists already engaged it will be one of
| the strongest in the country.
HEPBURN JOHNS.
mt rry..n., a..--s..