The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-29
MOLAsSES.
TBS. value. gals value.
1870. ..... 9, 1904, 1928 $416,S41 2,3I4,97O $685. O
1869. ........2, 44S,011 ia 1888 1,4s8,7ss $685.
miscellaneous Notices.

PORTLAND THEATRE.-There was q large
and appreciative audience at the Theatre last
evening, and we were glad to see that our cti-
zeus were beginning to recognize the merits of
Mr.. Thompson's company. They are noe all
Booths and Landers, Jeffersons and Mary
Gannons, but they are q stock company of
much above the average of those in the habit
of treading the boards of the Portland Thea
tre and are far beyond many that play to me-
trOpolitan audiences. 1t is true that they have
not had an opportunity TO present their sever
al abilities in any of the old comedies, a severe
test for actors but what they have had to do
they have done very fairly.
We understand that Mr.. Murray disclaims
that his personation of Rip Van Wrinkle is a
copy of Jefferson's. He claims that lis con-
and that he never saw Jefferson in the charac-
ter till about week ago. We have no right
to doubt his word. 1t is not unusual for the
sane idea to strike two persons at the same
time. But the fact remains the same that his
delineation of many of the scenes is identical
with that of Jefferson, or so nearly the same
that it would require a very skilful critic to
detect the difference. We noticed one or two
ch ,nges in the tableaux, as for instance at the
close of the second act when Rip is driven
from his home by Gretchen. Jefferson stands
in the door way at the rear centre of the stage
and faces the audience while the lightning
illumines his features and the rain is heard
pouring pitilessly down. Murray stands side
ways to the audience at the side entrance,
turning his back on Gretchen, who stretches
out her hands imploring his return, while no
lightning is seen and no rain heard, only the
rafting of the thunder breaks in upon the
hushed Stiffness of the spectators But these
changes are the exception. For all that, wheth-
er Mr. Murray's personation is original or not,
it IS very careful piece of acting, a very finished
performance, and the company support him
well, particularly Miss Orion as Gretchen, al
though we think she makes the character
rather more of vertigo than the d-amatst in
tended. Tonight Rip will be repeated, and
we are glad to hear the Company will return
to Portland shortly.
Mrs. SCOTT SIDDoNs.-We clip the follow
ing notice of this fascinating actress from one
of the daily papers. We would advise all our
readers who have not already secured their
seats to procure them at Paines at once:
This talented and beautiful lady, whose
readings have acquired for her worldwide
reputation, treated her audience last evening,
winch was comparatively large one, to a rem
dering of the Midsummer Nigh Dream"
Her sinallness OF stature, and general delicacv,
though almost perfect beauty, of form and
race, debar her from appearing to the highest
IN some OF the rougher and brusquer charac-
tiers of Shakespeare. But with al rost ETHEREAL
+ beauty of face and perfect symmetry of figure
and an exquisitely mOdulated voice, and a
thoroughly artistic knowledge of her business,
she is peculiarly adapted to many of the parts
| In the play which she chose for her perform
ance last evening. The play itself is one of
| the most beautiful ever written and though
not specially adapted to the stage is well fitted
| 10 the purposes of public reading, and when it
comes to us interpreted by such thoroughly
cultivated and attractive woman as Mrs. Sid
dons, we feel, as every one present felt last
very high degree. Memberships beautiful
music was well rendered during the intervals
of the reading by Miss Alice Dutton.