The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-18
Marie, the Woman of.he People.


The play bills speak truthfully when they
describe, ''The Woman of the People" as an
emotional drama. They might go further and
state that the emotion is of the most sombre
hue. The clouds gather in the first act and
through four succeeding acts the rain pours in
torrents. A brief glimpse of the silver lining
IS permitted in the sixth. The play is long
drawn out scene of agony, intensely painful at
times. Scanty relief is afforded by the sort of
buffoon villainy. SO to speak, Of Remy and the
foreign accent of DR.. Appiani, which at times
deal of merit, the plot is we'll worked out and
the interest is well sustained. We cannot help
thinking however, that little more light and
a little less shade would improve it.
Marie was brought out at the Portland The
alter last evening before an audience that fairly
filled the house. The play was carefully put
upon the boards, and for first-nights perform
ance ran unusually smooth. The company as
whole is much above the average.
Miss Emma Wilmot's personation of the
the heroine of the play "Marie," is on the
whole we'll sustained piece of acting. The
part is one which severely taxes an actress
powers. The passion which it requires is Of
the most intense sort and is not confined to
brief, impulsive outbursts, but is prolonged
frequently through whole act. The actress is
so TO speak, at a climax all the time. The re-
suit is what might be expected-occasional
over acting and tendency to rant. Sometimes
her denuncations are too vixsnish to comport
with the dignity aud strength of her nature,
and the management of her voice is not always
happy. Many of her faults are undoubtedly
faults rather of the play than of her method.
In many of the scenes her acting is exceedingly
powerful and effective.
The feature Of the play is the impersonation
of the Italian adventurer, DR.. Appiani, by MI.
G. A. McManus Mr.. McManus' make up and
manner leave little to be desired. The design
ing villain is portrayed with lfelikeness sell
dom excelled. The scene in the insane asylum
when he questions Marie is an exceedingly eff
fective piece of acting and his impotent rage
when he finds that he has betrayed himself is
closely akin to nature The brogue and foreign
accent are managed with great skill and very
much heighten the effect of his representation.
Remy is a villain of another kind. He sue.
ceeds in dipping Bertrand, not because he is
deep and designing, but because Bertrand ia
weak, and sodden with drink. He is curious
compound, as interpreted by Mr.. Locke, of
buffoonery and wickedness, and one is con-
strained to laugh at the former in spite of the
latter. He furnishes about the only humorous
touches in the play and Mr.. Locke's impersOna-
ton which in itself is neritorious one, is
greatly heightened by contrast with its gloomy
surroundings.
Mr.. Sullivan's Bertrand is lacking in
strength. There are some good touches in it,
but it is not notable impersonation. Mr..
Grifitbs' Henri de Bassieres and Mr.. Callen-
ders ules de Bassieres are fair. Miss Isabel
la E. Freddy makes an acceptable countess.
Miss Berthe Sanger wears the trappings and
the suits of grandmother, but the face is
Enthusiastically far too youthful for that posi-
ton.
'Marie" will be repeated for the last time
and people who enjoy good acting should not
miss the opportunity.