Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13

BIJou THHArER.. ER...-...-........ Carmen Up 10 Data
DUQuhsNE IHEArER Nodjesks
ALVIN THBATER.. ................... Carmencita
GRAND OPERA HOUSE. .Incog
HARRIS TEEAfER. "A Barrel OF Money
WILLIAMS ACADEMY City Club Co
DAVIS MUsEUM-THEATER..... .Curiosities, eto
The above arc the theatrical attractions
for this week.
Since the season began several new plays
shat have had more or less metropolitan in
doreement have been presented here, and
not one OF them has deserved the prestige
such an 1ndorsement tnsures, If
am aRy Judge. The only play that
has been both new and good was
not New York success. This was "Jane,"
which New York did not care much about,
but which Pittsburgers enjoyed immensely.
see that Chicago has accepted "Jane" also
as laughable farce that entirely fulfilled
its modest purpose. 1t is needless to say,
perhaps. that Jane" is not what am re-
rerring to more particularly now. a serious
drama. The two most notable examples Of
this type Of play happen to be both from
the pen OF the same author, Henry Arthur
Jones Willard played "The Middleman"
spell.bound for months, yet all that lcould
see in it was that it was a tolerably con-
ventent vehicle for q remarkable actor. 1t
good one The second work is 'The Dano-
ing Girl" which Mr.. SOthern produced last
week at the Alvin. Clearly It has not tho
m merit Of %The MiddIsman in the hands
associates. and with less generous outlay
upon scenery, "The Dancing Girl" would
not have outlived It's first week, in this
country at all events.
There is no need to examine again in de-
tail "The Dancing Girl;' it is not worth it.
In reviewing the play in these columns on
Tuesday / endeavored to make plain tho un-
savory character Of the chief motive-the
love of lordly roue for q woman devoid Of
virtue-but for the simple reason that to
lay stress upon salaciousness is to advertise
it did not in set terms condemn the play as
indecent. Perhaps indecent is too strong
word anyhow, but the immortality of the life
shown in act 2 would spoil far better play
for American audiences. The interest In the
dissipation of dukes is not as strong in
republic as where the House of Lords is
and I don't believe there are 20 peo-
pie in Pittsburg who recognize the
glamour of a coronet. Mr.. Jones planned his
gts tor nond9m
the more easily because Of its so-called
ar1stocratic circumstances. The vtrtuous
Englishman often allows his man of title a
certain latitude which he does not claim
a debauchee as a stage hero because he hap
pens to be duke. Hence the Duke Of G,nse-
bury, in spite of the ingenuity of Mr.. Jones,
and the sktllful acting of Mr.. Southern, is
failure as claimant Of our sympathies. In
fact, the most mischievous influence the
play has Is that it forces us to sympathize,
vicious men and women. The vfrtuous peo-
pie in "The Dancing Girl" are desperately
stupid, and of all the simon-pure prigs !
have ever seen in stage-land, John Chrtstison
Ia hn Y,onG moi q
of virtue is to be suspected by any intelli-
gent person who sees him hanging about
"the beautiful pagan"-as he tells us he has
done for year.
j OF course MI. Jones, attacked on moral
grounds, would point to the beautiful dis
tributton Of Justice at the end Of the play;
Drustnd killed, the Duke forced to fall back
upon righteousness and benevolent
cripple, the father Of D7usino moved to for.
give everybody, the impossible fisherman
safely brought back from the North Pole
the breakwarer in the scilly Islands I'm
ished, and even John C1tristison inflicted upon
an inofensive young femalel The moral Of
the play, if it exists, is that woman who
sins can only find rest and forgiveness in
another world, that man is at liberty to ruin
and '1 may W expect eomfortable p'ihasas, home
and respectable position in society
when he has played the game to the limit
danger in Tne Dancing Vass Gr after sI All IT
all SO silly. The only conspicuous stroke Of
genius in the play is its location in the Scilly
Islands. Mr.. Jones must have been moved |
the name; but it is frightful libel upon the |
hardy, wholesome fishermen of that coast |
all the same. |
Miss Ffolliott Paget is aclever actress and |
a charming woman, but she cannot expect |
ha tn
1.-THE Last Word" 1t is one of those swift |
from the German which DAILY is |
famous for making to the order of his stock |
company. In Daly's Theater they are fairly |
acceptable; the anachronisms pass unno- |
ticed in New York, and q play chokefull of |
is swallowed because of the |
Miss Paget's company is better than the |
average, but it is not Daly's by any |
means. Nor was the production artistic |
snd 9
The Secretary who would live in such style |
il Washington would be q curiosity. This |
was not Miss Paget's fault, but her mis-
fortune.
The only thing in eight Bells" that was
worth seeing was the scene of the ship. That
was genuine novelty and startling sur
prise When the ship rolled over and the |
people began walking about on the ceiling |
;hink the sensation the spectator felt was
Unique. But for the rest of the performance
t would be kindest to say nothing. A dra-
natic company without solitary actor is
of q curiosity, but an unpleasant
,ne. The quartet couldn't sing, and II it had
1ot attempted to sing some vulgar and pro-
ane verses the audience would have liked
t better.
This week comic opera or rather bur
esque, in the shape Of Carmen Up to Data"
will be the Bijou's attraction. It will serve
o reintroduce Corinne to Pittsburgers, who
,ave not seen her for several years. She
las grown into womanhood, and they say
hat she dances, sings and acts now with
more vivacity than ever, and is nicely suited
n the burlesque role OF Cdrmen CWd She
will wear some dresses made by Worth for
Emma Abbott's spectacular production of
which the late prims donna mad
damned to give. John D. Gilbert, whose
.bility as comedian is well enough known
llso in the company. which is large one Of
% people. Charley Fostelle, the female i'm
,ersonator; Maude Dixon, an English
ctress; Minnie Burroughs. and others OF
ONE note are in the cast Upon the scenery
1imball spent $4,000 For the burlesque's
musical sick it is said Offenbach, Bizet, with
dr. Stabls assistance, have furnished lots
# tuneful airs and stirring choruses. It
Gems to be light entertainment, in which |
ore and q circus scene are the chief feat |
res.
A visit from Modjeska is always an event
+ the highest importance to theater-goers,
nd this time it Is the more welcome as the ,