Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21

(
CLIPPER THEATER. .......,Sun's New fnantasms
DAVIS FIFTH AVENUE MUsEUM...........-
.........................Ja ....Japanese village, Etc.
| WORLDS MUSEUM. ......Curlosities' Etc'
The above are the theatrical attractions fol
this week.
It is not likely that we shall see more
thoroughly artistic performance than that OF
| Twelfth Night this season. The whole pro-
duction from Miss Wainwright herself down to
| small details which Observation-Disclosures to scene
and occasion, spoke of a sincere desire to make
it worthy of the play Miss Wainwright has
won host Of new admirers during this en-.
gagement and it is gratifying to know that
| Pittsburgs appreciation of Shakespearean
drama properly presented was expressed warm;
| ly in dollars and cents. Nothing can very we'll
| be added to the praise which THE DISPATCH
| has already bestowed upon the entire company.
| Miss Wainwrights plans for next season look
| to the productions of a historical drama, the
name of which her managers are not ready TO
| reveal. 1t will be set upon the stage in the
magnificent style which characterizes Twelfth
Night"
Dion Boucicault's death, old man as he was,
| is a big blow to the drama. He stood head and
shoulders above his contemporaries on both
sides of the Atlantic as a practical play-maker.
HIS knowledge of the technique Of his art was
most profound. Several of his plays will live
beyond all question for long time, If not for
| ever. London Assurance" written when he
was but Is, and 1.-The Shaughraun," are, I
think, the most likely to enjoy very long life.
Boucicault played at the Bijou Theater the
season before last in "The Shanghraun" and
1.-THE Flirt," the latter clever comedy and one
of his latest works: Pittsburg audiences were
surprised az his juvenility and histrionic fire.
Although he was 50 he played the boylsh
| characters in both pieces with wonderful dash.
That was about his last appearance upon the
cfo Cfraa fhar, 1aa hoe tNff fuuH a
plays, many magazine articles, and taught
regularly in the Madison Square Theater Dra-
matte School, which was a pet hobby of his
The last play which was produced was "The Q
Tale of a Coat" which Sol Smith Russell pre-
sented at Dalys Theater for the first time only a
few weeks ago, and it has been announced that
he was engaged with. Bret Harte in writing an
other, to be called THE Luck of Roaring
Camp" founded on the familiar story of the
same name by Mr.. Harte.
The life of Dion Boucicault is not all pretty
reading but there is much that is edifying and
interesting in glimpse of his life which he
gave in his own words once, as follows: "My
first piece was Napoleon's Old Guard my Sec
ond the farce of "A Lover by Proxy and il
you need to learn that God helps those who
help themselves, take lesson from me.
Mathews was then in power, and to him sub.
mittsd the farce, which he promised to read. I
called on him several times but Of course did
not succeed in getting an audience. Finally I
caught him dining and was admitted to his
presence. Ah. yeung man. he said, you wish
to know my verdict on your farcef It is promIs-
ing, in fact, clever; but cannot produce it at
present. for my time is filed up. however, If
you care to leave it, FL see what can be done
n aay La1ess masss ha9 f0ad part p0ns hs
that in five-act play. Pd jump at it, Well,
knew that Mathews had not the remotest idea
of bringing out my farce, bu saw light in his
arlr or1i nt nj II W.
and began London Assurance and in six
weeks completed it. This was in March 1S4l
at the age of IS. Again went to Mathews
| and showed him the comedy. But 1 ordered
no comedy he exclaimed. I am aware of
| that , replied. You did say, however, that if
you had part like Harry Ldi0less in a five-act
0pd jump Waf ys he ssd o socn
| mean to say you've written a iye-act comedy
| in six weeks on my suggestion? Yes My
perseverance SO astounded Matthews that his
| indifference turned to interest,". He read Lon
| don Assurance accepted it, and when read it
| to the actors of Convent Garden, Madam
| Nestris was so pleased that she came TO me,
saying: Whatever may be the public verdict,
we feel sure that you have written a great
| comedy"
Evans & Hoey seem to have gold mine still
in "A Parlor Match" 1t is now being played
for the first time at Broadway Theaper IN
New York. With its new punishment of songs
and specialties the veteran farce-comedy Is
drawing SO well that it will stay at the Park
Theater till late in October at least. Clara
Thropp is the new Innocent Kidd, and the New
York papers say she is good. There is also a
new trio of English dancers and other new
features. When Charles Evans and William
| Hoey forsaking the vaudevilles. came forth as
| dramatic stars IN "a Parlor Match" at Tony
| PASTORS somewhere in the vicinity OF 1884
| there was at first some doubt whe her they had
Iof1oo yiao NJ "
| 1t had HOyts name, but there was another
| claimant for its authorship in Frank Dumont
| the MINSTREL who vowed that iS was only
an eloagation of bis old sketch, The Book
Agent" which Evans and Hoey used to play in
| their humble days. Hoyt and Dumont long
| ago ceased to quarrel, but IA Parlor Match"
has never since failed to profit its pair of stars.
| There was a month or SO Of suspense, and after
that all was serenity and profit.
This seasons shore is already strewn with
| wrecks. Frank McNish. the old minstrel. had
started a-srarring in farcical play called "out
| of Sight" 1t was his white-faced debut, and
| be had been led TO expect triumph. He
played sort of protean role, impersonating an
English lord. French valet, a negro, and an
| American travelling salesman. Oddly enough
those who had focked TO see him do acrobatic
marveIs in bnrnt cork didn't respond to his new
appeal. The company returned to New York
=
out again, however. Another troupe returned
to Now York is headed by George Edgar In
''The Banker" Their. Pirtsburg experience
was sad enough, but Buffalo finished them
They too. talk Of reSuming travel after the
play has been revised. A Michael Strogof"
COMPANY, organized by G.. w. Mitchell, is
stranded at st. Louis, owing to too light re-
eeipts. Francis Icons effort 10 establish a per-
manent minstrel band at Chicago has come to
grief, as have all similar attempts in recent
years. Leon has now made the theater q COM
bination house. He is wealthy, and the failure
will not hurt him financially.
The truth about Edwin Booths health is not
easy to obtain. His representative in New
York writes me that the reports Of Mr.. Booths
illness are untrue. This weeks Mirror says:
Edwin Booth is troubled with form of seiati-
ca. He has frequent vertigo, and often when
he rises to walk his legs are unsteady and he Is
obliged to lean on chair for temporary sup
mort. Mr.. Booth is recovering from the attack
that caused anxiety To his frieDds week ago
but there Is grave reason to THINK that he will
never again play with the old nre aud energy.
Every sincere admirer of the drama hopes
that these reports are exaggerated but it is to
be feared that Mr.. Booth has not enjoyed GOOD
health siuee his seizure about y year and half
ago.
50
The dramatization of that extremely disa-
greeable novel THE Clemenceau Case.n has
not achieved success in New York, where it
was produced last week. At first Miss Pearl
Eytinge essayed the heroine's role, but compe-
tent actress as she is she could not realize the
character at all. Miss Eytinge has not acted
for some time, and her clever work in prose
and verse. some of which has appeared in THE
DISPATCH, alone has kept her name before
the public. She mustbe more than S5-ttoueh
to mention this is not very gallant-seeiug that
she was already an actress of some years. ex-
perience when she appeared in the oripinaI
production by Mr. Florence. of THE Mighty