The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
CHARLOTTE THOMPSON.


Tonight Miss Charlotte Thompson will ap-
pear at Portland Theatre as Jane Eyre in q
dramatizAtion of Charlotte Bronte's novel.
Last season Miss Thompson gave one of the
most finished and powerful representations of
the character possible and for that reason we
wish our theatre going public not to fail to see
her assumption of the title-roe tonight Miss
Thompson's support Is we'll spoken of by our
exchanges.
W. H SHERWOOD.
Mr.. W. 81. Sherwood made his debut as
pianist at Rossini Hall last Saturday evening
to an audience entirely incommensurate to his
merits. Mr.. Sherwood proved himself one of
the most brilliant pianists Portland has ever
listened to. We claim to be musical city.
We have several musical clubs that pride them
selves on their musical taste and culture. We
have large number of teachers of the piano
in proportion TO our population, and a cores
pondingly large number of pupils. To listen
to such an interpreter of the leading composers
is one of the most valuable lessons teacher or
pupil could receive. To pay the cost of such
lesson is worth a little economizing 10 some
thing else and we regret that there were not
more who took this view Of the recital 1t can
not be urged that few knew Mr.. Sherwood's
real merits for the PRESS had been harpipg on
tRem for almost week previous.
While Mr.. Sherwood is not Rubinstein or
Won Buow he is, as We have already stated, a
man OF artistic judgment, possessing fire and
enthusiasm, n admirable Technique, and re-
markable memory. He not only renders
fo1taSSa1ao passages with great power, but his
themes are always beautifully shaded, and in
piano passages he exhibits great delicacy of
Interpretation. His rendering of Beethoven's
great Eb concerto was grand; his playing of
Handeps Fire Fugue" something long to lie
remembered, while the Chopin selections we're
beautifully executed and full of poetic SENSIBLE
ity. 1t was pleasure to watch his hands in
"7occata," and the Liszt arrangement of the
Faust waltz; to see the rare beauty of his
touch, the intelligence and clearness of his con-
ception. While, IS has been said, he lacks
somewhat in magnetism, he possesses suf.
hciency OF other qualifications to stamp him
great layer.
Mrs. E. Humphreys Allen furnished the
vocal portion of the entertainment. She has q
good soprano voice, We should say almost
nsezz0-soprano. and she sung the prayer from
Der FreiSckutz very well. Her enunciation Is
bad and she has way of taxing breath that is
rather unpleasant in small hall. We have
not for come time past had any Boston vG-
callsts brought to Portland any better, if as
good, than those we could have provided here
MISS HAwEs's CONCERT.
Quite number Of tickets are already taken
for the lecture at Rossini Hall, Thursday even
ing next, by Miss Charlotte Halves. The Bos.
ton Advertiser of May LIST says, Tier dialect is
good, her facial expression fine, and her voice
melody. 1t is delight simply to listen to her,"
Mrs. Fannie Halves will sing "Dove Sono" by
Mozart, "Slumber Song" by MohriDg, "Sa-
vourneen Deelish" and venetian Gondola
Song" by Sugelli.
NOTES.
The last performances of "Whims" and
civil War" were given at Music Hall and
Portland Theatre respectively Saturday night.
The former company opens at the Howard
Ather Rum. RusLnn. tonight