Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11

| city this season. Among the more promi-
Of the OF the
Josephine Knapp, Maud Hollins, Hubert
Milke. Charles Meyers. Laura Joyce Bell,
| Hnda HollinS, Bertha jackson, Charles
Jones and Digby Bell. Mr. Julian Edwards
Is the musical director.
| The success or "a Straight Tip" at the
| Alvin Theater last week exceeded that of
| its first visit here. There is no need to quar-
rel with popular taste, though the phenom-
nal hit made by such a trashy piece is sur
| prising. The reason of its success doubtless
lies in its power to compel laughter. and the
| novelty to most people of the side of life
| which It at times truthfully pictures and
more often burlesques. Then James Pow-
ers is a comedian of real talent, with power
in him to do very much better work Ina Tnan a
| he gets chance to do in "a Straight ZIP
Peter +. DAILY is also an actor of genuine
ability; as a character sketch his portrayal
Of sport is wonderfully true to the @ orig-
fnal, who can be found on any race track,
and for that matter much nearer at nome IN
Pittsburg. 1t is not, perhaps, very vaiu-
Snt to ses Ss 9b
Manager Rosenbaum intends to star MI.
Daily next year in farce comedy Wrltlen
for him b T., MqNaly auhoT Ioprer OF MA
Powers is to be confined in his present play,
but it is pleasant to hear that he has higher
aspirations and that his next venture Wil
Except at the matinees last week 10
at the Alvin, and it looks as II
Manager Davis beautiful theater were ap-
theater is nearing completion; the panellng
of Mexican onyx and the heavy doors OF
oak are substantial and HANDSOME addltlohs
of the week. The conservatory back OF the
foyer is also being pushed forward, put VIII
hardly be ready for use for some time YET.
Without it, however, the comfort ana con-
Al xrrn11 nc m
nihcent decoration, are impressing the
public very powerfully. Among the actors
you hear nothing but praise for Manager
and I understand Mr. Davis contemplates
opening the "behind the scenes"-that
mysterious land-to the public on certain
days in the near future in order that every
one may know how an actor-manager mas
remembered his brethren of days past, Dy
making the dressing rooms as good as ana
better than many of the rooms In the pess
hotels. 1t is good idea.
Some of THE DIsPATCH's readers may not
be acquainted with E. s. Willard, the
eminent English actor, who appears at the
Alvin Theater this week, and to them
sketch of his career may be OF special IN
terest. Mr.. Willard is one Of the youngest
of the great actors of the present day
Though he has been on the stage for q years
he is now only 81. He began his career when
but lad of 16, appearing at the Theater
Royal, Weymouth, as the second ofdcer IN
THE Lady Of lyons shortly thereaftef
played with the famous comedian in all his
different pieces. Following this engagement
he acted with stock companies IN several
prov incial cities, and in 1879 appeared IN
London at the Covent Garden Theater. 1t
was in this year that he married Miss Emily
Waters, charming lady who has written
numerous stories and who has lately done
some creditable playw'ittng. From TINS
time on his reputation as q leading actor of
unusual power grew, until in 1881 he joined
Wilson Barrett and began upon what was
destined to be remarkable career OF stage
villainy. His first great hit as a villain was
in 1.-The Lights o. London" but 1t was his
Spider in 1.-THE Silver King" which gave him
especial distinction as an evtl-doer. Parting
from Wilson Barrett in 1856 he went to the
Haymarket to play James Rdlston in Jim the
Penman." In 1855 he took the Shaftespury
Theater for himself, and there produced the
plays Gd aenTy Asnpr b tar zones, ,nina of tbe
English stage, Henry Irving: For two years
his success grew, and then Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer
induced him to come to this country with
his greatest successes 1.-THE Middleman,"
judith" and other plays.
Mr.. Willard will produce 'The Middle
man" at the Alvin Theater on Monday
night. "The Middleman" tells the story Of
an inventors master OF the recondite arts
Of mixing and baking pottery. One Of the
of this man has enriched his en-
ployer, while the genius himself remains
poor, laborious servant The rich man is
guilty Of brutal cruelty to Cyrus BlerkGrn
(Mr. Willard), striking at the life and honor
OF the daughter, whom the poor genius
loves even more than his art. Blenkdr71 |
swears to avenge the wrong done him, and |
another great discovery in porcelain |
grows rich while his former |
employer becomes poor. At the moment, |
when his revenge is within his |
grasp the memory of his lost child causes |
him to take sci of mercy, not of venge- |
ance. "What would Mary do?" he asks him |
self, and his heart answers, "Be merctful" |
And the curtain falls upon all the wrongs |
righted and the dawning of q great peace |
for the sorely tried old potter.
The presentation of this drama, it is prom |
ised will be exactly as it was originally |
done by Mr.. Willard in London and as seen |
last season at Palmer's Theater, New York. |
The present tour of Mr.. Willard is under Mr.. |
A. NJ Palmer's management which is in it
self guaranty that all promises will be |
kept. The great scenic feature of the pro-
duction is the furnace room showing the
burning kilns. This is very realistic. The
company is headed by Miss
Marie Burroughs and is made up of high
class artists only.