The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
COMIC OPERA.


! The seats for the two performances of comic
| opera, to be given by the Alice Oates company
at the Portland Theatre, Thursday and Friday
were offered for sale st the box office yester-
day and sold rapidly. The Baltimore Gazette
says: "The Oates Comic Opera Company be-
gan an engagement of one week at Ford S
Grand Opera House last night with Lecocq's
tuneful opera the Little Duke The music is
in Lecocq's best vein-light and melodious,
but with strain of sentiment throughout,
which heightens the effect of the more. comic
passages. Some of the concerted pieces are
highly effective as, for instance the quartette
of the Little Dukes attendants in the first act
was admirably rendered, the solo of Montlan-
dry and chorus in the convent scene and the
duets of the Little Duke and Duchess. The
plot, though slight affords abundant opportu-
nifty for drollery of the most irresistible kind,
and in the hands of Mrs Oates and her tai
ented company the Little Duke becomes one
of the most amusing of the operas of their
repertoire. Mrs. Oates, who sang the title role,
was in excellent voice and acted with her usu-
al vim and spirit. She was warmly greeted
by the audience and appeared to decided adj
vantage in the role which she may be said to
have created on this side of the water. Mary
Rostelle made a charming and vivaclous
Duchess. She has an attractive stage pres
ence and pleasing voice and manners. Mr..
Pendy as Frimouse, the Tutor, was
very funny, particularly in the convent
scene in which he was ably seconded by Mr..
Charles Stedman, who made great deal out
of the slender role of the Directress. Mr.. Gus
tavus Hall as Montlandry, The Dukes execu-
tive officer, also scored decided success. The
choruses and concerted pieces were all given
with unusual spirit and precision, while the &C
ton was brisk and animated throughout. The
costumes were bright and picturesque and the
setting of the piece highly effective. The ope-
ra contains a number of taking" airs, and as
given by the Oates Company is decided sue
cess.
PAT ROONEY.
This laugh-provoking variety combination
will appear at Portland Theatre next Saturday
evening The press exchanges speak highly
of this organization.
THE sTRATEGISTs.
Clinton Halls Strategists," who will ap-
pear at Portland Theatre next week, are thus
spoken of by the N. Y. Times:
The entertainment is called 'The Strate-
gsts," and is also called a comedy, descrip-
ton which does not exactly suit it, for it is
rather farcical elaboration Of the same or der
as Hobbies" and that other Pullman palace
car frolic which Haverly's Theatre lately gave
to well-pleased public. 1t is composition of
unmitigated fun, buoyant with action, brim-
ming over with laughter-moving qualities, and
full of the liveliest of impossible situations.
All its strategy turns upon the parts assumed
by Mr.. Clinton Hall himself, who, outside his
proper character, represents two old gentlemen
of most obstinate and irreconcilable antago-
nisms, and who, out of their very antipathies,
evolves the results which he desires amid peals
of appreciative laughter. The company is al
together excellent, and every member of it
contributes in his or her own fashion, to the
success of one of the pleasantest trifes which
have lately been presented in some of the city
theatres.