Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-03
BEHIND THE FooTLIGHTS.
the Grand Opera House-Fun Withou
Limit at the Bijou-Minstrelsy at thu

hlcnar0 mansnelQ scores u Ureat success at
the Grand Opera House-Fun without
Limit at the Bijou-Minstrelsy at the
Duquesne.
The presentation to our bodily vision of a
character whom we have been accustomed to
regard through the veil OF romance cast around
it by the lapse of century or SO is always an
interesting experience. Such an experience
was afforded at the Grand Opera House last
evening
We saw and listened to the arch.fop, whose
movements have been dignifed by history into
events, in the period when an iinbecile king
groveled in palace and roue was the actual
ruler of England. Beau Brummell was
greater man than George I'LL, and for years
divided tho doubtful honor of leading what
was then called the fashion with Prince of
Wales of very shady reputation. 1t was the
period of hard drinking and unblushing licen-
tlousness, when men were not ashamed to cheat
their tailors, provided they could wear a coat
without wrinkle, and when it was considered
in good form to stifie every expression of emo
tion and be SIMPLY model of department.
This period has been reproduced more faith
fully in the play beau Brummell" than in any
dramatic production seen in Pittsburg for
years, IL ever. Richard Mansfield has studied
the manners and customs of the time and has
given us performance in which the very at
mosphere of Beau Brummell's day is maintained
from rise to fall of the curtain.
terastip1 nor;od rstbar tnny = ,i MS ~ a., " ~. ~.
skaietnn pps ,lo. nou,n sua "a pay. y,,,t, ,u
tho n,aaniToart ranrasa,,,at; ~. s i.e, mnio -
eraat esi rhera ;s oi Ian s
in tim drona .nd tI. SiaIa iii gu
its way. ia n,ade mn nrincinaitv Of anigran ns snd
clever insoIpnces tbat ,pa b.1a rsas ,var -
over aoain in anecdntas Of tha oarsnn,on, "r. ~,
troduced The innartinent obSopvaficns nf
Beau RrnmmeI, hnpe hnan b.n"Ied ahnnt IL ~
old-fashloned books of anecdote till we know
SO familiar with the idinsvncfacies of Georre
w HORN hefora and aft.r * hacoYne t;n.s tb5ot
we know inst what he will saw and do nnder
given cireumstauces.
And vet when Mr. MansfieId,s mapnifeent
company takes possession of the STAGE thew
seem to give us A revelation Their affected
rendering of the speeches. their extrayaGant
perfect keeping. and we eilioy them as photo.
praphs of the indiyidu ala endowed cith life ann
motion.
Mr.. Mausfield's representation of the Beau ia
a careful study. Que can no more discern a
defect in his performance than we can a crease
IN his well-ftting costume. The sang froid of
the man seems to be his by nature. The drawl,
the weary manner tile elegant precision. the
courtly bow, the supreme selfshness (tbat the
author has made him throw aside at a critical
moment for the sake of dramatic effect). are all
Infmitable. Whether anyone else could give the
character the delicate shading it requires is
doubtful While we watch him we say no, and the
are we that he is the one man on the stage to
do justice to Beau Bfuntmeth Mr.. Mansfield
Will always be identified With the part as much
as Jefferson is with Rip Van Winkte snd Flor
ence with Captain Guile.
1t is a pleasure to look at George, Prince OF
Wales. 1t is not ID. ID. Harkins we see. al
though that Is ms name IN private life. 1t Is