Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-18
Grand Opera House.

TF novelty is desired, it certainly can be found
at the Opera House this week. The first pre-
sentation Of the Seven Ages" by Mr.. Henry
E. Dixey, supported by Rlce's Company Of
players, and it is quite a large company, too,
was witnessed last evening by large and eVi
IDENTIFY well pleased audience. The synopsis, in
brief, is: Mr.. Dixey, as Bertie Van Loo, q
graduate of Columbia, and evidently a young
man Of the period, acting under the advice Of
q bronze Shakespeare which suddenly devei-
ops considerable activity falls asleep in a
chair and in imagination follows the career Of
his ancestor of a similar name from babyhood
to death OF old age-frorn l740 until 1890 As
the imagination of the auditors is not so vivid
as that OF the dreamer, the scenes are depicted
in realistic manner for their benefit. Mr..
Dixey appearing in the title role in each Of the
several changes
A pleasing feature was the appearance of
Miss Elaine Ellison as AUonfd, who advanced to
the footlights before each scene and in a sill
very voice explained the representation to
ENTHUSIASTICALLY talking against time in
very engaging style whilethe elaborate stage
settings were beng arranged. Her manner
and delivery were so acceptable that she was
warmly greeted upon each appearance, and
accorded an ovation at the close.
OF the various characters which Mr.. Dixey
assumes probably the least pleasing IS that
which approaches nearest his own age-the
lover of p. The representation of an infant is
as nearly perfect as 1t can be made with the
pronounced features OF mature man, and,
with the same allowance, the schoolboy Of 10 is
a very interesting specimen. AS the lover,
however, Mr.. Dixey last night seemed to lack
force and fire, and 1t was not until he had as
sumed the more aged characters that he was
thoroughly appreciated by the audience. As
Judge Van Loo in the court scene and Grand
Jdther Van Loo in the final change the actor
was accorded the plaudits of every one present.
The most pronounced applause, however, was
manifested in the representation of the Revo-
lutionary period, when, after hand-to-hand
battle, Dixey, in Continental uniform, suddenly
leaps upon the back of horse placed upon a
pedestal and appears as an equestrian statue of
Washington. The resemblance Is startling;
and as the remaining 40 persons on the stage-a
moment before engaged in a rough-and-
to correspond, the tableau is exceedingly
effective.
Notwithstanding the fact that la grippe is no
longer fashionable, Mr.. Dixey was evidently
afflicted with an attack of the malady. A
prominent medical man, who closely observed
his work from the parquet, stated that he was
undoubtedly suffering severely and playing
under great disadvantage.
OF the other members Of the company Mr..
George w. Howard, who appears in about as
many and diversified characters as Mr.. Dixey
deserves special mention. Miss Marie Will
Jams is especially strong as a soldiers wife and
in the last scene, where, also. Miss Dorothy
Gray. as SuSdhnoh, received double encore.
The musical specialties throughout were de-
number of child actors added to the effect OF
several scenes
ANY number of costumes and great quantity
OF scenery are required in the production. The
latter, indeed. seemed to be trifie too compli-
Gated for smoote handling upon the first trial.