Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05

give us a touch Of his shakesperian quality,
| and the grand scenic production OF Henry
| VIII. promised by Modteska must not pc
forgotten. In 1898 Beerbohm Tree is likely
| to visit this country and show US the HonNei
which English critics have declared to be
the finest seen for 50years. There are several
| smaller fry who are talking about more OF
less maltreating the immortal bard. Ii
would have been pleasant to record the pos
| sibility OF Miss Minnie Seligman's appear
ance as a Shakespearian star, but her new
contract with Manager Sanger would appear
to restrict her to the modern drama, ana It
play called "My Oficial Wife"
The decadence of farce comedy has been
coincident with the rise of the pure farce, Of
which "Jane" is as good type as any we've
seen lately. There will be many more plays
of the Jane" style next season no doubt,
for they pay we'll. 1 notice that Charles
Frohman has commissioned George R. Sims
and his co-author in "The Gray Mare" to
write new character farce like "Jane" for
| Miss tombstone Bennett, VINO made that
domestic heroine so humorous Nat Good
win is going to appear next season In 9
laughable farce OF the same sort called
| "Walker" in which the great English
| comedian Toole has been convulsing Lon
don. Roland Reed writes me that he IL look
| hintcd the other day that charming little
| Jane Stuart, Of the Pitou stock company, 10
soon TO be starred in a role such as the pub
| lie has learned to like her so much in. The
disappearance of freaks from the field of
| larce is good ground for giving thanks
| There were some things in the season just
closed the absence of which next season We
| shall regret. Sara Bernhardt looms up mag
| ntfcent and unsurpassable in certain roles
| and she will not be seen here for many moons,
| if at all again, for Sara says we didn't appre-
| ciate her properly. Over in London notice
| people and the press are railing at her
| meager scenic display and lack OF proper
she began her season there Did her mana
gers have the audacity to try to palm of
upon metropolitan critics those awfully
| riyged rascals with dirty towels about their
necks and dish-covers on their arms as Ro-
| man Loegionaries, wonder? But If Cleo
patra" as Bernhardt presented ii lacked the
| scenery and costumes that alone make 1t
worth seeing, when shall we behold such
superb piece OF acting the death scene in
| ''Camillef" We shall miss Bernhardt.
The Pitou Stock Company is now but
memory, its members scattered, the
proud plans designed for it brought to
naught. No manager is likely to repeat Mr..
Pitou's almost tragic experiment.. The only
consolation is that the performance of such
a company as Pitou's raises the standard OF
popular taste, and compels other managers
to cater to that taste, and there are signs OF
Improvement in the constitution of most
of the travelling companies. Good acting 10
appreciated by thousands now where there
were hundreds decade ago, and good actors
are multiplying, believe, in response to
the demand. The Kendals were another
powerful agent for good during the past
sea son, and it is not welcome news that they
will not come back to these shores for
twelvemonth at least. All theater-goers
have missed that loveable man excellent
actor William Florence, and We shall miss
him more as time goes on and no one arrives
to fill his place. One result of Florences
death is Joseph Jefferson's determination
to revive next season rip Van Wtnkle."
Those who saw Jefferson and Florence in
"The Rivals and 'The Hcir-at-Law" will
be glad that no further attempt is to be
made to secure successor to the dead
comedian.
The outlook for comic opera is brighter
than Tor anything else, that is to say, II an
infinite number of workers and great
variety of performers may be said to prom
Use cheerful results. 1 will not attempt to
mention the comic operas we are likely to
see next season in order OF merit. There
will be Digby Bell in Jupiter" which is now
enjoying a successful run at Palmers
Theater. New York. De Wolf Hopper's new
piece will be produced in August. Its name
there is rumor that little Della Fox is go
ing to desert the big comedian and pose as a
great big star herself The Bostonians, who
have made an immense hit in robin Hood"
hope tc duplicate 1t in a new work by the
sayie authors, namely, De Koven and Smith.
aarie Tempest. the best comic opera artist,
in my ju igment, now upon the American
stage, will also put all her eggs in a basket
woven by De Koven and Smith, and entitled,
"The Fencing Master"
Lillian Russell, alter long rest this sum-
mer, will appear once more in New York in
Cellier & Gilbert's "The Mountebsnks,"
which is said to be almost equal to the work |
which Mr.. Gilbert has turned out in col |
laboration with Sullivan. Another comedian |
is bidding for stellar honors in comic opera,
Thomas 9. seabrooke, who has apparently |
launched a successful opera in "The Isle |
Champagne" which Chicago has been laugh |
ing at for two weeks.
This doesn't complete the number Of new |
comic operas. Last week "The Robber OF |
the Rhine" Maurice Barrymore's long |
talked-of effort, made a fiat failure at the |
beautiful new Fifth Avenue Theater in New |
York. Probably it will be buried there. The |
fate of ano her new work, king Kaliko," to |
be produced in New York in a few days, is |
also uncertain. Francis Wilson has not yet |
season, but he relies upon a new ,
opera to take the place of THE Lion |
Tanner" which he doesn't seem to think |
strong enough to try upon the load, though |
Then there is New York Casino produc- |
tion and at least a dozen lesser affairs more |
or less deserving OF the title comic opera.
Owing to the remarkable success of two or |
three comic operas last season the market |
is being flooded with them. and tine result is |
likely to be just what befel two-thirds of the |
farce comedies that started out last season |
in the hope that the public would accept |
anything that bore slangy name and |
promised variety business, horse play and |
no plot.
Taking it all in ALL in spite of the impe rti-
nent interference of the Presidential cleo
tions the season of 1892 80 ought to be quite
as at1sfactory as that for which the bells
are now tollin e. HEPBURN JOHNS.
Stage whispers.