The Portland daily press., 1875-05-05
Mrs. Dunham,s Operetta

| Last night an audience of over 800 gathered
in the vestry of the Universalist church at Ste
| vens' Plains to witness the first rendition OF
| Mrs. Rufus Dunham's operetta entitled Marea-
ret. The stage at the head of the vestry was
| hidden by green drop curtain, which rolled
| up at quarter after eight o'clock, displaying
seven gentlemen, three of them attired in red
| shooting jackets, who sang hunters chorus.
| Then the curtain fell, but rose Immediately
| upon group of men and maidens in Swiss
| costumes, who sang chorus, followed by a
song from Margaret miss Pierce) to the air of
"Aileen Aroon," in the midst of which Lord
Howard appears and the two sing duet very
pleasantly.
In the second act Lord Howard who has lost
his way, is received into the dwelling of the
good cotter and his wife (Mr. Antonio Dorticos
and Mrs A. A. Stevens), the adopted parents
of Margaret, and in Act 8 Lord Howard bids
farewell to Margaret, who promises, to the air
of the "Prison Song in "Il Trovato-e," to
stick to him, and he in turn VOWS fidelity in the
strain of Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel"
Lord Howard then departs and Lord Stanley
(Mr G. NJ. Stevens) enters in search of his
brother and narrates his errand to the air OF
"a Heart Bowed Down." He Ahears that his
brother is dead, but discovers Margaret to be
his niece and the act closes in embraces.
In the fourth act Margaret bids good bye to
her Swiss friends and departs with her uncle
for England, and in the fifth act she appears in
English furnished apartments, where she in
dulges in monologue which is interrupted by
the Lady Emily MRS. L. W. Shaw, followed
by Lord Stanley. Lord Chelmsford (Mr. Ar
thur Jordan) enters and announces that Lord
Howard is we'll, and the quartette (the matri-
monial finale not having been reached) jubllate
to the tune of "Joy, Joy, Freedom To-day
In act Lady. Emily and Lord Chelmsford
sing finely duet to the measure OF "What are
the Wild Waves Saying" in which she advises
him to stay at home, apd recommends to
him her friend, LAZY Margaret, whom he
does not recognize. Then he sings solo, Mar
garet sings solo, and the operetta winds up
of course with the espousal of Margaret by
Lord Howard, and of Lady Emily by Lord
Chelmsford. Although the latter couple are
not leading characters and only appear near the
close of the operetta, they have the honor OF
furnishing the moral for the argument, which
states that "Lady Emily and Lord Chelmsford,
friends from childhood, dream not that there
exists in their hearts dearer tie than that of
friendship, till, in Switzerland, by an ava
lauche, the Lady narrowly escapes death.
Thus many one goes seeking all through life
for real or fancied bliss, and thinks it far, far
off, With eager step he hurres on, straining
his wearied gaze to catch glimpse OF the
great good in the far distance, when even then
tits close beside him. waiting with patient grace
to be received"
The execution of the parts were creditable
to the singers, who, of course, felt somewhat
embarrassed on their first appearance, and
moreover had hardly any stage accompani-
ments. There were some delays between the
acts, but the audience approaching that this
was their first night, were not inclined to find
fault. Tonight will undoubtedly witness
great improvement in the rendition of the
piece.