The Portland daily press., 1879-03-20
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
MARY ANDERSON.


The reasons. we ara informed, for the adj
vaGcement Of prices for the Mary Anderson
| performances are these. Miss Anderson de-
mapds and can get 40 per cent. which must
| amount to a certain sum, of the gross receipts
| wherever she plays. If manager A is not
| willing to contract on these terms manager B
| will. This arrangement leaves 60 per
cent. to the manager, or speculator-
whichever you choose to call him-who
engages the star for the season In
large cities there is money enough in the house
to make profit for the Spectator and pay the
| local manager of the theatre In small
cities the most that can be hoped for is to pay
expenses. In a theatre, the size of Portland
Theatre, prices must be put up to get suffi-
cieDt sum to pay the expenses The star is
brought here simply to fill time before playing
in a large city where money can be made. If
the Portland people would build theatre to
accommodate 1900 people, Mr.. Curtis could
bring the great stars here at popular prices
Whatever Miss Andersop's claims may bs as
az actress pure and 81 a.ple, as compared with
the leading lights of the stage, the fact remains
she is the great card, pecnniarily, with mana
gers, and people who have been clamoring
after Mary Anderson the past season must not
omplain if, when Mr., Curtis has the good
luck TO secure her, they have to pay little
more than usual for the privilege. Mr.. Curtis
mskes nothing out Of toe engagement except
his rent.
These reasons are very strong aud doubtless
true. from managerial standpoint, and there
is no doubt if all the eats should not be taken
at the advanced prices the receipts would be
much more than at regular figures But it Ia
equally true that an additional quarter of a
dollar looks very large to a class in this com
munity who, if they cannot have a reserved
seat when they want it won't go at all. (sl-
though managers dispute this latter statement
and especially so when they assert they have
seen greater actresses 10 the same theatre for
less money than is charged 10 see Miss Ander-
son.
The tickets appear to be meeting with a good
sale. Taose who cannot afford to pay 81, can
secure seats in the dress circle for seventy five
cents and many of tbs best seats in the theatre
ara located in the galiery-sthOngh they are
not secured-the price of which is bnt fifty
cents.
APToMMAs.
The celebrated Welsh harpist appeared at
Rossini Hall last evening. There was not a
large audience present, but one that thorough
~ appreciated the performances of this admir-.
able artist. Tie duets for two harps were
omitted, owing to an accident that MIR. Ap
tonmas's instrument bad met tn. The sew
eral selections we're given with all the grace,
skill aud expression winch is a marked feature
OF Aptom mas playing ADD, at the close of the
welsh melodies, 40 encore was lmDerauvely
demanded when the "Sweet Bye and Bye" wa
given. Chopin's Fanerai March was one of
the most ENJOYABLE numbers of the evening.
Miss Dodwell saug beautifully and although
Dersis emily encoted merely bowed her ac-
acknowledgements,
NOTES
d. not forget the seats for the performances
of that comIcal Villier are now raaiy at sock
BRIDGES The children will want to go to the
mat0ee.
Mr.. Hill, who will appear ia the "Serpent's
S'iug," with Mr.. Myers company at Music
| Hall next Monday aud tn, sdav. is said to draw
crowded aud interested audiences