Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-02
THEATRICAL NEWS.

Miss EFFIE ELLsLER showed her versa
tility yesterday afternoon by making a great
deal of the best kind of fun out of
very trivial role IN a new comedy entitled
miss Manning" The comedy is the work of
Mr. ]. B. Runnion, and a very amateurish,
fiimsy, nonsensicaI thing it is. Miss Ellsler
plays the title role, young woman who has
been left fortune upon condition that she
marries with her uncle's consent before a cer-
tain day. 1t is long time since Miss ElIsler
has abstained, through a three-act play, from
asking us to weep, and we had forgotten what
a charming little comedienne she is. A most
unconscionable firt, whose heart nevertheless
is in the right place, is Miss Man.
ming, and Miss Ellsler makes her simply ire
sistible. Mr.. Weston is a hay-fever victim,
sneezed with painful realism and he had liter
ally nothing else to do Mr.. John A. Ellsler
played an innocuous old man acceptably. but
not another actor could rise above mediocrity.
And yet it must be admitted thai Miss Ellsler's
charming personality and her natural turn of
humor made "Miss Manning very entertain
ing most of the time. There Is, too. a circum-
stance always TO be counted In Miss Ellser's
favor, and that is her steadfast adherence to
clean. wholesome plays. In these days when so
many women on the stage are willing to exploit
the vicious and the salicious for the sake OF the
almighty dollar, it is creditable to Miss Ellsler
virtue and propriety.
WHEN Emma Abbott was in Paris last sum-
mer studying under Mime. Viardot and Mime.
La Grange, and committing two new operas
'Anne Boleyn" and "Mssked Balp' and also the
part of Ophelid IN Hamlet" she was at the
same time quietly arranging with NJ. Audrain
for an opera to be written for her especially,
as the great composer had expressed a wish to
write an opera exactly suited to her high So
prano range The result is that the opera is
well under way and next year Emma Abbott
will bring 1t out in Europe and remain there
until 1893 She will then bring ont the opera in
America and sing nothing else that season.
Meantime the present season will be filled in
this country, the tour extending to San Fran
cisco, New Orleans and back to New York for
special engagement. for all of which the pres
ent Abbott organization was especially formed,
the same that will appear at the Bijou next
week, in old and new operas. The special new
features are "Bal Masque," Verdi, and the mad
scene from Hamlet" both on Friday night,
forming an attractive double bill. "Ernanf'
Tuesday and "Faust' Monday are also special
features, though Emma Abbott will appear
every night and at the Saturday matinee with
the entire company. The sale begins this
morning.
The bill at the Grand Opera House next week
will offer variety-in variety calculated to
appeal to every taste in some degree. The COM
pany is the best yet brought to this country
Marks Internatlonals, a congress of vaudeville
stars culled from the principal theaters of the
European capitals. The company has scored
conspicuous successes in New York, Philadel-
phia, Washington and Baltimore, winning in
each the golden and enthusiastically expressed
opinions of press and public. The advance
sale of seats and boxes begins this morning.
AT the Bijou Theater THE Plunger'' is
drawing so well that it will be kept on the rest
Of the week with the exception of Saturday
matinee and night. when Across the Conti-
nent7 will be given. Mr.. Byron and his charm
ing wife seem 20 be as popular as ever, for the
Bijou has been packed every night this week.
Miss EFFIE ELLsLER goes under Mr.. Wits
management to Washington, Pa, on Saturday
night.