Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-10

BUou Theater. Charles T. Ellis
Duquesne Theater. ''school for Scandal"
Grand opera House.. .sansuschek
Mechanical Hall MAY Festival
williams Academy Sheridan q Flynn
narry Davls' Museum. ".Curiosities
horlo's Museum. Curioslties
The above are the theatrical performances
for this week.
1t is very unusual to get q week OF such
excellent performances as the Madison
Square Theater Company have given us at
thus end of the season, and as delightful as
1t is unusual. At this time and in this
country there is certainly no company to be
compared to Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer's for the
rendering OF the legitimate drama. Mr.. Stod-
dart has had the largest opportunities in the re-
pertoire of plays acted ut the Duuuesne The
hter, but only two or three actors on the
Engl1sh-speaking stage could have made such
noble use Of them as he has done. Comparison
with contemporaries is not always the best
way OF determining the status of an actor, but
It would in Mr.. Stoddart's case. feel sure, re-
suit to his advantage For gentle humor and
that unforced pathos which always goes with IL
hand in hand, Mr.. Stoddart's art approaches
very nearly that of the greatest actor-in this
6eld-of our time. Mr.. Jefferson. But not
alone in the mIlder moods is Mr.. Stoddart
potential: the intensity and dramatic fervor of
his work in "Captaln Swift" and even more
notably in the heart-breaking scene in "Saints
and Sinners" where the old minister receives
the news Of his daughters abduction and ruin,
give evidence Of his command over the louder,
sharper strings of the tragic harp. He is most
lOvahle-and after ALL to inspire affection
should be ambition enough for great actor
in such benevolent role as Mr.. Berjunlin
Go n inch In "a Pair of Spectacles." The
geniality and benignity of the old man he shows
US in "a Pair of Bpectacles' are expressed by
him more in play Of feature and voice than
through the authors medium of words. mean
that Mr. Benjdnlin GoLdJfnch. saw him
on Tuesday night, is more Mr.. Stoddart's crea-
tion a being who will live in our memories
than of Sidney Grundy, the playwright who in
deed borrowed the outline of the character
from Dickens Cheeryble 81 sthers in Nicholas
Nickleby." Itis TO be hop-d that MIR. Stoddart
will illuminate the PIttsburg stage more fire.
quently in the future than he has in the past
Mr. E NJ Hollands opportunities have not
been great as Mr.. Stoddart's, but su fficient
20 allow him to demonstrate his versatility and |
histrionic talent, as well as, what is sometimes |
more valuable Still, conscientious disposition |
to do his best in What he undertakes Thus |
everything MIR. Holland has done in the re- /
markable range of characters, big and little /
he mas played during the week has shown the |
effect of careful study, intelligent reading
reinforcing great talent in the actor. Even the
small sketch of an English workman in Saints
and Sinners" although spperluous, as so many
of the characters in that play of one part are,
became an interesting and life-like creation |
in his hands His Uncle Gregory in "a Pair |
of Spectacles" was a wonderfully sustained i'm
personatiou, in which Mr. Hollands own
personality was absolutely lost under the hard, |
close grained vulgarity and meanness OF the |
Sheffield manufacturer. Itis snot PROBABLE that
Mr.. Holland ever saw the man, but saw
great oeal too much of a maker of cutlery in
Ths iSsn tSs SI
mind, body and estate, as portrayed by Mr. |
Hollands art. This. by the way, merely as a |
tr'h"te to the naturalness Of Mr.. Hollands
work
One might go on and in diminishing degree
praise almost every individual in the company.
