Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06

AT the Bijou commencing tomorrow evening
will be presented for the first time to Pittsburg
the novelty of the season, the pantomimIc bur-
lesque extravaganza and vaudeville company
Spider and Fly, " which has everywhere ,cored
the greatest success. Burlesque extravaganza
holds place in the affections of the average
amusement-seeker which can be replaced by nn
other form of entertainment. The bright
catchy airs and sprighty dialogues, the ever
changing trick pantomime work. SO effectually
clear the cobwebs from the tired brain that a
ticket to witness performance should become
standard prescription for melancholia. The
extravaganza is in three acts and a prologue.
The prologue starts well, the intention being to
show the struggle between knowledge and in
dustry on one side and ignorance and idleness
on the other, the one side being protected by
the fairy queen ProgreSsG and the other by
AndrchiS. Each fairy with the intention of
proving her theory taxes a boy under her wing,
the Spider" representing the industrious
youth and the 'Fly' the idle boy. The two
boys are transformed into clowns and upon
them rest the haps and mishaps of the perform
ance. Bessie Cleveland is a very pretty young
lady, and as Queen PrOgreSSd plays her fairy
like part with considerable abandon. Her voice
is sweet and sympathetic, and her selections are
always redemanded with emphasis. Her graceful
appearance and acting has much to do with the
success of the scenes in which she takes part
Miss Hilda Thomas, for several seasons the
leading artist of the vaudeville stage, has a
cultivated voice of considerable range and
power, ana one OF the pest mlmlCS on the En-
glsh stage, understands the arts of the actress
by her coy and charming manner and is always
a prime favorite with her audiences. During
the company's visit to San Franci co the pres
ent season Bessie Cleveland and Hilda Thomas
had novel experience Some 60 members OF
the California Bicycle Club attended the theater
in a body, out of compliment to the ladies' and
at the close of the performance unhitched the
horses from their carriage and attaching slIken
cords, mounted their bicycles and drove the
ladies in triumph to their hotel Spider and
Fly'' is slightly different from anything we
have ever seen and will attract considerable at
tention
GEORGE EDwARDES' London Gaiety CON-
pany will appear in the first production of
London burlesque ever seen in Pittsburg at
the Grand Opera House. beginning tomorrow
evening" presenting Faust Up to Date" The
company is one of the best ever seen in this
country, being headed by Europe's greatest
pnrlesque aud comic opera artist, Miss Flor
ence st. John. Miss ST. John is also one of the
noted beauties of the London stage. Mr.. +. j.
Lonnen appears as Mephistopheles. He will
sing tor the first time here "Enniscorthy,"
written by the composer of "Killaloo," and
which has become universally popular in New
York. Other members of the company are
Addie Conyers, Maria Jones, Charles Dandy,
and E. Vacatti, bringing up with the chorus OF
100 lovely beings with even lOvelier voices.
There has been large advance sale of seats.
indicating an enormous weeks business. The
company arrive tonight by special tram, which
will give ample time to have everything in
complete readiness for tomorrow night
WEEK commencing April IA that trio of fun
makers. Wills, Henshaw and Ten Broeck will
present 1.-TWO Old Crouies" to the patrons of
the Bijou Theater. Hilarious fun and popular
music will be furnished by this talented COM
pany of comedians and pretty girls. The piece
is said to be laughing success without regard
to the fact that it is devoid of plot situation.
1t is not even continuous, but is tumble of
vaudeville skits. intermingled with no less than
20 musical numbers. Frank NJ. Wills handles
the role OF German professor in an able man.
ner and Henshaw has a wonderful command of
his long legs The music is all good and new,
SO 1t is said, and is one of the features of the
play. The company is good and ought to pass
muster before the most critical audiences.
There is very little sense in Two Old Crones,"
but as an entertainment it holds a leading place
in performances of its kind
AT Harry Williams Academy of Music the
attraction this week is the Irwin Brothers Big
Specially Show Its ranks include La Mondue.
marvellous fellow in his speciality. which con-
sists of doing things a wire that seem in
credible; the comedians, Richmond and Glen
row. are capital fun-makers Gordon and Lick
are musical grotesques; Riley and Wolfe are
experts with the harp and in song and dance
and Hamin and Hamlin are known of OLD.
Then there are the Sankey Brothers, contor-
tionists, and the bar performers, Emar and