Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16

4ZZ)E
B1Jou THEATER. ''Castles in the Air."
GRAND OPERA HOUSE. ........Warde and bowers
ACADEMY OF MUSIC. .hentz-SanLey W.
HARRIS THEATER ......... ''Blue ana tne Gray.
DAVIS FIFTH AVE. MUSEUM. ....CurlosltieS ETC
WORLDS MUsEUM... "..Curloslues' EIe'
The above are the theatrical attractions
for this week.
The popularity of "The White Slave" is one
of the puzzling conundrums of the time. IL IS
cleverly built DRAMA no doubt, and It's
original power in the pathetic chords can be
granted, but why on earth should it continue
to draw audiences of such an enormous size
as the Bljou management complacently re-
garded at every performance last weekf
The White Slave' has performed
ten engagements in Pittsburg during
as many successive years. and Mr.
Harry c. Kennedy, the proprietor, admits that
he has taken out of Pittsburg alone with TINS
play less than $50 900 for his share OF the re-
ceipts. Nearly every night last week tnere
was such demand for seats at the BlJou that
the orchestra had to be taken out. The popu-
larity of The White Slave" shows at least that
romantic melodrama, well lined with senti-
ment and heroics is what the public demands,
Next season Mr.. Kennedy intends to give
''The White Slave" a grand production, and l
am sure nobody wishes that he may not con-
tinue to dig gold out of BARLEY Campbelrs
drama.
The opening of the Duquesne Theater being
now absolutely set for December l. the pros
pect of an unusually brilliant theater season is
assured. At all the theaters the promise of the
future excels. and well may it. the perform
ance of the past The Juch Opera Company
will lend considerable eclat to the first nights
of the Duquesne Theater, and some interesting
details of the operatic repertoire may be found
in the musical columns of this issue.
80
THE Sea King" the new comic opera by
Richard Stahl, whose earlier work of said
Pasha" is well remembered, and which has
from all accounts merited the high things. said
in its favor, will receive its premiere in this
city at the Bijou on December l, which also
serves to introduce new operatic organiza-
tion in the title of the William ]. Gilmore Opera
Company, whose name has been associated
hitherto with spectacular enterprises. The
opera was originally produced in the city OF
Philadelphia the past summer, where Its sue
cess was so quickly established that after
months run in that city it was transferred to
Palmer's Theater. New York. and made as dis:
tinct a success as did "Erminle," Glover" and
other familiar works which have served to af-
ford amusement to thousands of lovers of
comic opera. The opera will be given here
entirety, with every attention to detail. as at
Palmers Theater, New York City.
80
The Order of Elks is going to tender a we'll
deserved compliment to Frederick Warde this
week. They will attend the Grand Opera
House in a body, and afterward entertain Mr..
Warde at a banquet at Goodw1n's Petroleum
Exchange. The Elks could not find better
fellow-and very few better actors-to honor,
and there is not the least doubt that Tuesday
nights affair will be nightly pleasant to all
concerned.
"Superba" will be remembered as flrst-class
production. and when it comes here again next
season have no doubt that Mr.. George Han
Ions promise that 'Superba" will be wonder
fully improved in every way will be kept to the
letter. The reason the public take SO kindly to
the Hanlon productions Is that the Hanlons
are honest in their undertakings.
Honesty is the best policy, but not
half the managers of travelling theatrical
combinations know it. And for some reason or
usually the biggest frauds in the pack There.
fore, ii is pertinent to point out the HaDlons'
honesty-shown in all their work and ways,
from newspaper promises to the treatment of
their employes-and am glad to say that they
find it very profitable.
-
The De Wolf Hopper engagement may be
relied upon to lift the city perceptibly out of
does not merely tickle-he can make the worst
hypochondriac on earth yell with laughter.
And they say that the opera and the other play
ers have similar power.
The Warde-Bowers combination cannot fail
to be delightful one from the artistic point of
view. The novelty Of Henry VIII" is also an
attractive feature.
1t is not altogether unsatisfactory to note
that The DIsPATCH's opinion of "The
Editor" which was played here last Septem-
ber, has been shared to such an extent
by the public at large, that Mr.. Louis
Aldrich decided last week to take it off
the road. Mr. Aldrich alleges his ill
health as the reason, but he is, mistaken.
1t is the play that is deathly sick. Among the
other wrecks of the week is Hendrix Hud-
son." Fay Templeton's castaway, which Man
ager Tillotson and the large Miss Anns Boyd in
vain tried to galvanize INTO new life. Agnes
Herndon and Katie Rooney have also given up
the struggle and word comes that THE Irish
AraD" is to be laid on the shelf until better
vehicle for Bobby Gaylor can be found.
Surprising news comes from Omaha. John
H. Russell, who made of "The City Directory"
a fortune-paying farce, has gone astray in his
newest venture. miss McGinty of the Come
die Franchise" He organized a new company,
with Fay Templeton at its head. and players
like reliable Tom Herndon, promising Eddie
Goodwin [Nat's brother). pretty Josie Sadler
agile Fred Lennox and William Carroll to help
on the diversion But Omaha's report of the
first performance is that everything went sadly
amiss, SO that the audience sat in solemn silence
and the actors became CHASTITY as the awful
truth grew upon them. The piece was tried
last year as ION Easy Street."
The retirement of Minnie Palmer from "Su-
zette" and the disbanding OF her Comic Opera
Company Is no surprise to anyone who knows
how Miss Palmer sings, or how her husband
Mr.. Rogers, talks. There has been a
m. e or less amusing war of words
between Mr.. Rogers and his wife's managers in
the comic opera venture. Messrs Lock and
Davis. Rogers says that Minnie Palmer is too
good for comic opera anyhow and does not
need to act unless she pleases while the
managers express doubts OF Minnie's ability,
and a general disapproyal of Rogers methods.
HEPBURN JOHNS.