Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-03

GRAND OPERA HOUSE ........ Forgiven -
| ALVIN IHEATER R......................A Alabama. "
| WILLIAMS ACADEMY.....Fr French Folly Company
| HAkhis IEEATER.. .Smiley's Comiques
| DAVIS 'MUsEUM-THEATER.... .Curiosities, etc
The above are the attractions at the
| theaters this week.
| The engagement of MI. Mansfield at the
Alvin Theater has been profitable to all par
ties; the audiences have been large and dis
| tinguished, and the versatility of Mr.. Mans
| field once more has been shown in brilliant
fashion. There is no question at all but that
| Mr.. Mansfield is in measure the most re-
| markable young actor in America to-day.
| The plays and parts in which he appeared
last week were with one exception not new,
and the exception was notably the poorest
| play and the least worthy performance.
1t seems to me that Mr.. Mansfield
| is most happy in the character
of Prince Karl, and that it is
| along that line that his greatest achieve
ments will come, if he will but be satisfied
| with steady effort therein. His powers as a
character actor are very great, ,and the range
| is extraordinary. For instance, there are
very few actors living who could in success
sive nights play such radically different
parts as Baron C'reviaL in "a Partisan
Romance" and the beardless Don Juan. But
| 1t is also rather unpleasantly plain that Mr..
| Mansneld, excepting always "Prince Karl"
is is a IN meea ed, OF new y, play Beau Drummer
! can hardly interest audiences much longer.
1t may be that Mr.. Mansfelds versatility
does not stop at the stage: it is possible that
| he may write play for himself as clever as
| is his acting, but "Don Juan" hardly en-
| courages belief in Mr. Mansfield as dra-
mat1st. There are smart lines in it, and the
nrst two acts are passably entertaining in
| so ar as they picture young mans amatory
fickleness, but the third act is dreadfully dull
as well as inappropriate, and the whole play
suffers from a lack of motive. With a new
ending in the same manner as the beginning
| the piece might pass muster light
comedy, and display better than it does now
the chief actors abilities.
1t is promised that ''The Twelve Tempta-
tions," which is the BUou's attraction this
week, will be a very superior production to
what it was last year. 1t is said to have
been rewritten and entirely re-equipped
from the ground up, and TO be now spec
tacular production on par with the best.
Songs, specialties and novel incidents have
been introduced, and every effort put forth
to crafty the varied tastes OF an audience
There are pleasant illusions and grand
transformations, and q perfect nightmare of
gnomes, dragons, seagulls, serpents, fero-
ciouS beasts and other inhabitants OF EARTH
sea and air. The personation of many Of
these creatures requires acrobats and gym
mats of great Skill an immense dragon alone
manipulation. The ba1!ets are employed
in illustrating by their evolutious, dresses
and tableaux the clriaxes and Incidents
OF the strange story,
The advertisements are new, comprising
the Alhambra Ballet Troupe, in Policemen
and the Flirts:" "Riding on Grandpa's
Shoulders" "the Parisian Belles;' "The Lit
tie Lord Fauntleroys:' "The Ballet OF Terra
Gotta" danced in a scene of the same hue
and which introduces % live cocketoos on
gilt perches, is said to be a novelty never
Nations" revealing the Levant and the Oc-
cident, and carrying the spectator in fancy,
to the jungles of Asia, the deserts of Africa
and the plains of Hindostan, ana then
sweeping him, as By a magic wand, back to
.The Lard of the Free and the Home of the
Brave" The costumes are said to be costly
and grand, and the mechanical appoint
ments ingenious. The march of the States
and Territories of the Union, which intro
duces some 46 Amazons, led by Columbia, is
claimed 10 be the most effective pageant
ever devised. The special music necessary
to the production was prepared by Richard
Stahl.
Although coming without much herald
ing of -trumpets, the entertainment prom
isedat the Duquesne Theater this week has
an attractive appearance. Carroll Johnson
has always been known as clever come
dian, and this time he branches forth into a |
new field and as an Irish actor of the Scanlan |
type, it is said has not been surpassed in two |
decades His new play, "The Gossoon," |
written by Edward E. Kidder, although by |
an American author, is said to be without |
superior as an Irish drama. 1t has no pixies, |
no mortgages, no lost wills, no carl cltures |
of the Clergy and no informer; but it has the |
lakes of Killarney in summer. the lakes of |
Killarney in winter, the home of the Cos
soon, the open country by mOonligh6 and |
the unroofing of the cabin, one of the most |
startling effects it is said ever presented on |
any stage. The scenery and mechanical |
devices are by the well known genius George |
Purvis. Mr.. Johnston sings his latest songs,
"Wedding Bells.'' In "The Gossoon" he |
has found a character it is said that is pe-
culiarly suited to his personality. He makes
of the good natured Squire a graceful, anus
ing, lovable happy go-lucky, but always
manly, youngster. He dances with all the |
grace OF his old time minstrel days, it is
his manly beauty. There will be matinees
Wednesday and Saturday. and probably
benefits will be given during the week to q
well known Irish society as well as o labor
organization.
Francis Wilson has apparently scored an
other big hit in a new opera comicue, 1.-THE
Lion Tanner" Manager Candy telegraphs
that it is bigger success than 1.-THE Merry
Monarch" and all the New York papers
praise the new piece highly. 1t is Wilson
depending on him largely for its
appeal, and very little on its music. Wilson
deserves all the success he gets for he works
like beaver, and is n student as well as one
OF the funniest comedians on the stage
De Wolf Hopper is also going along verv
comfortably with Wang" and last week
delighted immense houses in BROOKLYN.
Comic opera is paying business these days
when it is reasonably good.
There can be no danger in recommending
everyone who loves pure pathos, quiet
comedy and a high tone, coupled with strong
American local color, to go to see Alabama"
which comes to the Alvin Theater this
week. 1 had the pleasure of seeing it in
Chicago last September, and prettier play,
more full of varied and interesting charac-
ter, 1 have never seen. 1t has not much plot,
but simple tale into which love and some
harsher emotions are well woven runs
through it, and there is not an uninterest-
ing character in it. A phase OF modern life
in the South is presented in subdued but
telling colors.
OF course much depends upon the acting
OF the play, more than usual perhaps for
the characters are more importa Mt than the
plot in Gala abama." The company which
will pay it here is not that which / saw last |
pears to have enough good actors in it to
do justice to the work. 1t is really q
matter of interest to Pittsburg that Burr
Mcintosh assumes one of the most consider
q bic parts in the play, and it is only fair to
saw tnat the Boston critics have been saving
performance. In Boston and in other cities, |
and also in the South generally, Alabama"
as played by this company has won golden
opinions so that think alabama" ought
to be thing OF beauty and a joy for one
week at the Alvin-and hope so, for MIR. |
A Thomas the writer Of 60 10 l,a mo |