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

|
grasshopper are sisters the former the prn1m1a NM
donna, the latter the village maiden Ihe
| IDrett0 Is heavy. lugubrious ana lacking ~
fun. There are but three catchy numbers
| one beginning with zone Day Margot," the
second gavOtte, and the tn I'd concerteo
piece: The libretto is of course well written
| ana tne music is always aSreeaDDie, p..' u,.a
neither impresses itself upon one. Ina1 the
book Is not interesting may not astonist'
anyone, for the English comic opera Is woe.
fully dull, but if the music be Audrams, tnen ;L
| ne must be thoroughly played OUT. Inc On y
feature Of the performance to rave about Is
| Llii1an Russell. Her voice was mag gnincei.. --
pure,ringing and unerring. She mas neVera w.
Peared to better advantage althougnl is ~, IT,,
possible to compliment her on her acting. IN
Pal1s the part Miss Russell sings was ere
ated by the wonderful Jeanne Granler. our
own Lillian sings better and LOOKS Detter'
| but the other members of the company can
| not be compared to the original Ffench
| cast. Tagliapietra, who has been IN inns
country long time, has not mastered Eng,
hsh su1nciently to make himseiI unoersaood y
and Carl Strietman speaks in dlslocated
| German, which makes the performances
some what polyglot. The opera was puS ON
| literally regardless CT expense, ana nothlnH
| produced on this side of the Atlantic speaks
more plainly of managerial hberallty ana
| less artistic value
The New York papers agree in declaring
| La Clgale" success, and Lillian RuSSeli
| the chief cause of this happy result. rms
establishes the Garden Theater as a rival OF
the casino for pre-eminence in comic OPERA
Something About Martha Morton.
The recent performance of "The Mer-
chant" and the approaching one OF "Geoffrey
Middleton" may make the following sketcn
| of the authors life interesting: Miss Martha
| Morton Is young woman under ~ years OF
age and remarkably well educated. After
| studying in the New York pubic schools
she was sent to London and there came in
contact with many Of England's brain1est
men and women. Literature was her hobby
and George Eliot her model. After two
years visit at the home of relative, an
official in the Queens service, Miss Morton
went to Paris and in that city she studied
French dramatic literature. That the drama
of the Parisians made an impression upon
her mind is made apparent in "Helene
or the Refugees Daughter play
in which both Clara Morris and
Cora Tanner have won success.
Miss Morton next visited Germany, but
there she devoted her time to the study of
music and languages, for both of which she
has a fondness. Upon her return to Amer
lea her services were enlisted for a charit-
able affair in which society was to appear.
For this event Miss Morton prepared tray
isty upon "May Blossom" and a single
performance netted over $4,000. Miss
Morton's next attempt atdramatic writ
effort was "Geoffrey Middleton, Gentle
man," and judging by many favorable
criticisms, the play is above the average.
Besides writing for the stage, Miss Morton
devotes considerable time to writing short
stories for the magazines, and at least one
of her novels has had an unusually large
sale. She is an expert musician and mem-
Der of many of the leading musical societies
of New York. Miss Morton would hardly be
termed a handsome woman and yet she has
a very interesting face with bright, spark
ling eyes.
Whallen and MartelPs Varieties.
In Whallen and Martell's company the
stars seem to be numerous, and Harry Will
iams' Academy should be as popular as ever
this week. The "Big Nine," including five
Martells and four Phanlons, give wonder
full series of acrobatic bicycling and other
specialties. The mid-air comedy which
b Baseo and Roberts play, is said to
markable performance on the wire
is that of William Kappes Other features
of the show are Harry and Mamie Good
sketch by Golden % and May, the Earls' mu. m
sical act, Cradock, Bonnie Thornton's top
ical songs, and La Drew's singing and act
ing.
Lilly Langtry Coming Again.
Lilly Langtry is going to make another
American tour and will reach Pittsburg in
the spring The stories about her beauty
having been demolished by the fist of a
jealous admirer, which were cabled over
from England last year are now denied and
it is said that as far as her face and figure
her principal stock in trade, the Jersey Lilly
will be as attractive as ever.
Harry Davis Museum-Theater.
Harry Davis has two remarkable freaks
of nature at the Fifth Avenue Museum
Theater for the coming week. One is Jonn-
than Bass. the man who has been gradually
turning into bone for a number of years.
He is now bone from head to foot, stiff and
immovable. His attendant takes him in his
hands and stands him upon his feet facing
the audience, holding him there while he
makes an address. Bass cannot move q
muscle except those of his lips and those
only slightly. He is fed with a spoon and
requires unremitting attention. Yet with
all this he is cheerful and even happy A
great reading man until he lost his sight
few years since, his attendant now reads to
him constantly, and Bass can therefore con-
verse in an interesting manner upon the
struse subjects connected with history,
science and philosophy. Jonathan Bass is
to-day one of the greatest living
curiosities on the museum stage. Besides
the man with the iron skull. Mr.. Wells has
been Government scout for many years,
and holds the scout medal for bravery in
Indian scrimmages. He has O most extra
ordinary skull. 1t is three times the thick
ness of most mems skulls, and he allows any
one to smash an Inch plank of hard wood
upon his head with sledge hammers. Mr.
Wells has dozens of letters from prominent
physicians testifying to the extraordinary
nature OF his head. In the theatorium Mr..
Davis has the Sheerans' Carnivalians-a COM
pany comprising score OF SO OF well-known
Speciality performers. Altogether the Fifth
Avenue Museum will be very interesting
place to visit this week.
Election Returns From the Stage.
The election returns will be read from
the stage Of the Alvin Theater on Tuesday,
and Manager Davis will have a special wire
laid on. Jim Corbett, the pugilist, will read
the returns at the Bijou and anyone object
ing to the news read is at liberty to step
upon the stage and argue with Mr.. Corbett.
At the Grand Opera House Manager Wilt
has made arrangements also to read the
news from the stage as soon as 1t comes
Ella borate arrangements have been ma ie
lor the same purpose at Harris Theater.
An operator will receive the returns at
be shown upon big white drop curtain, |
which will be let down. stereopticon |
will be used to do this. Not only will the |
returns be displayed thus between the acts, |
but after the performance and as long as the |
audience cares to stay. Il
The Black Thorn at Harris.
That favorite Irish comedian with the |
'unny twitching face and delightfully."- orig
nal dialect, Joe j. Sullivan, comes here
lext week with his musical comedy "The [
Block Thorn" Both star and play have /
,een warmly welcomed wherever seen, as