Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-17

he Is killed in the fall Frank Hale makes
Bessie an offer of marriage, is accepted, and
all ends happily. The boiler explosion, the
railroad scenes and other scenic effects are
said to be great.
'eNiobe," which the Duquesne Theater
offers this week, seems a little hard to
classify, as to forms, although the authors
calmly call it high-class comedy. Its pur-
pose is clear, however, it is all for laughter.
The company which will present it looks
very strong, from Isabelle Coe on through
the whole cast.
The Paultons, who are the suthors of the
comedy, have chosen a subject which has
been handled before by Gilbert and many
writers of less repute; but it is said they
nave treated it in an entirely novel manner,
and with such success that the press of New
York and Boston have styled it ''all laugh
ter, phrase which the management has
not been slow to make use of. The funda-
mental idea of the piece, showing Greek
civilization in contrast with that OF to-day,
admits of great possibilities in the treat
ment. Mr.. Ben Teal, who is without doubt,
the best of American stage directors, VIII
personally stage the comedy here. and he is
a "stickler'' for getting out all there is in a
dramatic work, both in point of acting and
accessories, We may expect a thorough du-
pl1cate of the New York performance. The
stage of the Dpquesne Theater will be
cleared entirely of It's scenery, property and
drapery, and only the material carried by
the company will be employed in the pro-
duction.
The comedy of CDR. Bill" will be the
attraction Mt the Alvin, commencing Mon
day. While this will be the first visit to
this city Of this comedy, it is by no means
unknown. Much has been written, and
many have already seen the play. 1t ran in
New York for long time at the Garden
far apd - hicrh1 1vy
being comedy full of fun and no end of
laughter, but all the fun being Of a purely
legitimate kind, there being no horse play.
The public seems to have had enough Of the
so-called farce comedy, and while they like
to be amused, they do not care to see play
full of specialties. From what I have
heard OF CDR. Bill" 1 should judge that
1t is a comedy on the order of "The Private
Secretary" "Wilkinson's Widow" Gail the
Comforts of Home" "Jane" and comedies of
that order. 1t will be presented here in a
thorough manner with good company.
CDR. Bill'' is three act comedy by Hamil-
ton Aide, which has had long and successful
runsin London and New York, and which is
complicated farce comedy of the "con-
fusion'' school, with a dash of the Partisan
suggestiveness that has no doubt the dis
tinct feature of the French playwright to
whom the English adapter was primarily
indebted. The piece is crowded with awk.
ward and absurd complications. The "kan-
CARGO" attitudinous dancing is quite
feature in the performance, and one which
bill OF "Sunset" and the comedy will be
given at every performance. The scenery
and properties from the Garden Theater
will be used.
Zone of the Finest" comes to Harris
Theater this week. 1t is the drama in which
Gus Williams made fame and fortune, and
has been q winner every season since it has
been on the road. Manager Hassan has in
fused new life into the piece and, without
changing the plot, added numerous features
at considerable outlay. The first and most
important move of Mr.. Hassan was to pro-
vide entire special scenery for the play.
Chief among these is the beautiful Central
Park lake scene and the Fall river line pier
scene, North river. On the pier whole
variety show is given. The company num-
bers Is people. who have been carefully se-
lected.
Everybody who goes to see vaudeville
knows ,Hyde's Big Vaudeville Company,
which comes to Harry Williams Academy
this week Among the stars are Helene
Mora. the Modern scalchf," a vocal won
der: Curry and Fox, comedians, and Imro
Fox, the comic conjurer; the LIE Ere broth
ers, pantomimists. and the Glenroy BROTH
ers give their irresistible Fun in Gymna-
sium" Then there is James f. Hoey, the
expert fun maker, and McAvoy and Hart.
clever specialists. Hayden and Hetherton
give a neat parlor entertainment, and the
Weston brothers are musical kings.
The Duff Opera Company's performance
of "The Queens Mate" was hardly appre-
ciated as much as it ought to have been, for
it certainly was above the comic opera av-
rage all through.
The next visit of comic opera to this city
is to be rendered memorable in novel way
"The Tar and the Tartar" returns to this
city next week, and it happens that it will
celebrate its 300th night at the Grand Opera
House. Manager Askin. with his usual lib
erality, proposes to celebrate the occasion
in style, and will give every lady attending
the theater that night a silver spoon suita-
bly, engraved. On Monday, January 25th,
therefore. the Grand Opera House will be
decorated gaily, and there will be spoons
for all the patronesses of the fete. "The Tar
and the Tartar" is said to have improved
with age, and, as 1t has the same clever peo-
pie in the cast as were seen in it earlier in
the season, the opera is pretty sure to please,
with or without spoons. HEPBURN JOHNS.
Worlds Museum-Theater d.