The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-14
Portland Thaa,.e

Ineatfes
MR.. EDIToR:-Allow us to call the attention
OF the pubic to the fact that the Portland
Ineatre closes its present season this week,
ana also TO make few suggestions in regard
to the worthy efforts of Messfs. Bdwel &
Locke to establish desirable place of amuse-
ment among US. Every one needs amusement,
and, therefore, those who cater for the public
in this respect should always endeayor to main
tain a high standard as regard the company.
plays and the general character of the place.
Such has been the aim Of Messrs. b. & L.. but
we regret to learn that their efforts have not
been SO pecuniarly successful as they deserved.
One reason for i'll success is that Deerine Han
is far from being such desirable hall as is
needed In city of this size and pretensions.
Ii Is profitable thing to its owners and the
lessee, and it therefore ought to b thoroughly
remodeled and modernized and thereby made
agreeable. We hope some one will erect a cosy
theatre in central locality, which can be used
for dramatics, concerts and lectures. and SINH
lar affairs. If another one was established
Deering Hall would quickly be made attrac-
tive, without doubt Enough. scolding. and
now to notice of the present Dramatic Com
pany.
During the stay here of Messrs. B. & L. they
have brought out many standard plays, some
OF them such as have drawn crowded houses
night after night in New York and Boston;
but here their laborious efforts to merit public
favor have failed to realize their due The
stars have been good ones, viz, Japanese
troupe, Marietta Ravel, Charles Barron and
Joseph Proctor. During the engagement of
| these artists, the choicest of feats ami PLAYS
were presented. The stock. company equals
any in Boston. excepting perhaps the Museum
which is universally regarded as "the stan
drd, and the support given TO the stars has
been highly rieritoriOas Such actresses and
actors as Dolie Bidwell, George langley,
Mrs. Il. Thompson, Mrs. G. E. Churchill,
U. Il. Bidwell, Geo. f. Locke, r. s. Medium
Charles Wilkinson, c. E. Churchill, j. Conner,
G. Ryder, and others, are talented members of
the profession, and we thirk are tavorits with
our amusement going people, They do well
whatever they undertake, and what more is
needed. For Instance, the past week we have
had tive as fine attractions as one sees for many
a season-Lester Wallack's "Rosedale" and
Fulton and Meade's 'Nobody's Daughter .
dramatized from Miss Brsddons "Diavola.',-
The plays were received in New York and Bos-
ton with great eclGt, and were played week
after week before crowded houses The Rosa
Leigh Of Dollie BidweIl in the former play was
charming effort, and Meldrum's Elliot GRAY
was as easy, lfe-like and effective as possible.
BidWeips DIR. Mathew Leigh was natural and
professionally dignifed being, as all he does,
well done. Churehills Col May and Miss
Langley's Lady Florence were also fine. Mrs.
Thompson's Tabitha Storl was one of the best
pieces of character acting this season.
In Nobody's Daughter, Dollie Bidwell ap-
peared in the three characters Jennie Nilsson,
the ballad singer Of Wrapping, as artless and
winsome as life ITSELF as Lady Eversleigh.
graceful and effective as the representative of
upper tendon. and as Mile Brewer She dis
plays some exceedingly fine acting, at times
elicting rounds of applause. Meldrum in the
two characters of Joyce Harker, the honest
sailor, and Larkspur, detective determined to
ferret out the murderers of his friend, Captain
| Jernam, (Locke) exhibits some of the best DOS
slbiities of his superior talents, and proves
himself to be really superior comedian Miss
George Langley as Lydia Graham, appears to
great advantage. Bidwell as Black Nilsson,
| " iipuibl5 10 bcrTlDiy real ana
powerful. Connor's Sir Oswald Eyersleigh il
one OF his best characters, and he is as natural
as the Zine old English gentleman" himself
C3mrchiHs Victor Darlington is shrewdly and
finely drawn Wilkinson, as Dennis Wyman
the Irish chum of Black Nilsson, takes the
house by storm. Martins Reginald Eversleie h
is good, whose reinstatement into the favor OF
Sir Oswald is aided by Darlington, and who
desires to achieve the downfall of Lady e.
that he may become the inheritor OF Sir Os-
waid's This uncle) property. Mrs. Thompson's
Mother Megg of course is excellent; and the
other members of the company. act their seve-
raj parts acceptably.
We do not wish our Portland friends to say
that's puff and nothing more" but 90 and
see Tor themselves. Portland once supported
regular theatre and ought certainly to do so
now with its double population, metropolitan
tastes and tendencies We are satisfied that
if the, company Of Messrs. b. & l.. could APP
pear in desirable theatre, modern built, well
located, neat, cosy and attractive, they would
| receive crowded houses every nisht--R Really
| the effortS ae4I svove named managers and
company are deserving of the most liberal re
turn, in cash and favor" Let the remaining.
nights Of their stay (this week. be indeed sue
cessfui ones Try and fill Deering Hall with
such rousing houses that the return of this
company to Portland will be assured. As the
case now stands, the managers do not think it
advisable to make a season here again, as their
efforts are not remunerative. Mountebank
shows and clap-trap exhibitions seem to fill
the hall nightly, when they hold forth. Surely,
those managers on whose banner is written
Excelsior" ought to receive from our amuss-
ment going citizens some evidence of endorse
ment and be encouraged to again visit u.s.
"Nobodys Daughter" to be given two or
three nights more, and then comes another
capital drama Pale Janet" which has had a
great run at Barnum's Museum, New York.
500 -4-.ig DRAMA
PoI1cE Enthusiastically night four per-