The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-04
Music Hall.

Line Stetson combination opened at Music
dali last evening to large and very apprecia-
tive audience. The company is an excellent
one for its line of business, and the Hall since
1t has been reprinted and refurnished and with
its new and good scenery is very pleasant
place of resort for the amusement loving pub
lie. The new exit too, making three in all,
gives an added sense of security to an audience,
and will doubtless lead to an increase of patron
age.
The bill offered proved verylaccep.able to
the spectators. and gives every promise of
drawing big houses through the week. 1t inn
poses no severe tax upon the attention and
calls for no Intellectual effort on the part of the
auditor. i In fact it. is meantsonly to amuse,
and it admirably fulills that purpose. 1t
opens with the comedy "Joshua Whitcombe',
play which has absolutely no liter
airy merit, bu. which affords Mr.. Den.
Thompson an opportunity for a strong,
finished and original Characterization
Iu inferior hands the impersonation of "Joshua
Whitcombe" might be an exceedingly poor
performance. but Mr.. Thompson is man of
talent who can make bricks with mighty little
straw, and he gives portraiture of the good
old Yankee farmer. the lord Of the land, re-
markable for its fidelity to nature and its arts.
tic excellence. 1t is singularly fir ee from car
feature and from all exaggerations or manner
isms, while preserving the due perspective of
the stage. Were Mr.. Thompson as delicious in
the portrayal of pathos as he is of humof he
would rank with Frank. Mayo and Owens, and
would not take an inferior place in that school
of acting which the greatest artist on the
American stage, Mr.. Jefferson has founded.
Unfortunately the last fine touch is wanting,
but Mr.. Thompson has succeeded in giving
Characterization which is remarkable for its
rich humor, and which the American public
only have the opportunity to see exceeded on
those rare occasions when the first of our his
trionic artists appear on the stage.
Mr.. ThompsoR's support was all that the
merits of the play demand. The "Cy Prime
of Mr.. Louis Mestyer, obviously caricature,
was very amusing and an excellent thing in its
line. The little bootblack "Roundy," Was well
done by Mr.. Alfred Klein, and "Tot," char
acter in which sentimentality does duty for SEN
timent, and whose chief business is to pump
tears, received proper Interpretation at the
hands of Miss Julia Wilson. For the rest the
parts "Nellle Primrose" and "Susie Martin,
were fairly eaacted by two handsome women
Misses Lizzie Kelsey and Maud Branscombe.
The second part of the bill was the burlesque
Cinderella dreadful travesty of the beau
tiful old myth, but very good as traversties CO.
1t afforded three pretty women opportunity to
appear in many charming costumes,
and of course geatly pleased the
audience, In the fairy prince Miss Kelsey,
who is sparkling brunette, found it necessary
to make up as blonde, and SO marred much
of the effect which her undisguised beauty
makes. But chance was afforded for Miss Nell
lie Larkelle, bu rlesque actress of more than
common merit, to do some good acting as the
valet. good word too should be said for the
"Baron Balderdash" of Mr.. Louis Mestayu,
and the huge "Clorinda" of Mr.. George For
tesque
The bill, Joshua Whitcombe" and Cinder-
ella will hold the DO ards during the week,
and is certainly des CRYING of liberal patronage
by amusement seeke rs. Mr.. Thompson's char
aeterization is worthy of study by all lovers of
dramatic art