The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-03-12
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
JANE SHORE .


Portland is rarely offered as great dramatic
entertainment as that of last evening given at
Portland Theatre. The leading actors visit us,
as they do all the smaller cities, but they come
alone. A great character is we'll taken, but an
equally important part in tbs play is attempted,
not played, by an Incompetent 1t is this sort
of thing that does SO much to discourage thea
tire goers, in places the size of Portland, and
Injuries the business of the really deserving.
Last night our citizens were favored with a
genuine surprise. They had heard of Gene
We've Ward of course, the American girl who
went to England to obtain the recognition she
failed to obtain at home, and having obtained
IT, returned to New York to read Mandatory in
stead OF condemoatory criticism of her acting
NO doubt. at the beginning, she was crude and
raw. Most young actors of aspiration are. 1t
IS too true that woman must be over thirty to
portray all the the varied emotions of a Jane
Shore. Bat they generally, even at the earlier
age, show signs of their possible future
Mines Levick is one of thos, actors who are
rapidly passing from the stage, an actor of
power, ca rnestness and flush that belongs to
the race of which E. L. Davenport Was mem
Der.
Willis play of Jane Shore, which is differ
erent version in some respects from Rowe's,
opens with the beggars assembled at the palace
to receive the aims besto owed by Mistress
Shore the Kings nurse, and accredited mis-
tress. and the first act ends with the death of
the King and downfall of the favorite The
second, the strongest in the play, presents the
return OF Jane Shore to her husbands roof
!he third her temptation by Gloucester, who,
falling to secure her as mistress, and to en-
ploy her as murderess drives her forth to
death on any who shall give her food or shell
ter. The fourth is the celebrated snow scene
where the haunted woman finally receives aid
at the hands of honest John Griste, the b ,ker
The last act sees the restoration of Jane to her
husband and child and Catesby proclaim
pardon.
Throughout the two hours and half of this
narrowing play, much more emotional in all its
details than "The Stranger" without ray of
humor to tighten its sombreness, the DIVIDED,
brilliant audience hung upon the lips of the
actress. They were absorbed in the acting and
at the fall of the curtain ON the second and
fourth acts reused to the greatest enthusiasm
and recalled Miss Ward and Mr.. Levick sew
eral times. When John Griste in the face of
the bowling mob gave the famishiAg woman
bread and hurled back the ruffians, the action
and manner OF the actor. and the terrible pic
ture presented by the wretchsd Jane Shore, SO
excited the audience that many rose to their
feet and shouted.
Miss Ward is evidently an actress of great
power. Her voice is rich and in her grandest
displays OF scorn and anger never broke into
raet. Her enuncati0n is clear and distinct as
a bell. Her elocution is such as pertains to
mobility of feature is remarkable. Her STAGE
presence is commanding. She portrays with
wonderful skill scorn for honor iDsulted, grief
for rejected affection, anguish for the loss of
ger, thirst and cold. And, as We have said,
Mr.. Levick is fully her equal in the trying
scene of the second act. Tnat scene alone is
worth long journey, in its wonderful truth
and power
Mr.. Craig was an excellent ''John Griste,'
Mr. Carhort an acceptable Gloucester" and
Mr. Little good "Lord Cootes."
At the close of "Jane Shore, Mr.. Lsvick ap-
peared in the cardinal scene from Henry VIII
as Wolsey with fine effect, and we can only
excellent artist
The matinee and tonight's performance will,
no doubt, be crowded.
DAvY CROCKETT.
Frank Mayo, supported by Josephine
Laurens and good stock company, will APP
pear at Portland Theatre Friday night. To
many of our readers Mr.. Mayo's personation
of the backwoods hero is familiar. To those
who have not seen him the Philadelphia Press
says: "In the loyal and manly backwoodsman
Mr.. Mayo has part for which his noble ply
sique adapts him finely. He plays admirably,
never allowing the forcbIe situations to tempt
him to rant The quiet, reserved force and
manly dignity which he displays reconcile the
audience to his marriage with the lady-heroine,
which, were the character less ably acted,
would seem revolving He brings out all the
possibilities of the role, and Davy Crockett in
his hands deserves to rank as one of the lead
ing character parts of the modern stage.
NOTES.
The Woodford's Orchs .ral Society will give
another dramatic and musical entertainment
at Lewis Hall the first weeb in April.
Mrs. O. X. HAYES of this city is to sing in
Cambridge next week, at one of the popular
lectures on music given by Miss Charlotte W.
HAYES of Boston.
1t has been decided to give "My Uncle's
WHIP instead of "a Cup of Tea 10 the enter
taiDment gwen by Charles Thayer's company,
Russell and Curtis at Portland theatre S.tur-
day evening.
Our read srs will not forget the performance
OF the Country Squire" by the D. S. DIS at
G. A, ball ro-oight. Tickets at Dr..
Sylvestet's and G. FL Lamson's
Mr.. Aptommas' m 4tinees in Boston are most
novel and popular Forty composit ons are in.
PRODUCED from which the audience are allowed
to Chico 70 at discretion on slips of paper proy-
ded by the ushers Pains are being taken to
induce this great harpist to make another trip
to Portland before his return to London.
Mary Anderson's dates at Portland Theatre
are Friday aud Saturday, the 2lst and 22d.
Mr. Hickey, her agent, was ia town yesterday.
He informes us Miss Anderson will appear as
Farther Friday night it'll The young western
actor, j. w. Norton as Ingomar. Saturday
evening as EvadDe, and Saturday af aernoon as
j uliet with Mr.. Norton as Romeo.