Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11

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Bi,ou Theater Twelve Temptations
Duuuesne Agnes Huntington
Grand Opera House. Aunt oaeA @
Williams Academy. National Star VauoeVlles
Davis Museum NurlosiNe'' et0
Worlds Museum Curiosities, etc
Harris Theater ..... Bowling and Hasson
The above are the theatrical attractions for
this week.
~
The week has been interesting artistlcally
and profitable to most of the managers.
Miss Mather has not lost her strong hold
upon the Pittsburg public, and if not many
liked "Joan of Arc" as play, or the young
actress as Joan, yet the novelty of the un-
dertaking and Its rich setting attracted very
large audiences in the early part OF the
week. The popularity of Miss Mather's
embodiment of Leah is an established fact,
and Friday nights immense audience only
re-echoed the verdict of former years. Miss
Mather is making progress is her art, and
there is no reason why she should not learn
in time to appeal as forcibly to the judg-
ment and understanding of theater goers as
she does now to their hearts. The
venture with "Joan of Arc" is one
of those unwise moves which American
managers seem to be particularly prone to
make. Because Joan of Arc" succeeded some
what with the Partisan public. to whose patriot
ism it appealed, and because Bernhardt made a
rather striking figure of the tide role-more by
contrast with her own character and previous
work than by aught else-Mlss Mather's ad-
visers, managerial and otherwise, argued
Joan of Arc" would be a great "go'' here.
The mistake has been a costly one, no doubt.
and it Is a pity that Miss Mather has to suffer
for her managers stupidity. Perhaps Man
ager T. Henry French will take better care of
Miss Mather than the extraordinary beings
who have had charge of her affairs of late.
So
The scene at the Duquesne Theater yester-
day afternoon about 2:l5 was calculated to
make Manager Henderson very happy Every
seat in the house had been sold and of the
standing room not an inch was left. Ladies
aud children practically mOnopolized the
matinee seats, but at every performance during
the week the record was the same, namely,
standing room only" T" and it can safely be SAID
that THE Crystal Slipper" could not have
played to better business than it did last week.
there are many distinct signs that the Duquesne
Theater has. TO use an incomparably ex-
pressive phrase, caught on"
~
"The U. S. Mail" which is scheduled for per-
formance in this city at no distant date, is es-
sentially Pittsburg production. The farce
comedy itself had its first performance in this
city last season. and Its author, George c.
Jenks, is the well-known Pittsburg newspaper
man. Associated in its business management
this season are two more Pittsburgers, Messrs.
1mpsen and A. ]. Shedden. and there is a de-
cidedly Pittsburgian havo! about the whole
production. 1t has had very successful career
this season. playing the banner week of the
year in Cincinnati, and doing good business in
the West from Chicago to San Francisco. 'The
author, George W. jerks, since it first saw the
light here, and the critics all over the country
have spoken very kindly of it. The company is
said to be strong, and altogether Pittsburg
may look forward to good laugh in the ~.
s, Mail" which is all that is asked for it.
~
The production Of "Ganelon" in New York
by Lawrence Barrett was the most important
week. The New York Tribune praises the
production in the warmest way, but all the
critics but Mr.. Winter regard it co.dly. A
correspondent writes me that as spectacle it
nils every requirement. The costumes were
rich, the scenic effects massive and
elaborate, and the stage pictures
gedian has worked harder to secure novelties
than Mr.. Lawrence Barrett, and none deserves
more credit bui his refinement and poetic ap-
probation hav, not received the substantial
recognition SO essential to theatrical longevity.
and while "Ganelon" must be praised for its
excellent verse and effective construction it
cannot become popular success. Mr.. Barrett
has secured nearly three months time at the
Broadway, during which he promises to pro-
duce several novelties, ending his run with the
production of tragedies, in which Mr.. Edwin
Booth will be seen.
Miss Mather says we must expect TO find
Sara Bernhardt ever SO much fatter than she
used to be. By the way, Margaret Mather her.
self is considerably thinner-1ue to hard work
as Joan as much as anything, l imagine. The
idea of a stout Bernhardt is humorous. but
even Manager Abbey confesses that the divine
Sara is putting on flesh. 1t is not certain that
she viii play in Pittsburg, though there
is talk of the Duquesne Theater having booked
her. If she plays here at all it will be
in April. Mime. Bernhardt will begin her en-
gagement in this country in la Tosca." This,
Mr.. Abbey says, is by far her best play. ''Cleo-
patra," which will follow, he does not think SO
strong a play as either Fedora" or "Theo-
dora" which will also be presented. Nine.
Bernhardt will also appear In Jeanne d'Arc''
and Camille" the season in New York to last
five weeks.
Mime. Bernhardt's American tour will end on
May s, when she will depart for Australia. She
will play engagements in Philadelphia, Boston,
Montreal, Detroit Indianapolis, St Louis, Den.
yer and San Francisco. The burning Of Nc
Vicker's Theater in Chicago will prevent Mime.
Bernhardt's appearing there, as she had been
billed to appear at that playhouse, so that this
is the second fire which has interfered with her
American engagementf. she having been
booked for the burnt Fifth Avenue.
50
The outlook for the coming week is cheerful
Miss B huntington is an old favorite here in a
new robe of success, partly woven in England.
The comedies in which Mr.. Howarth and his
companions are announced have the stamp of
general approval, and spectacle and variety
complete the programme for all tastes.
HEPBURN JOHNS.