Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24
"a Night at the Circus. ~

t..
HARRIS iEEAIEh LltIie roiue
The above are the theatrical attractions
for this week
Miss Seligman has improved since her first
visit to this city, though the changes in her
methods are not very considerable She IL
acquiring more repose and de,icacv of touch
all the time; and in her most dramatic
moods is more subdued than she was. But
her genius is not matter of cultivation
essentially. she is evidently one of the few
who are born for histrionic triumphs 1t is
simply a matter of her living and keeping
in good health TO achieve almost anything
she pleases. Among the Young actresses of
America she already has no equal,
and it will surprise some Of the
most able actors and critics who
have seen her, If she does not achieve
fame that only the world can limit. In my
humble opinion the only thing Miss Selig-
man needs now to carry her to her proper
place at the head OF the procession is a great
play. Shakespeare might meet her measure.
That is her natural tendency. A woman
who can touch all the emotions with
strong hand; call forth tears, laughter, in
dtgnation, loathinC, admiration or what not
by her acting, is fit for the Interpretation Of
the greatest characters.
Some critical remarks about "Her Re-
lease," played by the Pitou Company, will
be found on the fourth page Of this issue.
One OF the characters in "Geoffrey Middle
ton" that deserves to live Is that OF old
Me-Itt, as played by Mr.. Thompson. The
more one sees of this admirable actor the
more one appreciates his exceptional
talents. The old railroad contractor with
his perpetual "reminiscences of his working
days on the Southern Pacific Railroad is a
lovRble and very human character, which in
.,
personality. May MI. Thompson live long
70 create many more such genial
people for ms. 1t is fact,
upon acquaintance, and Miss Martha Nor
ton can rest her claim to be considered one
Of the best of our native dramatists upon
this one play, despite the obvious tact that
the inspiration for it came from some Ger
man or other Old World play.
We have seen the last OF the Pftou Stock
Company as at present organized. Next
season Miss Seligman will continue at the
head Of Mr.. Pitous company, but only the
half OF her present associates will remain in
st Mr.. Nelson Wheatcroft and his wife,
Adelaide stanhope, will probably travel
with one of the Frohman companies. Mr.
W. II. Thompson was to have appeared in
the principal character role in Bronson
Towards new play, in which also William
Faversham will be the leading Juvenile but
he is now booked for the chief part in "The
Prodigal Father" There will be other minor
changes in the Pitou Stock Company Rob
ert Hiaard will Join it. and .another good
actor fitted for leading roles will also be en-
gagged. Miss Jane Stuart and Mr.. George w,
Leslie W III remain in the Pitou Company,
and believe it is Mr.. Pitou's intention to
make the company as strong, if not stronger
than 1t is this season. The repertoire will
include some new plays and possibly one or
two of Shakespeare's, Miss Selignan be-
sWar rV~fl flfNrHl cv1x
the latter. think Mr. Pitou
would do well to try some OF
Shakespeare's comedies with such a COM
pany as he has The superstition among
managers that Shakespeare is synonymous
with bankruptcy is entirely fallacious. The
trouble is that managers put one clever star
and dozen bad actors in a ShakespeAresn
comedy and expect the public to enjoy
play the lines of which the actors cannot
even speak intelligibly. Miss Seligman has
quite enough talent to shine in anything,
Shakespeare included; and with such sup
port as she has had in the past, believe u
Shakespearean repertoire would be success
iul in an artistic and financial sense. If
Mr.. Pitou is wise he will put this plan into
execution next season. 1t would make a
good starting point for Miss Seligman as a
star OF the first class. By the way, when
The DISPATCH expressed the belief that Miss
Seligman was destined to be the foremost
American actress it was somewhat lonely,
but now the same estimate of Miss Seig-
mans talents is being enunciated every-
where. and the New York papers with terrific
wisdom are declaring their adherence to her
banner.
Between Jane stuart's last two visits to
this city the wonderfully clever little come
dian of the Pitou Company has received one
or two brilliant offers to betake herself to
comic opera. l know that Harry Askin,
Digby Bells manager, wanted to make Miss
Stuart prominent feature in his new comic
opera of Jupiter and was told earlier in
Cn1 nRW nj n1S
very anxious to secure her. She herself
would like very well to have a chance to
sing as well as act but her own people
wisely think that a higher destiny is hers in
the legitimate drama, so in Difference to
their wishes Miss Stuart has refused the
offers of all the comic opera managers and
Will stay with the Pitou Company for an
other season at least. Although she was
suffering from n bad cold last week, for
wnlcn she blames Pittsburg's beautiful
climate, Miss Stuart succeeded as we'll as
ever in exciting laughter and charming the
hearts OF her audience.
1t is only few months ago that a young
girl left Allegheny to try her fortunes upon
a New York stage, with nothing to aid her
but pretty face and engaging bright man.
ners and great ambition to shine as a
soubrette. She may have had good voice,
but never heard it. A short time after she
left this city the New York papers an
nounced that Miss Lulu CHASER had taken
Miss Marie Jansen's place in 1.-THE Lion
Tanner for a night with considerable sue
cess This was our little Allegheny friend
Since then several similar announcements
have been made. and Miss Jansen's under
study has received Il good deal of praise for
her ability to take that celebrated actress,
place. Now it is announced that Miss Glasser
Is to step into Miss Jansen's shoes per1na-
nently next season, and there is a yery
brilliant future apparently ahead of this III.
tie Allegheny novice. She comes of a we'll
known Allegheny family. and great many
people IN boSh cities will be glad to hear Of
her advancement
They say. for unhappily did not see it,
that the audience at the "Wednesday mat
inee Mt the Duquesne Theater was as pretty
sight as any stage picture could be- The
house was filled with ladies-not more than
a mere two per cent of men among them.
The lower boxes on one side of the theater
were occupied by charming bevy of girls.
everyone of whom wore a corsage boor.et of
red roses, rms was theater party,
am told, invited by. Mr.. Ralph Bagaley
On the opposite side sat the wondrousiy fair
Lillian R'ssell. looking fresher and daintjer
than she does in her most elaborate costume
in la Cigale."
There is noquestion of the fact that Lillian
Russell has grown to be an immensely popu-
lar favorfte. Probably there is no woman in
comic opera to-day who commands such a |
following. When you come to |
analyze her attractions you find that first OF |
all stands her personal beauty, which is a |
thing not to be gainsaid; then comes her |
voice which is really grown into a remark |
able organ; and lastly the reputation which |
has been built up around her, partly by the |
skillful work of managers and writer's and |
partly by the accidents of her romantic life, |
Anyhow there she stands a beautiful and, |
speaking, most valuable |
piece OF property. 1 suppose that some |
where near 10000 people have seen her |
during the week in "La Cigale" and what
ever their opinions of the comic opera NAV