Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-10


Duquesne Theater, Texas Steer
Bijou Theater. Drummer Boy of Shiloh
Williams Academy MAY Russell Burlesque Co.
Worlds Museum-T -Theater. Curiosities etc.
Davis Museum-Theater.- -Curiosites etc.
harrls uncle hiram
The above are the theatrical attractions
for this week.
There were several variety companies on
the road last season that played in first
class theaters, but of them all the Boston
Howard Athen@um Company alone sur
wives. 1t was always the best company OF
the sort, and it is said to have improved
rather than deteriorated This week it
comes to the Grand Opera House. 1t has
several novelties to Offer Miss Ena Ber-
toldi is one of them. She is q girl of l6, who
has extraordinary powers as an equilibrist
and contortionisr. Her feats have aston
ished the doctors as well as the public. An
other novelty is the Bavarian juggler. Kara,
who is said to be something astonishing.
The company is a large one, and includes
besides those mentioned, James and Lucy
Allison, young English singers and dancers;
the Braatz Brothers, remarkable gymnasts;
Falke and SemOns in an extra ordinary mus
ical act; Melville and Stetson, two young
American girls who can initiate and act with
rare ability; Duncan, the noted ventrilo-
Quist, who has a good deal of new business;
Golden and Quigg. Irish comedians: Josie
and Eddie Evans, and Miss Tillie Morrisey
complete the company. The performance
ought to prove light bright and entertain
ing.
see that Marie Tempest has at last de-
cided to create the chief part in "The Fenc-
ing Master" DeKoven and Smiths new
comic opera, which is to be produced in
New York next summer by j. NJ. Hill. There
is no question that Miss Tempest is the best
comic opera artist on the American stage to-
day. In Chicago few days ago all the lead.
ing critics united in recognizing her unusual
ability, and the critics of Chicago have
wholesome fashion of telling the truth, no
matter whom it hurts.
1.-THE Ensign" will be the attraction at the
Alvin Theater this week. 1t is a nautical
play with plot that hinges upon the Mason
and Slidell affair of 1851, and around which
is woven love story with some vigorous
dashes of patriotism, little villainy and a
good deal of healthy sentiment and pathos.
One of the main features of the production
is the scenery, which is said to be unusually
fine. There are five scenes, two of which
illustrate life on board a man-o-war, and are
said to be as true representation as it is
possible to obtain upon the stage. One set
shows the interior of q war vessel with the
gun and main decks Just as they are on a
real man-oiwar. The time of the action is
coincident with that episode of the Rebellion
known as tine Trent affair, and the plot
grows out Of the attempt of a renegade
American serving as lieutenant in the
British navy, to prevent the arrest of
Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the Confederate
Commissioners.
The story is a thrilling one, and appar-
emily full of very striking situations In the
course of the playtbe villain tears down and
tramples upon the American flag cursing it
as he does SO, and for this he is cut to pieces
by American sailors who are present
The subsequent trial of the ensign, during
which an old coXswain tries to save his
superior officers life by offering his own,
should prove a very telling climax. The
ensign, who is a typical American sailor, is
intercession of a little girl. The play looks
like healthy one, and a welcome change
from the dreadful stuff imported as melo-
drama from England.
It is pity that better reception was not
given to Miss Coghlan at the Duques"e last
week, for her plays and her support as well
as her own acting, entitled her to larger
audiences than she has had. Neither of the
plays given by her during the week are of
extraordinary merit, but LADY Barter con-
tains great deal ofclever writing and char
acters that in such able hands as Miss
Coghlan's and her brothers, to say nothing
OF Mr. Whiffen, Mr. Sullivan and others Of
the company, prove very interesting. Mr.
Charles Coghlan is an actor OF rare finish
and delightful ease of manner; he has the
air of well-bred gentleman, and never for
point with the audience. / can quite under |
stand why Manager Hammerstein, the eccen- |
trio being who runs theater in New York, |
said of Coghlan: He does not act at all; he is |
just on the stage as he is Off he talks Just like
you or me-" 1t is fact that Mr.. Coghlan |
prepares very little for his appearance be- |
hind the footlights: he does not make up his |
face to any extent, and he is Just as likely as |
not to come straight from the club to the |
theater and go upon the stage in the clothes |
he has worn all day. In the modern drama |
a RQ rfo hal
Mr.. Coghlan is an ideal actor. L hope ne will |
stay in America, for su3h actors are rare. |
Whether he does so or not depends, / am told, |
largely upon the fate of the new play, "The |
Check Book" which he will produce in |
Washington next week. This play is writ |
ten by Mr. Coghlan, and is said to be the |
prise me If Mr.. Coghlan should some day |
write great play; all he seems to need is a
larger appreciation of action and graduated |
progress to climax. |
People always anticipate something good |
from the pen of Charles H. Hoyt He is a |
prolific writer, and is probably the author |
OF more successes from a financial stand |
point than any other American PLAYWRIGHT |
"A Texas Steer" that is coming to the Du- |
quesne Theater this week, has been before |
the public for more than season, but it has |
happened that Pitusburg has not before had |
an opportunity of seeing it. 1t seems to be a /
sdtie On Mlcheu pontlclans, ana Is q pure
blooded American drama. The hero is a |
Texas ranchman, who is unanimously /
elected to represent his district in Con. n.ress. |
tie Is informed with exceptional unan- !
unity that his election Will "entail an
expenditure of cash, which the ranch
man blankly refuses to pay. He is
forced to vacate this virtuous resolve at the
points of brace of revolvers. To Washing
ton he finally goes with an unsophisticated
wife and uncutured daughter The ouaipt
experiences of the crude Texan at the Ma
tional Capital lead him into dark corners.
where he unexpectedly stumbles into the
primal springs of power, and he does not
f1nd them to be pure springs either. The
cast on this occasion will enlist especially
Tim Murphy, Flora Walsh Charles Stanley.
John Marshall, Will III. Bray, John T. Craven,
George Grace, Charles Warren, Florence
Stevens, Dorothy Sherrod, Lizzie Duroy and
Others.
Manager Field, OF the Boston Museum. is
bent upon getting new people for his stock
next season, but notice that he
retains Miss Marie Burress, the talented
young actress who calls Pittsburg, or rather
its suburb, Allegheny, her home 1t is to be
hoped that Miss Burress will be given larger |
next season than she has had
in the past, but she shows wisdom in stay- |
ing in q stock company where she can i'm |
prove herself and add experience in many
lines of work to her undoubtedly great |
.alents.
The old reliable war play, 1.-THE Drummer
Boy, or the Spy of Shiloh" is to be at the
BUou Theater this week, under the direc-
ions of General Alexan der Hays, Post No. |
l. G. A. r., for the benefit of that organfza- |
ions relief fund. OF late years this enter |
aiming and instructive drama has been a |
egular annual event for which the public
las shown great liking. In this case, new