The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-22
Mary Stuart.

Miss Miles was greeted by very large house,
as she deserved to be, at her benefit last even
ing The play selected was "Mary Stuart" or
"Marie Stuart as managers, for reasons best
known themselves, choose to style it. The IT,
tle-role was of course taken by the beneficiary.
Her characterization of the hapless Scottish
Queen was, speaking with all due moderation,
a noble and well-sustained effort She dressed
the part admirably, and in face and presence
furnished a not UNIV orthy picture of that
charming woman who turned the heads of all
the men who knew her except the stern Scotch
Lords of the congregation and the surly and
faithful English bulldogs who kept watch
about the throne of Elizabeth. In her first act
there was perhaps too much evident assump-
ton of the queenly dignity. In the royal lady,
born in the purple, one expects to see the sense
Of high position manifested easily and natural
ly as though its possessor never entertained
for moment the thought that it could be over
looked or disputed No great show of outward
authority is required The queenly nature
shows in every word and gesture and without
effort Barring this ,Slittle exception could be
taken to the representation of royal Stuart in
thu first act In the third act and thence on
ward Miss Miles, as is her won't worked up to
the climax artistically, and wrought the audi
ence, at first somewhat irresponsible, up to the
point of intense interest and appreciation. In
the undeniable force of her acting her man.
nerisms were forgotten, and the spirit VIII ich
she threw into her rendition, provoked the
warmest demonstrations of approval. The
battle-royal of the Queens in the prison-room
at Fortheringay where the Stuart, at first
bringing her proud spirit down to asking Glenn
ency of her naughty rival and jailor, is at last
reused by cruel taunts to that grand outburss of
wounded dignity and outraged womanhood.
was given with wonderful vividness. AS
whole the impersonation calls for warm and
hearty praise. Faults of elocution in the rem
dering of the lines can be easily overlooked IN
the indisputable force of the Characterization
Even the pettishness in the first act was not
foreign to the nature OF Mary Stuart.
And here is an opportunity to say
that the remarkable merit of Miss Miles's act
ing brings blemishes into greater prominence
than they assume in actors of less power. Her
ability calls out the compliment Of criticism,
Actors who never reach above mediocrity only
call forth extended comment when they act I'M
usually bad. But in actors of decided merit
we expect much, and visit with criticism all
lapses from the high standard we know they
are capable of maintaining.
The "Queen Elizabeth of Miss Waldron
was at first a disappointment, but it ste IDLY
improved during the progress of the play. In
the secoad act she had more the appearance of
an ordinary gentlewoman than of the imper-
ious daughter of Henry VIII, and her charac-
terization lacked color. But in the third act,
where she confronts Mary, she rose to the
height of the situation, and gave a striking
picture Of the naughty and jealous Tudor
Queen. The support calls for little mention
except in the case of Mr.. Arnold's Leicester
and Mr.. Timers ''Talbot," both of which were
finely done. The play will be repeated this
evening only, and will be followed by that IA
vorite farce "The Toodes."