Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14

Biiou Tbeater ........... Shenandoah"
DuQuesne Thcater Rosina Nokes
Grand Opera House......-.........TheC charity ban
Harry Williams Academy. Irwin Bros. 20
Harris Theater....... ''Ihe Old OaRen Bucket
Harry Davis Museum .............. Curlosltes etc
The above are the theatrical attractions ior
this week.
~
The only theatrical news of the week from
New York is the dismal story OF the failure
of several new productions. The most i'm
portant effort was Miss Margaret Mather's
in Joan of Arc, 4" and it was the most patent
failure. One very merciful and reliable
critic sums up his verdict thus: ut is
long, dull play, dresrily acted; the amazon
does not captivate; very little sufices of an
inspired lady in steel trousers" Mr.. WILL
lam Young's translation of Jules Bar
bIere's play appears to be very
long, bcmbastic and windy. Miss
afather's work is praised by no one. and indeed
the only actor in the production who escapes
condemnation is Otis Skinner, whose virility
and mstriOnlc power is still pleasant memory
in PittsburG. The abundance of tableauX, the
magnificent costumes, the scenery and the
military clanCor Of the story were not enough
to save the play.
The other failure according to reliable au-
thorities, is the musical farce comedy or comic
opera called ship Ahoy." to which Grattan
Donnelly. at one time a PittsburS reporter,
contributed the lbretto. and for which a
music. Its condemnation was even more
unanimous "nd severe than that
of loan of AIe so thatsprobably Pittsburg
Will see neither. 1t is Just well that the 1ail
ures are pronounced ii they had to be failures,
although it Is matter for sincere regret that
Miss Mathers enterprise should have gone to
sticks.
II Messrs De Koven and Smith. the authors
of robin Hood" do not win fame and for
tune, then the verdict of large and most
representative Plttsburg audiences will
be reversed. Robin Hood" is Ger:
here in many years, and as far as my experience
runs the very best opera comiQue written
by Americans. The BOstonians are fortunate
in possessing so popular a work, and they de-
serve all their good fortune. Among the or
ganizations singing lIGhtopera on the American
stage to-day the Bostonians stand hrst, and the
public of Plttsburg have shown grateful recog-
milton of the fact They are power for good
In moral as well as an artistic sense upon the
stage.
Charles Barnard puts in strong plea for
higher tone in the drama in this weeks Mirror.
He thinks new class is beginning to attend
the theater; a class that used to associate the
playhouse with the bottomless pit not long ago.
Obscene and sensational posters still frighten
these new converts and MIR. Barnard urges the
managers to reform their methods so that they
may not appear to be advertising the
old tavern siguboards diG-''Eni ertainment
for man and beast" 1t is true, undoubtedly,
as Mr.. Barnard saws that THE people want
plays. good. clean, sweet wholesome, live, dra-
matte, human plays Only in the theater can
they md them. 1t Is not that people are afraid
to play. They simply afraid that, if
they 20 to the the2ter, they NAV see or hear
that which they will neither abide nor forgive.
They are afraid of the posters and they do not
discriminate between theater and theater, be-
tween play and play. They do not want oats
and hay, no matter how artistically and taste
fully served"
Wien Edwin Booth played here last season
the fear was expressed that it might be his last
appearance here. Subsequent events have
made the doubt well-nigh a certainty. Booth
and Barrett will not play together after this
season, although the latter will continue to
manage the great tragedian's business. Next
season Booth will play for Is weeks only. and
these Will be divided among New York, Brook
lyn. Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.
The attractions at the various theaters this
week are very strong, and the Bijou, Duquesne
and Opera House have not had better plays
and players this season than Shenandoah"
Rosina Nokes and THE Charity Ball" The
week before Christmas is proverbially one of
the worst IN the theatrical calendar but per-
haps the excellence of the fare may draw larger
audiences than usual. The past week was fairly
good for all the houses-Harris Theater hay-
ing to use the standing room only'' sign
while the BosIonians played to crowded houses
three or Tour nights at the Duquesne. The
feature OF the Lolita engagement was the over
flowing audience at yesterdays matinee. The
wonderful CraCg family and Cleveland's min
strelS drew several large audiences at the Opera
House. HEPBURN JOHNS.