Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-31

GRAND OPERA HOUSE-tlrst nan VI
week Heart of Chicago. u,.,.s
OPERA HOUSE-Thursday w oman
Musical Club Concert. ea.,rdo,.
OPERA HOUSE-Friday anu Sd'u' Jay
Hands Across the Sea.
Patrons of the play have not had an
opportunity TO witness any first class pro-
opportunity TO witness any III surety
first class production during the past
week. The Opera House was dark
during the six days yet not
withstanding this fact. the business al
the Grand was not up TO the standard
Managers may blame the weather for this
but past experience disproves this claim
The real reason lies in the critical taste OF
the theatre-going public. Wheeling peo-
pie will crowd a theatre 10 witness
good play, if they have 10 trudge through
six inches of snow. \ meritorious pro-
duction always draws well and the re-
verse Of this proposition is equally true
and explains the light attendance at the
Grand the first half of the week. Pete
Baker was a footlight favorite WREN ne
starred jointly with Farron, but he must
have lost much of his old-time ability, Tor
both the star and the play Of Chris ana
Lena were disappointing. The Howard
Athenaeum Company did not reach eN-
pectations. The management WIS Kept
busy the first night in making apologies
and explanations for changes in the pro-
gramme. Some of the acts are strictly
first class. but the mixture of good and
bad leaves one unsatisded The Shadow
graphs for example should have no
place upon the programme Of an up-to-date
vaudeville show. They do we'll enough
for a Juvenile entertainment and serve to
please the children. just as Punch and
Judy and marionettes do. but even bad
song and dance would make a good sub
stitute.
THE Heart of Chicago" Lincoln ]. Car
ter's new melodramra. will be produced
for the first time in this city at the Grand
Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb
ruary 1st I'd and Sd 1t is said TO contain
a story of extraordinary power well told
and relieved by many bright moments OF
clever comedy. The interpreting company
includes some very clever people who
ought TO do full justice TO the thrilling
story All the scenes and incidents are
located in the great western metropolis.
and the story runs through the space Of
tlme between the great fire and the
Worlds Fair We are promised an album
dance of handsome scenery. wonderful
mechanical effects and mysterious cleo
trical devices chief among these many
scenic features are the vivid reproduction
of a section of the great fire. and the Won
derful advancing locomotive, which is seen
to approach rapidly from apparently miles
away and brings up at the footlights full
sized and perfect This effect is covered
by twenty-five patents.
Manager Reister has secured for Friday
and Saturday and Saturday matinee. at
the Opera House. the great New England
success. Hands Across the Sea The
story is an absorbing one throughout. and
pictures a plot In which poverty and
wealth. virtue and depravity. artlessness
and scheming villainy are strikingly in
termoven. There is. much clever work
and the scenes in the gambling hotel and
the murder Of Count Paul are eminently
tragic i'm their details. Mr.. Henry Pier
son. as the villain. was so realistic in his
plots that when he appeared before the
curtain the audience complimented him
by some vigorous kissing. which fact
caused the more discriminating TO shout
with laughter. Dudleys escape from
prison. the scene on an Australian steam
er the detection and conviction Of the
villain. and the death of Jean de Lussac
furnished some of the most graphic situa-
lions. The play is well staged. well en-
acted and deserves crowded houses.
Manager Charles Feinler of the Grand
Opera House, who has been dangerously
i'll with grip, is convalescing and will
soon be out.