Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-06
PLAYS IN THE VALLEY.
Sewickley Dramatic Club Gives a Double
Bill in Choral Halliday Henry Somer-
set to Speak in Pittsburg Church

| Sewickley Dramatic Club Gives Double
Bill in Choral Halliday Henry Somer-
set to Speak in a Pittsburg Church
Short Society Stories.
This seasons first entertainment by the
Sewickley Valley Club will be remembered
with additional pleasure as the occasion of
| the premiere appearance of Mrs.
| Theodore w. Nevin. She proved her
self really an acquisition to the
club in her capital characterization OF
Ethel Reed in W. d. Howells' one-act farce,
''The Register" Mr.. o. L. Pearson, Jr who
took the part of Captain Charles Radcliffe
IN the succeeding performance, 81 Des-
perate Came" never appeared, either, until
last night, before Sewickley audience. The
| cast of 'The Register was as follows: Ethel
Reed, Mrs. Nevin; Mss Henrietta Spaulding,
Mrs. w. A. Adair; OliUer Ransom, an artist,
Robert P. Nevin, Jr.; G1innadge his friend,
Harry NJ. Richardson. As Ethel Reed, care
less young sort of a girl, who acts as If she
possessed great deal less heart
than she has, Mrs Nevin's impersonation
was very good. Moreover, though she bore
the greater part of the dialogue, she never
became tiresome, which is more than can
be said of many professional people.
The Story of the Play.
This is the story of the farce conceived by
Mr.. Howells: The plot hinges on the prox-
unity of the room in which young man
lives, to the room in which lives the
young mans sweetheart. A regis
ter in one apartment acts rs an out
let for the conversation going on in
the other. The young lady tells her best
girl friend of the quarrel she has had with
her undeclared lover-the artist. The artist
hears it as he sits disconsolate in his room.
He, too, is indiscreet and, while he tells his
best friend, GrilnadGe. his misfortune, the
listening girl at the other end OF the regis
ter hears the story of his hopeless love. She
entices her sedate friend into being an caves
dropper also. The artist comes and EumbleS
himself. She enjoys his misery in thor
oughly womanish fashion, and then gives
him receipt for the money. about WHICH
their misunderstanding began, and her haad
and heart also In the bit of work over the
register, between curiosity and principle,
Mrs. Nevin is at her best. She doesn't quite
come up to the necessities of the tender
scene, where her lover reads the re-
ceipt: but then, how can one be
tender with ones uncles, aunts, cousins
to say nothing of husband-not
ten feet away? Mrs. Adair was all that de-
siraDle, rather elderly maiden, could be, as
Henrietta Spdulding. Though Mr.. Nevin was
little nervous, it was hardly fault, for it
wore an air of diffidence that added to the
reality of his part. Mr.. Richardson filled
the small part allotted to him satisfactorily.
1t is unnecessary to praise the stage setting
beyond saying that it was quite equal to
that of former plays in Choral Hall. 1t was
exceedingly pretty: thoroughly in keeping
with the play and everything worked like
charm. There were no amateurish botchings
and delays.
A Wait Lightened by Music.
There was, however, long wait (only to
be forgiven, by reason of the delightful
music which Teorge's orchestra played)
during the interval between the farce and
the comic drama which followed. The word
forgiven is used, because of the uneasiness
felt for fear people, who had to catch the
express to town, must enjoy the wait, at the
expense of the second performance.
However, it came along finally, though
hardly i'll as satisfactory form as the pre-
ceding one. This was not the fault of the
players, but lay with the author. Morton,
who created something absurd and impossi-
Game. Doubtless. too, it was cut, at least
for Mortons sake it is to be hoped so. as the
plot was intricate, and its ~ clearing
piete cast in "a Desperate Game" was:
Mrs. S6meton, Mrs. Frederick S. Burrows:
Peggy, her maid, Miss Amelia C. Swartz-
welder; Capt. Charles Ra1clite, A. L. Pearson;
Percy POstte,cdite S. Harry Scovel; DdCid,
} ohm N. Tate. Mrs. Burrows made very
beautiful Mrs. Son,erton, and Miss Schwartz
welder was an orthodox Peggu whose
The Percy Postle,raite of Mr.. Scovel, was a
decided imitation of Robson's BERTHE
The Lamb but consistent throughout.
wea deqs TSe S8 Mr. of peaFson R gnd M
Tate's Durid was just such a servant as we
should like to engage. The stage setting was
as pretty in the second as in the first play.
After the townspeople withdrew, which they
did, when the curtain went down on "a Des-
perate Came" the chairs were removed and
dan cling was the final act in the first per-
by our clever suburban dramatic
club.
Probably one of the most interesting En-
glish visitors that the temperance cause has
yet brought to America is Lady Henry Som
erset, President of the British Christian
Association. She is penetrat-
ing further into the country than the usual
British pilgrim in these lands, and expects |
TO be in Pittsburg on Saturday evening. 1t |
is not improbable that her ladyship will be |
accom- panied West by Frances L. Willard |
and her English compatriot, Mrs. Hannah |
Whiteh Smith. The object of Lady |
Henry's visit to Pittsburg Is told pest by |
letter written by her from Crest Cottage"
Miss Wizards residence, to Mrs. Z. d. c. |
Mair of Pittsburg. Lady Henry writes:
DEAR MADAM-NIiss Willard tells me she feels |
sure you will help me about subject have much |
1t heart. There are In the two great steel works |
'sciaIly from Ia cool promised nl;s I'll the dear
md should much like to meet them. Could
meeting be arranged for Sunday week. I
,onld perhaps meet them in a church or
lall after Sunday service and speak to them for
title while. lfnotice of such a meeting could be
given out in the works it would be a great help.
iefray the cost. 1 lave mission work at D. De--
ind am anxious on my return to be able to say |
nave seen the dear friends at Pittsburg. Forgive
ne for thus troubling YOU. Believe me, always
sincerely yours in the cause of God and souls,
ISABEL SOMERSET. /
Various accounts have been given about
Lady Henry Somerset's work in London and
Wales. where Eer missions are established,
md many interesting things written about
ler personality. The primary cause of this
potable English woman's presence in
America is the convention of the Worlds
". C. T. U. in Boston, from November 10 to
s, inclusive. Against her contemplated
'isit, Mrs. Mair and other ladies are making
preparations. An advisory telegram will
the hour of her arrival on Satur-
lay. On sunday she will speak to the
". c. T. .. OF Allegheny county in the
,mithfield NJ. f. Church at $3.50, ana in the
vening Lady Henry will make an address
n the same church at 73O This, as her let
er says, will be somewhat in the nature of
message from the British iron workers of
treat Britain to the British iron workers in
'ittsburg. A general response is expected
rom this sterling element of our city.
Social Chatter.
MISS MARGARET SLOAN, daughter OF Dr. J.
T. Sloan, chief pension physician of Monon-
aheia City, was married yesterday to W.
Y AJadill AZ d of4 Denver Col The cere- |