Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09

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this week.
1t will be a long time before Pittsburg is
treated to a grander performance, a more
complete one in every way, than that of "The
Rivals by the Florence-J efferson Company.
The engagement was highly successful, the
Opera House being crowded at all four per-
formances. The verdict on all sides was the
same, viz: The best company of comedians
ever seen in Pirtsburg. How could it be other
wise?
The popularity of sketches of character after
the fashion of "The Old Homestead" 1.-THE
Country Fair and "Jed Prouty," does not
seem to be increasing. although lied Prouty'
was as it deserved to be, received
during the past week. 1t is not at all likely
who thought it ever would be except Mr..
William Dean Howells and pecuniarily in
terested parties? that PLAYS without plots will
be permanently in favor. The naturalness and
novelty of these sketches are all that won for
them public approval. The tendency to abso-
lutte truth in picturing life which Jed Prouty"
and other pieces of dramatic work show is
likely to survive, and we trust 1t WILL but in
plays with with well marked plots to sustain
the interest.
A correspondent writes to ask if a certain
couple of actors who played here lately-one
was the young hero and the other the loving
heroine-had any warm feeling toward each
other. Were they, that is, lovers off the stage
as they were on? My correspondent thinks
from what she saw of their stage work that
they must have loved each other in earnest.
far from loving they cordially disliked each
other. But this did not detract from the veri-
similitude of their love-making; it seemed to
make them more careful, and being good act.
ors. their efforts were successful
The clever writer signing herself ''Polly"
writes in The Mirror this week upon this inter-
esting question thus: Tho poetry and ro-
nance on the stage is cot poetry and
who act the parts although they en-
deavor to suggest poetry and romance to the
audience. Love scenes are simply scenes
Embraces are business like falls and turns
sword the position of tables and chairs must be
considered; the personal relation of the actor
and actress is not. They may hate each other.
The woman may feel that she will get the
creeps when her opposite touches her, but if
she is a conscientious actress and he is a good
actor she does not get the creeps but plays her
part earnestly and seriously for what the part
is worth, setting, as does he, personal feelings
aside. A scene is a scene, that is all. The
actor and actress personally are not concerned
when they play it, any more than the relation
of the parts they play holds when the scene is
over"
"A kiss is a gesture and piece of business,
and il has got to be done mighty well on the
stage to be neat, effective and satisfactory to
the house. If it is slurred, or blurred. OF hur-
ried, or done hap-hazard, it is ugly and inartis-
tic and the audience laughs or feels uncom-
Portable. A kiss, genuine. original and per-
formed off the stage, is for the edifcation of
the parties concerned and is likely to go all
right and take care of itself Over and over
comes the question: is it easier to play with
a man who likes you a lot. or with one who
does not like you p We all know the answer.
Either extreme is jolly uncomfortable. but the
important thing is TO play with good actor"
Pittsburgis enjoying some good things these
days at the theaters. 1.-THE Gondoliers." of
course, excites great curiosity and will be
surely performance worth seeing In Miss
Coghlan the public knows an accomplished
actress, whose reputation promises a series of
dramatic treats. HEPBURN JOHNS.