Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-07
AT THE TREATERS.
Bronson Howard's Shenandoah -aIinsrrels
and Other Amusemeuts.

bronson AoWafd'S Shenand0ah-Minatrel ell
! and Other Amusemeuts.
! IF any further evidence were needed of Mr.
Bronson Howard's pre-eninence as an
American playwright it could be found in his
latest play, Shenandoah" a comedy drama in
four acts, which was acted for the first time in
Pittsburg at the Bijou Theater last night. The
same mastery management of incident, the
same powerful drawing Of character and truth
to human nature that were admired in .sThe
Henrietta" occur in Shenandoah" The PLAYS
are, of course widely dissimilar, but brilliancy
OF dialogue, the easy, free spirit of the humor.
and the clearness of the story are common
to both. The plot of Shenandoah" is of less
importance than that of 'DThe Henrietta.D In
fact in the former play it is really more of a
portfolio of sketches of the human as distin-
guished from the military side of war that Mr..
Howard lays before us, rather than a drama of
the old orthodox sort with plot paramount to
everything else. One cannot help thinking that
Mr. Howard has fallen in with the views of
William Dean Howells in this matter; that is
making the plot of Shenandoah" only strong
bits of action, pathos and humor painted
ViVidly from the life. 1t is true
also. however, that Mr.. Howard has
succeeded in bringing the battle smoke
mouths in which other dramatists' works have
often been simply lost form a fitful back
ground to Shenandoah" The figures of men
and women are plainly shown. and more the
men and women are of flesh and blood with
hearts beating with love, fired with the fever
OF the conflict and torn with the passions of
Jealousy and hate. Shenandoah" will surely
recall to many veteran the days when he trod
the valley that bears that name; and many a
cicatriced heart will bleed again for the dead
That sleep there, and on other fields in the
SOUTH But there Is nothing but manly patri-
otlsm ringing through the piece; not a word to
rouse again the enmities that brought that
awful war upon the land.
vitb 1t is beautiful = play Is Picturesque, instinct
to the mlnutest detail of life. Mr.. Howard has
had the congratulations Of many cities already;
Pittsburgs is sure to be added to the list. 1t is
the best play of this season-or in its own do
main, the best an American author has yet
written.
We can see no utility in retelling the story of
the play-it has been told more than once al
ready In these columns. There are three or
1our love stories running through it; so the
women should like it and after them the males
1t has the reality of war about most Of its ac-
tlon; but the semblance is produced without
recourse to the firing of muskets upon
the stage, thereby rendering the ears and
noses of the audience Mr.. Howard's debtors
1t will surely make you cry, If you ever shed
tears In theater-and we even dare say if you
never cried before. The scenery is no small
AID to the imagination in realizing the perilous
surroundings OF the actors. The signaling
upon The Top Mountain is particularly real
lstic. For the most part the troops-recruited
in Pittsburg-were happily kept out of sight
though their voices rising in familiar march,
ing songs we're effective enough. The staying
of the retreat by Sheridan's arrival will be
more impressive as tableau after the raw
supernumerar1es learn something of what
soldiers would do with the enemy at their
heels. They ought to be allowed to carry arms
There is no star part in Shenandoah" Half
dozen parts are of equal Importance. This is
not a disadvantage at all when such an excel
lent company as Mr.. Hayman's is concerned
Frank CarlVla fn1 lv wall tod druifh
the character of Colonel RerchtUdL Vest. In
him we have noble picture of the gentleman
and the soldier. General HdUeTiu, stern yet
generous soldier is equally well placed in Joseph
Hollands hands. The Captain HedrtSedse and
Lieutenant Frank BedLoe, very different mil
1tary types were admirably portrayed by Lewis
Baker and Charles Mackey. A delightful old
soldier was Major General Lreneus Buck |
thorn, martinez with several soft spots in his
heart, as Charles Stanley showed him, and per-
haps nothing quainter and funnier than the |
Sergeant BdTket of q. B Hawkins could be |
given u.s. The character and the actor are |
equally delicious
In the same way we can praise the fair half |
OF the cast. Miss Esther Lyon was extremely |
powerful in pathos as IN the lightest merri- |
ment of young Southern girl, Gertrude ELL |
lngham, Miss Jenny BttcItthoTT. a soldiers |
daughter. an American daughter of the regi- |
nent-full Of mischief, patriotism and head |
long love, had the happiest impersonation in |
Miss Percy Haswell. All the other actors, we |
can honestly say. were good in various degrees.
nc snOOtHnesS anu HARMONIOUS unlSn OF the
whole production is tribute to careful re-
hearsing and stage management as well as to
The ability Of the individuals.
One word about the best situation in the
play. The message dictated by the dying SOL
1fer, whose bravery saved the Union army at |
,he expense of his life, is of marvellous pathos
For this and other appealing passages the
audience showed warm approval. The audi
9nce was large, but the Bijou ought to be
crowded after this. Shenandoah" is too good
! play to be missed by any lover of the best
lrama, and the American drama especially.