Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15

Duquesne Thester. Minnie Palmer
bLou 1heater.............s COCOON. money Mad
Orand Opera House, Ullie Ackerstrom
DaNls Museum..-, -...--..-.----.. Curlostles, etS
world Museum. Curiosities, etC
Harry Williams Academy. Sam Devere's Own CC
harrls Iheater.. "a Tin Soldier
The above are the theatrical attractions fol
this week.
AZ
1t seems that Joseph Jefferson has a
glorious opportunity to delve into the bes,
of dramatic literature. There is hardly any
great part in any great play that he canno,
assume and make a creation He has shown
that in his work already. Ten years ago his
name was associated with that of the vaga.
bond Of the Catskills, and no one thought o
him in connection with q whole suit Of
clothes-least of all as attired in the evening
dress Of Ar. Golightly or the embroidery
and lace ruf1es of Bob Acres Yet now
that he has got into the habit of playing
such parts, it is hard to imagine him as Rip
Tdn Winkle or Caleb Plun,Dler until he
actually walks upon the stage in those
characters. Looking at Mr.. Jefferson last
week as Bob AcreS or Dr. PdnQlosS no one
could see why he should be thinking of re-
tiring from the stage. His step was as
light and springy as any youth, and
his voice as clear anu powerful as if he had not
reached the wrong side of thirty, Why should
he retire? Why should he not rather look
through his dramatic library and bring forth
one, two, half dozen of old PLAYS that have
been practically Shelved for a quarter of a
century or SO. and give US new JefferSonian
reading of the principal comedy parts? His
Bob Heres and DR.. Pdn0loSS are distinctivelv
his own Now let him infuse his delightful
personality into other classics, but never let
him talk about retiring from the stage for 20
years TO come at least.
-
Who that sees Florence on the stage can fail
70 recognize In him the BILLY" who is known
from one end OF the continent to the other as
everybody's friend. The good nature we see
in every liDeament of his Jolly face as Sir LuctS
OF fgger is the expression of Billy Florence
IN private life and 1t sits very easily and
sweetly on his countenance. Whenever Jeffer-
son nnds an old plav 10 be revivIfied, there will
always be part in it for Florence. Let US
hope so, At all events.
Robert Mantell has had hard week OF it,
As THE DISPATCH stated exclusively last
Tuesday he had two doctors on the stage
throughout the performance on Monday night
His ailmenT was laryngitis. The same story
was repeated all the week. 1t was only by the
exercise of indomltable will power, assisted by
the unremIutlng attention of physicians that
he was able TO carry out his engagement at the
blJou, Last night, after the curtain had fallen,
he was completely exhausted. He will go to
New ork tonight for treatment and his COM
pany will lay off for week at least il is 20 81.
bic that the tour viii not be resumed this sea-
son. Ii is more than likely, however, that the
courage which enabled Mr.. Mantcll to play all
the week against such fearful odds will induce
him TO 60 on the road again so soon as his throat
has at all recovered from the fearful strain it
has endured for the past six days.
I have received a biographical sketch of
Clarence Bennett who appeared at the Worlds
Museum last week in the Royal Slave" 1t
reads as follows:
Clarence Bennett is the son of Bantist
clergyman, Rev. Perry Bennett. of Springfield,
ILL.,, wholthough possessing talents that would
have won him fame and fortune at the bar or
in politics, thrice refusing a nomination to the
United States Senate, preferred to remain in
his humble calling as a minister of the GOSPEL
drawing around HIM as warm personal friends
such men as Stephen A. Douglass, John NJ /
Palmer, and the martyred President, Abraham
Lincoln. With the latter it was Damon and
Pythian friendship OF lifelong duration, and
Perry" and Abe" as they addressed each
other with the familiarity of boys were SO in
separa Bile their friends called them The Law
and the Prophets" 1t WAS under such infu-
ences the future actor passed his boyhood
days, and At the age of Is graduated
from college, paying his own way by teaching
and literary work for various magazines
Having completed his college Course he
struck at once for the goal of his ambition the
stage, securing his first engagement III the
he remained three years, devoting all his spare
time to study, working his way rapidly
toward the front rank in his profession, leav-
ing there tor an engagement aS leading man on
the Western circuit with the well known and
successful star, II. A. Kendall. PLAYING Faust
to the Iatter's Mephtsto Richmond To his Rich
ara III, etc. After two years experience in |
wide rage Of characters, lie came East and |
soon won his way into popular favor as faith |
ful exponent of romantic and tragic roles, |
While labOring so faithfully in his art his pen |
VA mott nd hsah in
OF poems that are worthy to take a high rank in |
literature, besides which he is the author of |
seven successful plays. He has also turned his |
attention 10 kindred art painting, in which |
he has been equally successful, some OF his |
works being thought wOr by of place by the |
side of those of the best artists of the day.
-
special cableCram to THE DISPATCH saws:
A letter from Mrs. James Brown Potter, |
dated February 8 from Calcutta, to a friend in |
London says that she and the faithful Kyrle !
Bellew have been having large time in India. |
They played La Tosca" before the Viceroy, |
and he was so much pleased that he gave a |
magnificent entertainment in their honor.
Here they met no less than seven Raiahs for |
whom Mrs. Potter and Beflew gave parlor reci-
tations and readings in their respective prov
inces at high rates. Mrs. Potter wrote that
from Calcutta she and Bellew were going to
Bombay and thence to various military stations
in the II ill country. where they would also per-
form. From India they will return to London;
DuI Jney nave ABOUT given up tile idea of play
ing here, and Mrs. Potter will 90 on also to
Cannes to meet her mother, with whom she
will return 10 America. Mrs Potter writes
that her experience in Australia and India has
improved her abilities as an actress immensely.
special cablegram TO THE DISPATCH saws:
The production of Archer's translation of
Ibsen's play, "Ghosts," at the Royalty Theater
last evening has aroused storm of dissension
In the London press to-day. Scarcely a single
critic has anything to say for the play from
either an artistic or moral point of view, and
most of the leader writers condemn it, though
the Pail Mall Gazette considers 1t should have |
a healthful effect upon modern socie, V. The |
IeJeg rph, however, devoteS column leader
10 TendIng lbsen and Ghosts into tatters and
invokes Lord Chamberlain to prevent further
performance, winding up thus: Even the Lady
Of the CaUelias, that hectic barlot, conghed
her frall soul away with some external
but Ibsen's patients expectorate
II we may venture TO say SO, in public and air
On the stage matters that blind beggar would
hide under his patches. In the name of out
ragged art let these people, author, actors and
admirers alike, keep to themselves their clinical
confessions and scenes which appertain to mer-
curry rather than to muse. If their intellectual
'Ood be such literary carrion let them devote it
.part; but in whatever measure they bring
heir crapulOus stuff into the light of day and
within the range of the senses of honest and
wholesome folk, we trust that public Opinion,
packed, il necessary. by the law, will in that
Measure rebuke and restrain the novel and
)erilous nuisance"
DuQnesne Theater.