Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-06

~GSTF s.SSSf
BIJou THEArER................... Natural Gas
DUoUEsNE Edward S. Willard
ALVIN THEATER. Rhe'
GRAND OPERA HoUsE......................... CLOSED
WILLIAMS ACADEMY .............TheN Night OWL
WORLDS MUsEUM-THEATER R.................k krao
DAVIS MUsECM-THEATER... .Curiositie:
HARRIS THEATER... q stephens
The above are the theatrical attraction.
for this week.
The comic opera stage to-day has lots OF
room for young women OF the Marie Tenn.
pest mold. The vivacity, humor and light
ness OF touch which characterize this young
star, are the essential qualities to bring sue
cess in comic opera. Miss Tempest's voice
is sufficient also for opera comique, and
there is certainly not woman to-day in that
field who can come within hailing distance
of her. Even in such a wretched piece as
THE Tyrolean" Miss Tempest contrives to
shine while with the larger opportunities
afforded her in "Nanon" she is simply de-
licious 1t is easy in writing OF Young young ana n"i
it is my calm and confident belief that If
Miss Tempest gets an opera worthy OF her
abilities, and a manager who will look
eclipse all her rivals in comic opera. The
fact is that statuesque not to say cow-like,
beauty and bearing, cannot much longer ne
the salvation of the comic opera artiste. We
want some brains and some brightness as
well as beauty.
Marie Tempest does not intend to desert
America. Next season she says she will ap-
pear here under brighter auspices, and it is
limited that she has new opera as well as a
new manager in the background. Pittsburg
will welcome her always.
For Sensational realism it is extremely
doubtful if 1.-The Soudan" has ever been
beaten. The scenery, and the handling of it,
were alike magnificent. The play, as a melo-
drama of the regulation Drury Lane pat
tern, hangs together well, and if crammed
with crude impossibilities, possesses a lively
interest. The brutality of the Stony Field
Farm scene, with its physical violence to
little children, is the one serious offense to
good taste and decency in the piece
Natural Gas' is the old flluminant con-
siderably altered and improved which the
Biiou Tneater offers this week. 1t is one Of
the funniest, as it was one of the first, of the
farce comedies. You are fully cognizant
that a farce comedy organization usually
contains but three or four first-class artists,
and that the remainder of the cast consists
of "sticks" and dummies OF various de-
grees of inferiority. The performance, there
fore, depending for its success upon the
efforts of a few clever performers; when the
latter are not on the stage the entertainment
becomes bore and in terest is apathetic un-
til they reappear. The management Of
Natural Gas" has made a radical departure
in this particular by engaging none but
tiers in the play will be interpreted by we'll
known perfdSmers. There are no "fill ups"
in the Natural Gas" cast. Each and every
management is timpelled by no mo-
tive of phlianthrophy in making
the astonishing innovation. They are
sufficiently far.seeing to perceive that
they see it" and will literally patronize
high-class entertainment They look for no
reward except the financial remuneration
OF the box office. The following is the CON-
plete cast of characters: Christopher Bhtr,
Mr.. Henry V. Donnelly; Hhirleni ORoluEe
Mr.. Edward Girard: Nois f. HosoeU, Mr..
Mack; Jobson Doodle, Mr. Wallace w. Black,
SpdrrosU Grass, Mr.. Sagar Midgley; Jimmy
(0ut OF Sight), Mr.. Edwin Lawrence; Daisy,
MISS MISS nay A hoWasoi is SsnpSeg miss AS.y a. har &
Kate B. Allen: Katrina, Miss Fannie Burt;
Jeanaette, Miss Ida Rock; Ndtdlid Miss Clara
st. Maur. Kitty Malone, Miss Annie Mack
Berlein.
Mr.. Willard was here so recently, and in
"The Middleman" in which he will reappear
on Monday night at the Duquesne Theater,
that there is little or nothing to be said of
him which Pittsburgers do not already
know. In Justice to this distinguished actor
/ may repeat what was said in this column
at the close of his first engagement here
namely, that Mr.. Willard is the greatest
actor England has sent to us in decade or
more. He is legitimate actor, and an
artist, about whose precise merits opinions
may differ, to be sure, but of whose ability
and sincerity there can be no question.
Since he appeared here last many cities
have pronounced favorably upon Mr.. Will
lard's work
The plays Mr.. Willard will produce are
''The @iddleman" and 'Judah"-the latter a
novelty. ''The Middleman" will be given on
Monday night and the rest of the week, ex-
cept Thursday, when Judah" play of
English life by Henry Arthur JONES' will be
played. Miss Marie Burroughs, the talented
company that appeared with Mr. Willard on
the last occasion, will be seen in both plays.
Owing to the illness OF Miss Marlowe, and
the sudden canceling of her date here, the
Grand Opera House will be closed this week,
The details of this misfortune to Miss Mar
lowe, Manager Wilt and Pittsburg will be
found in the news columns Of this issue.
During the present week at the Alvin
Theater the distinguished actress and beau
tiful woman, Rhea, will be the reigning star.
During her engagement she will produce
two new plays, new to Pittsburg This is
the first season of her career that she has
given them place in her repertoire The
first play to be presented will be seThe
Czarine, Empress of Russia" translation
from the French OF Eugene Scribe.
"Czarina" will be presented on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday evenings and Saturday
matinee: On Tuesday, Thursday evening
and Wednesday matinee together with Sat
urday night Rhea will be seen in a new
comedy which has proven to be one of her
very recent successes. 1t is an interesting
satire which treats of q woman's garrulous-
ness. 1t had its initial production in Phils-
delphia two weeks ago, and scored hit, as
it affords Rhea abundant opportunities to
invest the character of the Countess with her
own charming personality. Therefore, peo-
pie who prefer Rhea in comedy will have an
opportunity to see her this week. Rhea's
company is good one, and it includes Mr.
William Harris, who will play two splendid
parts. The settings and the costumes will
be original, and the productions in every
way will be accurate as to detail
Machester's might Owls" will be the at
traction at Harry Williams Academy this
week. This attraction has been an annual
and welcome visitor here. It is made doubIy
attractive this season by the acquisition of
the famous beauty, Miss Pauline Markham,
who is employed at a very high salary. The
grand military spectacular first part, en-
titled ''The Blue and the Gray" introduces
many delightful camp songs and military
terpsichorean figures, as well as artistic
groupings and stirring marches. Specialties
of rare merit follow, including Frank Ellis
German dialect comedian; Mackin and
Curdy, character artists; Daily and O'Brien, |
funny fellows; Emma Bell. the beautiful
vocalist, and William j. O'Brien, eccentric |
musical and talking comedian. |