The Portland daily press., 1875-03-19
sir UUarmaduke.

| There was a large audience at City Hall
last evening on the occasion of the production
of the charming operetta "Sir Marmaduke.
| The general expectation as to the merits OF the
| musical comedy was fully met. and few left the
hall who were unwilling to acknowledge nav
| ing enjoyed delightful evenings entertain
ment.
The operetta is really the old farce of betsy
Baker, with the addition of certain musical
| numbers. The music is light, crisp and Jolly;
and consists of fifteen numbers in solos ana
concerted parts. All the laughable incidents
of the farce are natural, the story being toid
partly in dialogue and partly in song Inc
dialogue is bright and the songs are charm
ing.
The participants acquitted themselves admir-
ably in acting and singing both. Mrs. smith
did not have full scope to display her sweet
and wonderfully strong voice, but made the
most of her opportunity, and in the solo TOO
Attentive by HALF" fairly took her audience
by storm, throwing great spirit into her song
and action. She. also appeared to great advana-
age in the trio 80 Who the Happy Home could
Blight" the best concerted number OF the
work.
Miss earle was very warmly greeted, and re-
sponded by some very meritorious acting ana
singing. The soubrette role of Betsy gave an
opportunity for an arch and sprightly rendl'
ton, which captivated the audience. 1t is but
justice to say that her acting was the best Oh
the evening. Her brilliant and ringing voice
was exactly suited to the character OF the mus
ic, and she was worthy of special commenda-
tion in the couplets 'There's Lot name in any
book as can compare with Marmadook, ana
he solo, ''They tell me am pretty"
Mr.. Winch sustained his part well, and was
even in his acting and excellent in his singing.
1t would be difficult to find better interpreter
of the role as Grumpy. the good-natured. VI
special excellence was the mannor. in which he
gave the couplets, "When there is strife 'twixt
husband and wife," and his part in tie trio.
Mr.. Barnabee was irresistible. AS the tickle
and Jealous Mouser he was quite unsurpassed.
His make up was excellent and his acting no
less So He was very funny in the quarrel and
crying Duets and the laughing quartette, as
we'll as in the aria, "Police police!'
The accompaniment of Mr.. Dow materially
aided the programme.
The operetta was preceded lby short and
pleasing concert, given by the Barnabee Con-
cert Company,-Mrs Smith, Miss earle, and
Messrs. Baruabee and Winch. 1t consisted OF
the quartette "Now the day is breaking" by
Barnby, and 81 love the Springtime," by
Young, Sullivan's "Looking Back" sung with
great feeling by Miss earle (ndeed we had not
given her credit for so much tenderness OF ex-
pression); Longfellow's ''Trust her not" by
Messrs. Winch and Barnabee; "Old Times,
sung by Mrs Smith with her usual grace,
through not quite with her usual sweetness OF
voice, for she was suffering from a cold; the
Carnivale quartette; and little cradle song,
sung tenderly and with care by Miss earle.
The audience were indebted for the concert to
the thoughtfulness of the manager, Mr.. George
A. Jones, who desired to express in some form
his lively appreciation of the favor extended
by Portland audiences to the troupes he has
brought here.