The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-16
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA,
BOSTON THEATRE COMPANY.


1t was shame that 30 small an audience
should have assembled to see the Boston Com
papy in the Hunchback at the Portland
Theatre last night, and we can only account for
the Indifference of the public on the theory
that the drama was one that has been acted to
death here by amateurs, as well as profession
ais Those who stayed away, however, missed
very artistic piece of acting in Mrs. Barry's
Julia." In the scene with Master Walter,
after the breaking of her engagement with Sir
Thomas, and in the scene with Sir Thomas
Clifford in the fourth act wounded pride, anger
love apd grief were all excellently portrayed
While neither Me-. Edwards "Master Walter"
nor Mr.. James "Sir Thomas were quite what
we have enjoyed in the past, still they were
very fairly portrayed. There is slight defect
in Mr.. Edwards enunclation that mars his de-
livery at times and a lack of variety in Mr.
James rich deep voice, and both possess Ger
tain mannersms that strike one rather disa-
greeably at first, but which their other
excelences fully atone for. Miss Noah was
bright. sprightly "Helen," and won deserved
Maguuness was good ''Fathom," aud MI.
Chapman a satisfactory "Modus' The play
was well costumed and ran smoothly.
Tonight the company will present s'Cosette"
prepared from Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables''
NY SudTleS IuSO deb.St6u ny dis Ia606r. LII
was produced in Brussels for the first time in
1868, and afterwards prepared for the Porte St.
Martin stage in Paris by Paul Meurice. Mr..
Eugene Tompkins, of the Boston Theatre,
procured translation and it was produced at
that theatre with great success. Cosette con-
sists of series of scenes from the first part of
the romance, and, as in the original, Jean VAL
jean and Fantine share the interest throughout
the piece, which ends with the escape of the
hero aud Cosette from the relentless pursuit of
Javert. A few words suffice to give an idea of
the action. In the prologue Jean is seen driv-
en- from door to door, unable to find food or
shelter; is received into the house of the good
bishop Myriel, whose spoons be steals: is cap
tured while escaping, and forgiven and released
by the noble-hearted ecclesiastic; meets and
robs Little Gervais in the wood; is suddenly
struck with remorse for his evil deeds, and re-
solves to reform. The first act of the play, sup
posed to be eight years later, introduces Fan
tine, who, in her eHdeav0rs to obtain work,
trusts her to the rapaciaus old Mere Thenadier;
shows Jean, who has assumed the name of
Madelaine, as wealthy and prosperous manu-
facturer, and Mayor Of Montreuil, endeavoring
to atone for his past sins by acts of genercs-
ity and benevolence, rescuing Famine from
ignominy and saving his bitterest enemy from
death, but SUSPECTED by Javert. The second
act discovers Jean, tortured by the informa.
ton that an innocent man resembling
him has been arrested and is likely to be sent
to the hulks for life for his (Jean's) crimes,
and. after mental struggle resolving to give
himself up to secure the unfortunate
mans release, and carrying out his noble de-
sign by declaring his identity in open court.
The third act discloses Jeans escape and Fan
tines death in the infirmary, after bequeath-
ing the care of Cosette to her benefactor; and
his meeting with the child in the forest In
the fourth aud last act, Jean buys Cozette from
the Thenaders, and is chased into the cul de
sac, where, surrounded by the police, escape
seems impossible, but is accomplished by the
hero climbing high wall and drawing Cosette
up after him. OF the plot, it will be seen,
"Cosette" possesses but the merest thread; it
Is simply succession of dramatic incidents,
and the whole action rests on the endeavors of
an escaped convict to atone for his misdeeds
and become a respected man. and, after attain.
ing that end, his sublime self-sacrifce in &C.
himself criminal to save fell
low-being from unjust conviction and I'M
merited punishment There is no love story,
90 underplot, no comedy element to break tue
lead level of the play, as it proceeds straight
The conce ntration of action 10 the latter scenes
10 admirable, and the story is told by rapidly
tableaux with commendable direct
oesS and force.
ADELPHIANs,
To the lovers of variety entertainments the
Adelphians offer every inducement in songs,
lances, sports Of the gymnasium, banjo solos,
irish sketches, negro minstrelsy. &c. Those
who witnessed Kennedp's excellent limitations
If oarsmen should gee Frenchy johnson in the
,ame act. One of the features of the antertait,-
nent will be the performance of the Unknown,
l character well known on the streets of Port.
and.