The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-12-15
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
PHOTOS.


There was not a very large, but very mer-
ry audience at New Portland Theatre, last
night, to see Woolfes absurdity of "Photos."
acted by the Harrison company. The plot
II 1t can be called a plot-has been already
given ill these columns. To attempt to criti
else an extravaganza of this sort would be as
absurd as the extravaganza itself. There is
rather too much of this soap bubble, if it is
presented in only two acts, and it could be
condensed into two hours production with
out injury to the piece but great deal of BEN
eft. The variety element predominates all
through, and, If at times, the fun is rather
coarse, there is so much that is bright the
coarseness is more excusable.
Miss Alice Harrison Is bright and animated
sings with taste. and displays good voice des-
pite cold. She takes off Aimee. and Maggie
Mitchell, and gives scene with her brother
that was thrice re-demanded after the first
recall. Louis Harrison is capital character
actor, and astonishes by his eccentric dancing
and poses. Mr.. Graham is very funny, and as
Bernhardt makes up well and sings we'll. His
imitation Of Emmett was very good. Miss DAN
iels plays guitar solo with taste, and displays
good contralto in Genevieve. She received
an encore, and in response sang "Twickenham
Ferry Miss Wood dances we'll, and the other
the best things in the extravaganza is
the scene between Dionysius, Brutus and Livia
at the close of the piece. The play will be re-
peated tonight.
Tonight Handel's "Samson" will be given
by the Haydn Association in fine style at
Union Hall. We understand large party is
coming from Lewiston to attend the oratorio,
and that young gentleman OF this city will
make his debut, in a solo part. on this occa-
sion.
BoCCAcCIo.
The Philadelphia Chronicle-Herald thus
speaks of Boccaccio and the MAIN Opera
troupe who will present this work at New
Portland Theatre Friday and Saturday next;
Last evening, the Arch Street Theatre was
densely packed, and HI. B. Mains Comic OPP
era Co., presented Won Suppe's delightful
work, "Boccaccio." OF this fine opera we
have repeatedly spoken and we can now only
reiterate the praises we have already bestowed
upon it. The music is highly artistic and not
at first readily grasped, while in the wilder
ne IS OF beautiful melodies many superb NUNS
bers pass unnoticed at an initial hearing, but
IT grows upon one, and the more It is heard
the better it is liked. "Boccaccio" was hand
somely set and costumed, and the interpreta-
ton as whole was finished and enjoyable,
there being but little to find fault with. Since
the Mahn company was last seen here several
important changes have been made in its COM
position. The principal new corners are Miss
Francesca Guthrie, Mr.. Harry Allen and Mr..
Ellis Ryse. Miss Guthrie is stranger to our
public, but she Immediately made favorable
impression. She has a clear sweet soprano
voice, which she manages with skill and eff
feet. AS an actress she is rather too demon
stratlve, but that fault practice will overcome.
Her FIametta was, therefore, much better vo-
cally than dramatically, though dramatically
it was far from bad. Mr.. Allen was Pietro'
He has not the voice to adequately render the
music of the role, but his acting was worthy of
commentator. Mr. Allen is well-known
here, having sung with the last Soldene troupe
and with Crossys company at the North
Broad. Mr.. RySe, also, is familiar to our
music lovers, who remember him with the
Hess and Emma Abbot opera companies. He
is fine basso singer and q clever actor, and
made great deal out of the part of Lotterin-
CHI both in a vocal and histironic point of
view. But, of course, the bright, particular
star among Mr.. Mains artists is Miss Jen-
ME Winston, whose Boccaccio is the same
charming rendition as ever Miss Winston
was In good voice and sang with her usual eff
fectiveness, while her acting was marked by
abundant dash and piquancy. Oh the rest of
the cast it is not necessary to speak individu-
ally; suffice it to say that they were fully
equal to all the demands of the roles entrusted
to them. The orchestra did its duty we'll, and
the chorus was fine.
NOTES.
The piano recital bv Professor Saucier, to
have been given at Rossin hall yesterday af-
ternoon, was postponed until next Wednesday
night.
"Sam1 of Posen'' was quite successful in
Boston Monday night, and Mr.. NJ B. Curtis
made very good Impression as the Hebrew
drummer. The Advertiser admits that Mr..
Curtis makes an amusing ''Saml' but con-
siders the interpret alton carcature. The
other Boston papers are quite fattering in