The Portland daily press., 1871-03-04

JOHN E. OwENs.-A very large and yery
| fashionable audience greeted Mr.. Ovens at
Portland Music Hail. or the Portland Con
servatory OF Music as it might properly have
been called, judging by the tropical heat that
prevailed during the first two acts of the prin-
cipa. play-last evening, and such an audi
ence, too, as rarely attends upon dramatic
performance in this city. The leading features
OF the bill for the evening consisted of the So
called American comedy of Self, written by
Mrs. BatemaD, and after witnessing it and list
enlng to its painfully forced wit, observing its
ridiculous situations, and gazing upon the mag
nstcent scenery that was intended to represent
the palatial residences of American aristocra-
GYM short, after witnessing this ludicrous
burlesque of what is called "our best society,"
we do not wonder that it is said that Ga for
tune awaits the man who shall write really
good American play" The writer evidently
knew nothing of the society she intended to
represent, or else she intended to write bur-
lesque, not comedy. There are addle- pated
young men enough in society everywhere,
heaven knows, and extravaganza mothers who
thina of nothing but fashion-and some of them
perhaps would not hesitate to commit crime to
gain their ambitious ends-and there are people
whose position has been gained by money if
not by brains, but they all at least have the de-
cencY to rise when the lady Of the house enters
the room when they are calling upon her, and,
although the conversation may be vapid it is
free from such Dundrearyisms as the authoress
makes Cynosure guilty of, from such gross per-
versions of the English language as she puts
into the mouth OF Mrs. Codlver-who is very
poor imitation of Mrs. Malaprop. Even the
character of John Unit is burlesque for no
matter how coarse and vulgar man may be
by nature, be. at least in society, refrains from
insulting people, whatever his private opinion
OF them may be, or what he may say of them
behind their backs.
The actors made the most of their parts, and
that is but little praise. Tonight we shall
probably have chance of seeing what their
calibre reallyis. Miss Mordaant was very good
as Aunt Chloe, the colored nurse-particull
in the scene with May in the second act after
they have been driven from home-Miss Flood
was quite amusing as Mrs. Codliver, Miss Ma.
hon looked very pretty as Mary Apex, Miss
Cameron did all she could with her part OF
Mrs. Apex, and the gentlemen all they could
with theirs
The makeup of Mr.. Owens recalled forcibly
the old merchant of thirty years ago. The
bright blue dress-coat with brass buttons, and
the nankeen pants have long since disappear
ed, but they recall pleasing recolections of the
old times and the solid names thatrwill live
long after the men have gone who are striving
to accumulate fortunes by lucky stroke. To
our mind the finest piece of acting was the
retrospect of the old man. at the beginning of
the third act, where the unbdden tear will |
start to the eyes as he recalls his age and the
tact that at three score and ten he lives alone
in the world. In fact, we should say that there |
are many little artistic touches throughout the
play that only careful study as we'll as genius
could have delineated, such az have given to
Mr.. Owens his well merited fame In the Live
Indian, Mr.. Owens fairly caused the house to
shake with laughter, and his makeup as Mad |
anne Kreenolne was admirable
Tonight every one must be sure and witness
the Poor Gentleman and Scion Single, the
character of Scion being Mr.. Owens greatest
impersonation. We trust that something will
be done by the management to prevent the an
noyance or the tramping about the galleries
and stamping up the gallery stairs, for the noise
last evening took away greatly from the enjoy |
ment of the performance. The orchestra is
excellent.