Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-29
IN FOOTLIGHT LAND.
sinbad Makes His Gorgeous Bow-Mr. Hem
derson's Grand spectacle-Mansfield as
Beau Brumme1I; Lacy AZ Jack Royal
I,a To- C~i

sinbad Makes His Gorgeous Bow-Mr. Hem
Beau BrummelI; Lacy az Jack Royal
All the Plays in Town Criticised.
NOTHING like ''Sinbad' for sheer mag
nificence and beauty as q spectacle has ever
been seen in Pittsburg. The Kiralfys at
their best are simply not in it with David
Henderson. Going further afield for com
parfson the most gorgeous London panto-
mime pales beside the creation of the Chi
cagoan-or,pernapswe we might claim Manager
henderson rs a Pittsburger. "Sinbad," an
extravaganza in four acts, by Harry b.
Smith, who will best be remembered as the
lfbrettist of "Robin Hood" was played last
night at the Duquesne Theater before an
audience which overflowed into Penn ave-
nue.; 1t IS of the same texture and quality,
There is just enough adherence to the SIN
bad of the Arabian Nights to give the play
backbone of plot, and no more. Every
the strongest relief, and the scenic effects
are really the greatest triumphs of the pro-
duction. Every scene is a dazzling piece of
of Balsora to ons the epe Closing iss transformaion
ana Fred Dangerfield and his assistants
deserve great credit for their exquisite
work. The delights for the eye
continued through such novel and del
1cate effects as the snow storm with pris-
matte illumination, to the costumes, which
been equaled, as far as we know, on the
American stage,
The company is quite up to the work. and
little ahead of it, if anything. The vener-
able and the antique are not to be found in
the chorus OF the ballet: but the combina-
tfon of pretty faces and shapely forms, to
suit all tastes, is unsafe to dwell upon. No
travelling company that Pittsburg has seen
for years has had the number of young and
pretty women in it that "Sinbad"
has Miss Louise Kissing is a charming
than we remember Cinderella, makes him a
pretty sweetheart. Most of the old favorites
are in the cast, and of course Eddie Foy
Gea1s wholesale INC $ in low comedy Of the most
night that was not encored, ana the loudest
applause of the evening followed his panto-
mimic tableaux, among which were .,Quay
Commission at Work"-lying fiat on the
ground and motionless. Henry Norman's
S1adrteyo,O is nearer legitimate comedy and
dances, songs and business as the Old
Nan Of the Sea caught the audiences fancy,
and as a matter of fact everybody
that has any work to do does it we'll
Jessie Villars and others deserve mention.
The music is patchwork, but it is pretty
enough-and a little serio-comic serenade
for four voices, sung by Misses Kissing and
Mule and Gracey and Norman in act III,
was especially good. There are rather too
many topical songs, and great deal too
many local gags" Some of the latter
should be. chopped out for even in extrava-
ganza stage illusion counts for something.
But take "Sinbad' altogether and it is
wonderful product of brains. Doodle, and
pluck, for which Manager Henderson de-
serves great credit. The smoothness with
which the whole piece went last night shows
the hand of Richard Baker, the best stage
director in the country to day. Only a
few scenic bitches occurred. The ballets
are a whole show by themselves and the
costumes of the dancers are simply deli
cious. The idea of dancing in a snow-storm
is something new, and the realism of it is
wonderful. 1t was the heaviest fall of snow
seen here this year.