The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-26
Little IL m,lY

The smallness of the house at Music Hall
last evening is attributable to the storm and
the numerous attractions elsewhere. Under
favorable circumstances such an actor as Mr..
George f. Rowe would fill the hall. Mr..
Rowes wilkins Micawber' was seen here
several years ago and the memory of it has
fingered ever since and longed to be refreshed
The dramatization of David Copperfield
under the title Of "Little Emily" is
quite familiar to Portland theatre-goers. 1t
has certain incompleteness about it that
somewhat mars its interest. Unless one is IA
miar with the story, which happily most peo-
pie are, there are many things in it which ap-
pears obscure, but it presents series of good
situations and some striking pictures when the
scenery and stage effects are adequate to their
representation. 1t introduces us too to several
OF Dickens finest creations, among them that
character which has become the synonym for
shiftlessness and blind trust in something to
turn up, Wilkins Micawber. Probably nine
tenths of the audience at Music Hall last night
went there solely for the purpose of seeing Mr..
Rowe's famous impersonatiop, but even if they
did not they soon found themselves too thor
oughly pervaded with the humor of it to be
deeply affected by the sad fate of Little Emily
or grief of her foster father. 1t is impos-
sible to feel very serious with Mr. Rowe's char
acterzaton fresh ia the recollection. His
Micawber realizes in the flesh the character
which Dickens drew. 1t is conspicuous for its
fine and delicate touches and its genuine hu-
NOR. There is no exaggeration beyond what
the necessities of a stage representation re-
quire, and on the other hand there are no
points that have been overlooked. Mr.. Rowe
has brought to the Interpretation patient study
rendered effective by strong and correct
imagination, and rare powers of execution. The
result is one Of the finest and most lifelike i'm
presentations known to the American stage.
The other characters in the piece were over
Swallowed by Mr.. Rowes impersouation.
Several of them ware very well taken however.
MIR. Thompson's Peggoty realized very faith
fully the bluff. hearty, tender-hearted fisher
man. Mr.. Shsa's Ham sometimes appeared
little too much like an imbscils. His laugh
was certainly suggestive of that species. Miss
STARTS Mrs. Mcawber represented very close
~ Cruikshank's portrait of that devoted mat
ROD, and on the whole ths acting was fair
though at many points it is capable of great
improvement. The Uriah Heep of Mr.. Ara
strong was not stong impersonation. Often
times it seemed like burlesque. That his
humility was counterfeit was altogether too
apparent. Mrs. G. Fl. Thompson made fair
Betsy Trotwood, but did not adeq 1ateIy por-
tray her Impotence and disgust in the presence
of Hsep; neither was Miss Moore the sharp,
bitter, jealous Rosa Dartle that Dicken ms drew
Her bitterness had studied air as if manufac-
tured and not really falt Miss Lizzie Mccall
essayed two characters, those of Little Emily and
Martha and asvery good in both of them,
though perhaps not quite strong enough to por-
tray the despair Of Martha when Peggotty finds
her in the cathedral not again the grief and re-
morse ofLittle Emily when she is reproached by
Rosa Dartle The other characters were fairly
taken, but do not call for special mention. The
play was well put upon thu stage and the
scene was quite effective.
To night M. Rowe appears in "Brass,"
comic drama which giyas him abundant
opportunity for the display of his genius. The
play is finely mounted aud there is chance,
which we understand will be improved, for
elegant dressing on the part of the ladies. 1t
had run of 100 nights at the Park Theatre,
and is undoubtedly play of great merit. 1t
is seldom that SO fac an actor as Mr.. Rowe
visits Portland and this opportunity to see
him in one of his most famous characteriza-
tons should, therefore, not be missed.