Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01

lese -eck HdS a Night at the Circus" in
which Nellie McIIenry appeared at the
Bijou. a Night at the Circusn is quite a:
good as most of the farce comedies
and it has favor which al least seems new
l don't understand why Miss McHenry sur
rounds herself with such singular crowd
OF gigantic females and the piece would un
doubtedly go better if the women were up
to the standard OF the men-as actors.
Fanny Davenport's production OF Cleo
patra'' WAS very satisfactory to most people
who saw 1t last week at the DuQuesne. From
the scenic standpoint Miss Davenport
"CleOpatra'' has never been surpassed by any
strictly dramatic production in America.
The value OF Miss Davenport's embodiment
OF Cleopatra is largely matter of personal
opinion but to many il is undoubtedly far
more impressive than Bernhardt's although
don't suppose anyone fora moment would
say that Miss Davenport was the superior of
the great French actress. In play that is
so largely a matter of scenery, costumes and
theatrical effects, money talks very loudly.
Manager Marcus MAYER has been lavish
enough in his expenditure upon the staging
Of CLEOPATRA
It comes out now, as might have been sup
posed it would that Marie Jansen has left
Francis Wilson'S company, or rather pro-
poses TO leave IL at the close of the season,
because OF strained relations between the
star comedian and herself Marie is saving
some ugly things about Nj. Wilson, but those
who know all the facts in the case are not
surprised that Mr Wilson found it necessary
TO part company with his clever and
pretty soubrette. 1t is singular how few of
the women who make any kind of hit in
comic opera are aDle to stand the strong
drink OF success. 1t is seldom nowadays
that leading woman in burlesQue or comic
opera STAYS with one organization for more
than season or two seasons at most.
An interesting event in comic opera takes
place tomorrow evening, when Digby Bell
viii give his new comic opera, Jupiter" its
New York production at Palmer's Theater.
The opera l. by Harry B. Smith and Julian
Edwards, the former the author OF the
libretto OF Robin Hood and several other
successful comic operas including THE Tar
snd Tartar, in which Digby Bell and the
A~kin company appeared this season.
Jupiter has been already tried at Wash
.,,., .liG Baltimore, and has been praised
literally IN both places The plot is briefly
tEis: Jupiter, the ruler of Olympus de-
scendS to earth to capture pretty Roman
girl named Claudia, and in order TO press his
suit more effectually, assumes the disguise of
a coOGler named Spurius Cassius. AS soon as
Jupiter has done this he loses HIS wishing
cap and Is unable to change himself back
to his original shape. He is arrested bv the
police aud carried off TO fail in a Roman
patrol wagon, while the real Spurius Cassius
Is snauched up to heaven in a celestial
elevator, which jealous Juno has sent down
to bring back her missing lord, of whose
transformation into Il cobbler she has been
informed. The opera deals with Jupiter in
water in heaven. Digby Bell PLAYS both
characters. 1 can see how this may be made
very funny and they say that Digby Bell
by Julian Edwards 1 heard two months ago
in Boston played by the composer himself
and as far as one could judge from q piano
forte performance. it is bright and taking,
and somewhat after Sullivan's style.
1.-THE City Directory" at the Alvin Thea
ter last week, is really more of minstrel
entertainment than a farce comedy. But 1t is
the best of its kind, anyhow, and If you
want to laugh sheer nonsense, Russell's
comedian nothing unsupplied- Peo-
pie lEN fstill, under another name
-tainment of the Sewickley
lay night was one of the
he season. The Amateur
coupled the stage and
=" was the play. 1t was done
week or two ago by the
pany, and also at Morganza,
9, SO that the large audi
which nlled the Valley Clubs
eT in Sewickley had the good fortune
see much more finished and brisk per
yrmance than amateurs are generally COM
PEELED to give The Amateur Dramatic
Club doubtless enjoyed the absence OF such
little incidents as the descent of the ceiling,
which happened in the Masonic Hall in
Allegheny.
The full cast was as follows: Duvid Go-rick
II. Sylvester Scovel; Mr. Ingot ]. Werner
scaffe; Squire ChtUy, Riddle D. Haworth;
Tho11dS Frederick W. Albree; Mr. Jones'
William Metcalf, Jr; Mr. Snsuh, Carroll
Davis; Mr. Bro10n, Oliver P. Seattle,
Jr.; Ada, Miss Lucy Haworth; Ara
7uirtd BrolUn, Miss Eda Young; Mrs
Smith, Miss Florence Mcknight
Mr.. Scovel played the extremely difficult
part assigned to him with considera BILE skill,
and Riddle d. Haworth again showed his ap-
titude for low comedy in the role Of Square
ChtUy. Miss Lucy Haworth was delightfully."-
ndtUe and romantic as ida, and she has now
established herself as a leading favorite
among the amateurs of this county, All the
cast was good, however, so why particular
ize fuTtherf The surprise among the minor
characters was afforded by Miss Eda Young,
who had made herself up with most ridicul-
GUS corEscrew side curls and bewildering
headgear, and acted with such natural and
comic vivacity that everything she did or
said was hailed with laughter. Very few
young women would sacrifice good looks
for art Miss Young did, moreis the
pity. As an amusing two hours entertain
inent David Garrick" was great success
HEPBURN JOHNS.