Maurice Barrymore has considerable resources |
an actor and still more a man of superb |
physique, handsome face and engaging man. |
ners. when he is disposed to use them. The |
latter attributes helped his art not a little IN
the best work be did here as Captain S,OJt;
character which he suited and suited him |
amazingly. 1t has been noted long ago of this
actor that to do well in part he must like il; |
and IL seems that he does not enjoy making |
himself repulsive or continuously offensive 10 |
his audience, as stage villains are frequently
required to be. As consequence of this when
he undertook to display his good looks and !
dashing style in the unmitigated Scoundrel who |
figures very lopsidedly in Saints and Sinners"
he left his art and even his attention at home |
and q most unsatisfactory performance it was. |
Mr.. Barrymore is not to be blamed as a man for |
dlsliking parts that call for the contempt
hatred and loathing Of audience, but he is |
worthy OF severe censure as an actor for taking |
such characters and playing them without |
spirit or even passable care. He is injuring his
he may be sure that the public takes great
offense at the lack of sincerity which character
lied his work on Wednesday night
- t.r
Tho new plays in the repertoire were none of
them of startling excellence, but "a Pair of
SpectaceS" and Captain Swift" were of value
in themselves aside from their artistic interpre-
tat1on, while the merits of Jim the Penman" |
have been frequently recognized by THE DIS |
PATCH. 1t is to be regretted that the choice of
plays compelled the absence of Miss Ada Dyas |
on all tie nights but two. When she did play |
however, 1t was to score triumph as great as
any actress could desire. A brief notice of last |
nights performance of Jim the Penman" will
be found on the fourth page of this issue
\The engagement of Thou Shalt Not" in
spite of a good deal of brag and buster, did
not make much money at the Grand Opera
House, and a few more such exhibitions would |
make 1t profitable for Manager Wilt to close
the doors permanently;
The repetition of "The Rivals" by the COM
panY of Allegheny amateurs who Interpreted |
1t so cleverly at Mrs. Haworth's residence re-
Gently, al Sewickley. was even more successful
than the first attempt. The stage of the
Sewickley Opera House gave the young actors
better opportunity and they made the most
of il The Bob DC eS of Mr.. Riddle d. Haworth
was again the striking feature of the perform
ance, which, as a whole. compared favorahly
with the work OF more seasoned amateurs. The
close imitation of Mr.. Jefferson was
very amusing to the large audience
which filled the theater. and Miss Haworth,s
Lydia LqnQHiSh and MIR Sc0vel's CAPTAIN Jack |
Absolute were also highly apprecia ed All of
the cast showed an Improvement upon the
previous performance. Ii would have been
WISER, however. lt the acting version of ''rhe
Rivals used by Mr.. jefferson had been OBJ 4
tained in place of Sheridan's original version |
for the latter is too long for the patience of this
generation of playgoers. Mr.. jefferson, /
imagine, would not object to furnishing
amateurs with a copy of his condensed edition
of 'The Rivals"
The stage setting. scenery and costumes Of
the The Rivals" were excellent, the costumes
especially being unusually handsome.
The cable brings the following theatri-
cal gossip from London to THE DISPATCH: |
In spite OF the raVages caused by the grip" |
IN the ranks OF society, Eany of the leaders of |
fashion being victims of the somewhat mystic |
power ofthe unpopular complaint the London |
season of theatrical musical and social enjoy
ment is in full swing and everybody seems |
pleased with its cadence. For Monday next at |
the Royal Albert Hall The very last and ab-
soiutely final concert of the veteran singer, |
Sims Reeves. is announced. The veteran, who |
IL certain OF most enth usiastic 'send-off will
be supported by Christine Nilsson, who will |
come on purpose FROM Madrid in order to do |
honor to Mr.. Reeves: Nine. Baton, Miss Alice |
Gomez, Mime. Antolnette Sterling Herbert .
Reeves, harrington Foote and SignOr Foil In |
addition, Henry Irving has promised to be |
present and influenza permitting, he will speak II
8 farewell address" written for the occasion by
Walter Pollock
OF course, the royal naval exhibition, which |
should be visited and '.nads note or by the |
Chicago Worlds Fair managers, if the nswesI, |
very long list Of places where you oan feast
your eyes and earf In this city at present
The Vaudeville Theater experiment Of fur
nishing fsIsis Of lbsenisra has 40 far Justified {
Il