Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18

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DUQuEsSE THEATER. Hoss and Hoss
ALVIN THEATER... City Directory
BIJOU THEATER. The Patrol
| GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Money Mad
HARRIS THEATER. ..... 80. Indian Mail Carrier
| HARRY WILLIAMS. .Hyde's Vaudeville Company
| DAVIS MUsEUM-THEATER.. .Curiosities, etc
| WORLDS MUsEUM-THEATER. .Curiosties, etc
The above are the theatrical attractions
for this week.
twill be fight this week between farce
comedy and spectacular melodrama. At the
Duquesne there is a new farce comedy, "Hoss
and Hoss:" at the Alvin another farce COM
| edy already known here, "The City Direc-
| tory" at the Bijou "The Patrol" a realistic
melodrama, and money Mad" a similar ap-
peal is at the Grand Opera House. If you
| like farce comedy and melodrama you're in
| luck; If you are not fond of these things you
| have Miss Go-Won-Go- -Mohawk's Indian pot
| pie at Harris and Hvde's Vaudeville's at
Harry Williams, a circus at the Worlds
| Museum and a wonderful freak of nature at
| Harry Davis Museum to fall back upon.
| "Hoss and Hoss'' is not W hat you would
call a title suggestion of high art, but it
| goes with farce comedy well enough. 1t is
| the new play which Charlie Reed andWilliam
Caller built for their own use this season,
and it is said to possess all the essetials for a
successful farce comedy. OF course it is
also constructed to suit the peculiar talents
| of these two comedians, Charlie Reed and
| William Collier, and the public in other
| cities, including the critics, have un-
| doubtedly expressed themselves plainly
in favorable terms, Rumors Of its
in large numbers lately and the engagement
| of "Hoss & Hoss" at the Columbia Theater,
| Chicago, last week is said to have resulted
| in the largest cash returns ever earned by q
| farce comedy in that city. In the matter of
| farce comedy money talks little louder if
| anything than usual, for it is a popular fad,
and not a rational result of any particular
| artistic effort. Therefore it may be taken
for granted that 'Hoss & Hoss," which
comes to the Duquesne Theater this week,
standdrdy 64y About AnP the farce sDty comedy Gf
Charlie Reed and William Col
lier to amuse there is no doubt. For the
telling of a funny story or the singing of a
walk the stage, and rs for William Collier
these columns year ago contained praise OF
the highest sort for his legitimate quiet COM
Hoss" it is said the broadly farcicaI and le-
gitimate comedy are nicely blended, and we
can rely upon Mr.. Collier to look after his
share.
The company supporting Reed'and Collier
appear to be strong enough. Arthur Moul-
ton, who did very good work with Frank
Daniels in Little Puck" has place. James
B. Gentry plays a Yankee Sheriff cleverlv, it
is said. OF the others the more prominent are
Miss May Yohe, whose beauty is in her con-
tralto voice as well as her face: Miss Rose
France and Miss Adele harrington, pretty
girls who can sing well and make merry
with the best; Miss Helen Riener, Lillian
Ramsden, whose dancing is q feature of the
production, and the Abbott quartette.
It Is exceedingly hard for a sinner to re-
form and particularly to regain reputa-
ton once lost. Mr.. Roland Reed is not
sinner. but he is trying very hard to reform
from farce comedy, and the public does not
appear to understand his object or to alto
gether approve his means. As rule hith.
erto Mr.. Reed has played in uproarious
farces, and the public has learned to regard
him as burlesquer and farceur-nnd moth
ing more. The general idea of
Reeds vocation has been that while
he was on the stage there should
be roars of laughter. Therefore when
comedy. ga Club Friend" and kept his
face, his comedy, and his audiences faces.
people marveed exceedingly, and some
said without thinking that Roland Reed WAS
not as funny as he used to. These remarks
and some other popular signs have tended
to discourage Mr.. Reed in his laudable en-
deavor to elevate his art, but proceeding
gently and with prudence stick to the great
part of his programme. He said to me yes
terday that he thought of playing
repertoire. including 1.-THE Club Friend'' ana
his more farcical piece LEND Ne Your
Wife" an adoption from the French by
promise and allow his admirers of both
classes, those who like him as q farce
comedian and those who can enjoy his
higher art, to take their choice, and essen
tiai thing:that it is,.pay their money.
For good long while critics and large
portion of the public have tired of the
screeching farce and have wished that Mr.
Reed with other comedians, would strike
for higher things, adopt loftier ideal Mr.
Reed will find that after the public has re-
covered from its surprise at seeing him in
new role, and after his purpose has become
known, that it will hail him with a warmer
welcome than ever. "a Club Friend" Is a
good comedy-not a prodigous work, but a
long way above the average of the time. 1t
has plausible and interesting plot, dis-
logue snappy, and witty frequently, to de-
gree, several well-drawn characters, and a
central part that suits Mr.. Reed very we'll
1t will grow in popularity, and Mr.. Reed
will not have cause to regret that he took
step upward. The legitimate drama is the
favorite in the betting just now, and farce
comedy is carrying too much weight to win
"The City Directory" revised and re-
edited, is the farce comedy which the Alvin
Theater offers this week. When it was here
last year THE DISPATCH conceded that 1t was
the best farce comedy, best in fun, best in
legitimate acting as well as horseplay best
in its pretty girls and great dancer, Amelia
Glover, that this city had seen. This year
it comes with many new faces in its pages,
and q good deal of new reading matter be-
tween the names, so to speak. Dan DAILY is
one of the newcomers in the role of the
stage manager, and it is said that his
voice and his agility, as well as a
solemn expressionless face aid him in max
ing the part funny. Charles Seaman adds
new role to his old one of the frozen dude
namely that of a German actor who was |
once the leader of an orchestra. Julius Wit |
mark supplements the musical end of the |
show with fine barytone voice, and Jos. |
P Miron's basso still booms from the bunko- |
steerer's lips. Willis p. Sweatnam and Luke |
Schoolcraft are the latest additions to "The |
same John Smith, with Weakness for the |
ballet and taste for champagne and ter |
rapin. Bessie Cleveland, Mayn Kelso and |
Marion Weller, together with Kate Uart, are |
the Buds" Lille Eldridge, another new |
Smith, who is said to be one of the best |
legitimate actresses, will be seen as Mrs |
Smith, and "The Little Fawn" is still the |
right name for Amelia Glover, who dances |
in page by herself.
Mr. Willard has Jared well here for a new
conner, but no better than his deserts. When |
he revisits Pittsburg he will be welcomed |
by large number of admirers. This is a |
good deal to have accomplished in one week
in Pittsburg, which is notoriously slow to
accept new stars, and chilly towards the
favorites Of other towns. Pittsburg, as we'll
as Mr.. Willard, is to be congratulated uDon
the result of his engagement
AS was SAID in the criticism of his first per-
formance mere, 1t is not easy to define Mr..
WIZARDS standing as an artist, beyond the
inevitable concession that he pos
sesses genius and is an actor of rare
culture and intelligence. One masterly
creation as Mr Wizards embodiment Of
1T111I il e.