Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20
lllhihH!!iitiFilE1iit1fIHss1iiilllla allAl illhiNY

| BIJoU THEATER 1.-THE Corsican Brothers"
| GRAND OPERA Thomas W. Keene
| HARRIS THEATER. "Lost in New York;
| ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Harry WILLIAMS Company
WORLDS MUSEUM. ...Curiosities, Etc.
The above are the theatrical attractions for
| this week.
An interesting programme is laid out for the
theaters this week. Mr.. Mantell, an actor of
sterling qualities is to give the almost CLASH
cal drama, 1.-THE Corsican Brothers," and
novelty in ''Montbars' at the Bijou Theater.
while at the Grand Opera House Thomas w.
Keene will appear in a repertoire OF legitimate
plays, including Louis XI,' Richard I'LL"
and "The Merchant of Venice" So that any
one may safely patronlze either of the leading
houses.
A melodrama of pretty lurid sort, Lost in
New York"-there are SO many OF these "LostS'
that it grows confusinC-will be on tap at Har-
| ris Theater, and at the Academy of Music the
public is guaranteed good things in Harry
williams own company.
s.*
"The Corsican Brothers" is the most weird
play ever written, it seems to me. A good many
generations have enjoyed its mysterious fasci
nation. The plot of the play wcs suggested to
the elder Dumas by what Louis Blanc, whose
mother was a Corsican, told him of the myste-
rious spiritual sympathy existing between him
and his brother Auguste. They were SO closely
allied in temperament that one had always
been able to determine, however widely sepa-
rated, what had happened TO the other. Louis
knew in England when Auguste was suddenly
taken i'll in France; Auguste knew in Spain if
Louis were in danger IN Italy. They had re-
peated experiences of this sort. and, in every
instance, their vivid impression, their inmost
revelation, flashing through space, was con-
firmed. The Blancs were great admirers of
Dumas, and frequently went to see the play
performed.
The tendency of the age is toward the gigan-
tic in everything, including theaters. This
country more than any other is seeing the re-
suits of the tendency in this direction.
Now comes the news that after four years
steady work a Roman architect has just fin
ished the plans for the most extraordinary
theater ever projected 1t is park and opera
house combined, so that horses and carriages
may reach the door of every private box, or be
driven among the fountains and stately gardens
on the roof.
When the Duke of TorlonIa was Syndic of
Rome he urged the creator of this wonderful
scheme to continue his labors, and suggested
that great playhouse might be erected in the
city as crowning architectural development.
Rome is now bankrupt and there is no hope OF
every seeing the building put up In Italy.
The architect proposes to lay his designs be-
fore the officials having charge of the Worlds
Fair in America. He is backed by leading men
of Rome. The whole work can be carried out
in Italy at cost of Sl2 000 900, but the differ
ence in the price of labor and material on the
Western Continent will swell this aggregate
enormously.
The vast edifice would contain $1,000 people
and comfortably seat 10000 There are $50
dressing rooms tor the performers. The stage
is 195 feet wide by 2S2 feet deep.
-
The place for this Roman to get an audience
for his immense plans is Chicago. Pittsburg is
talking of new theaters in pretty big way. but
even Alvin Joslin would choke at an auditor
ium seating $4,000 people, and his generous
ideas of accommodations for the players fall
short of $50 dressing rooms.
No, Chicago, which already has the Auditor
ium with its tremendous proportions is the
place for the Italian scheme New York has
tidy-sized project under way in the new Madi-
son Square Gardens which will be opened next
season 1t is an arena for circus and concert
purposes, however, and not theater.
HEPBURN JOHNS.