The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-08
of distribution of said fund as above set fol
have our cordial concurrence.
A. w. H. CLAPP'
A. X. SHURTLEFF'
Amntenr TheatricaIs.

Several wears ago a number of ladies al
gentlemen of this city associated themselv
together for the purposeo of mutual improv
ment in dramatic reading and elocution, und
the name of the Portland Dramatic Club.
much interest was manifested in this institl
ton, not only by the members but by many
their friends, that it was decided to give $
ries of entertainments for charitable object
These entertainments meeting with so muc
success they were repeated at various time
until In the winter of 1866 hall was lea.
ed on Free street and fitted up as a miniatuT
theatre, with stage, auditorium, scenery an
properties. The great fire swept away tn.
building in it's devastating course and tn
Club has not felt equal to the task of fittin
up another. Since then dramatic reading
at the houses of the members have taken tn
place of dramatic represe ntations in the hall
and during the past winter they have beer
very fully attended,
About three or four weeks ago Miss Peters
decided to bring out the new English Dram.
of "Pauls Return" for the benefit of the Fe
male Orphan Asylum and it is but proper tc
state here that the success of Tuesday evening
is.due to her indefatigable exsrtions, ably as
sisted by Mr.. Frank Chase, against many OBJ
stacle that would have daunted, not on
ly woman, but man of considerable theat-
rical experience. 1t was impossible to pro-
cure Deering Hall and the scenery of the s..
z. Society is not arranged to run in grooves
across the stage, so that when the scene is set
at the beginning of an act it cannot be shifted
without dropping the Gu rtain. Now "Pauls
Return" depends great d cal for its effect
upon elegant scenery, and knowing this fact
tbs remarkable that the play should have
gone off so WELL
As Drama "Pauls Return" is unsatisfac-
tory. The whole weight of the performance
falls upon the shoulders of the three principal
characters Richard Goldsworthy Paul and Bea-
trice. The action and language is of the lach-
rymose and conscience-striken order with
nothing to relieve it bnt the comical arro-
gance of the Family, and the principal parts
are too long in comparison with those of the
aunts and uncles. But we think that few
Amateur companies could have succeeded bet
ter in the representation of the play than the
one last night. Mr.. Emerson as "Paul" and
Mr.. Carter as "Honeydew" withMiss Peters as
Beatrice were particularly good. The unmask-
ing of Brassington alias Honeydew in the
finale by Paul was a touch of nature that
brought an instantaneous round of applause.
Mr.. Neal as Flyntskin dressed and acted the old
humanitarian "whose heart was in his mouth
but his soul in his pocket" to the life, and the
rest of the characters performed their parts
in manner that would have brought no dis
credit on professionals of experience.
We think that not only the Orphan Asylum
who will be benefited pecuniarily by these per-
formanees, but the Dramatic Club owe a great
deal to Miss Peters for showing our citizens
what talent they have among their members,
aud not the least for her own graceful and
spirited representation of Beatrice" in the
first piece, and the piquant, saucy Smart" in
the atter-piece, and trust that ere long not only
she but the other ladies and gentlemen of the
P.D. G. will favor us with more of these charm
ing entertainments.
"Macte virtute /. 4. sic itur ad astro."
MERCTrTTO