The Portland daily press., 1868-10-05
Shall we have nm Opera Heu.e.

Shall we have mn Opera Hsuse.
For more than year past spasmodc efforts
have been made, through the columns of our
daily papers, to arouse either one or mapy OF
our citizens to see the necessity of construct
ing building which should answer the / ar
pose of both Theatre and Opera House. Since
the erection of the Falmouth Hotel that neces-
slty has become much greater than before, as
the influx OF summer travel has far exceeded
any former year in the history of the city, and
the completion of the st. Julian will add to the
increased accommodations for strangers. The
season of so then will see eight hotels, and a
large number of boarding houses, open for the
reception of the public. Their physical COM
fort provided for, what is to be done for their
amusement? Must they depend upon the
chance Of some stray concert or theatrical per-
formance to while away an evening in a
strange city, or shall they have comfortable,
well-v ventilated, neatly decorated theatre, with
good stock company, appropriate properties,
and well executed scenery to entertain them?
The majority of the travelling community, it
is well known, are fond of public amusements
and after passing the greater portion of the
summer in the mountains or by the seaside,
whore they are debarred from attending the
opera or theatre, they would, upon reaching
large city like Portland, provided with first
class building and company, seek with renew
| ed zest their accustomed pleasures.
There are but two ways by which the Opera
House can be constructed. First, by private
enterprises, and secondly, by a stock company
The first method is the best, but we fear the
least likely to be employed. A single individ-
ual is rarely to be found, except in some of our
| largest cities, able and willing to devote so
much money to what is always hazardous
| experiment in 50 far as an interest paying in
| vestment is concerned. He is very well aware
| that during eight months of the year the sup
| port OF tho theatre must come from the citizens
| and the question arises with him are there
enough lovers Of the drama in Portland to
| give paying house every week day night in
| those eight months?-an audience that will
pay good salaries to frst-rate actors. scene
| painters, managers, treasurer and employees
| and still leave handsome surplus for his own
| pocket? There is not, probably, any single in
| dividual in this city who is willing to put
| large sum of money into such an enterprise
and look upon it as so much property devoted
to the benefit of Portland and the pleasure of
his fellow citizens and strangers without sx-
| pecting any pecuniary returns for the sacri-
| fee. na'fss r. -aasrsT .4
The second method is by stock company
Are there any number OF men from five to q
hundred, or even more, willing to risk from
ten thousand to five hundred dollars apiece in
this speculation? To look upon the money SO
gwen as irrevocably sunk and prepared to be
irop MA tba
of the year declares dividend in their favor?
Who are willing to give up all right to special
seats because they are stockholders and take
their chances, the same as outsiders, when
they wish to attend a performance? Who
will keep their fingers out of the theatrical
broth and leave the whole matter in the hands
of a competent manager and treasurer in
whom they put implicit confidence? In that
case gentleman work right into the Press Of
flee and have your names with the amount
subscribed for there is not much doubt but the
Theatre will be success. In future paper
we will endeavor to show how the Theatre
should be constructed when and at what cost
it can be. MERcuyIo d.
THEATRE-Bidwell & Locke brought their
theatrical season to a close on SATURDAY. even
ing with benefit to Mr.. Locke A very fine
house greeted the beneficiary who prod uced
for the occasion the French Spy" and "Stage
Struck Yankee"
The managers must have been highly graft
fed with the success of the season, as the aud
fences bave been very large and enthusiastic.
The company has averaged in ability the diff
ferent travelling companies who have from
time to time leased Deerlng Hall, and are
especially to be praised for two things; first, a
proper committal of their parts; and secondly.
for the good order during the performances.
Miss Bidwell we have spoken of before Mr.
Locke makes very good representation of the
conventional stage Yankee character which
is fast disappearing under the advance of civ
ilization and refinement. Mr.. Wilkinson is a
very good low Irish comedian, and the lady
who plays first old woman is also deserving
word of praise. We trust ere long to chronicle
the building of first-class theatre, supplied
with as good stock company as can be found
In any of our large cities. This evening they
open for short season in Gloucester, Mass.