The Portland daily press., 1880-03-12
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

DnNAlkAN IdOMfSONs
Last evening Denman Thompson appeared
at Portland Theatre in the character of Joshua
Whitcomb, in the play of that name, before
an audience that packed the house to its ut
most capacity
Since he produced the play in Portland in
September 1877, Mr.. Thompson has altered it
slightly but the piece remains substantially
as far as our memory serves-what it was
then. The drama amounts to but little as far
as literary merit is concerned, but, like many
others of its class, it assists in introducing a
character that will never fail to delight New
England audience. The old Swanzea farmer,
Josh Whitcomb, is type of the forid, quick
witted, dry-humored old fellow who did not all
go out with Jackson, and who may still be
found here and there among our rural dee
stricts." He lacks pathos but what he is de-
hclent in in that respect he makes up in quaint
sayings and odd doings. His dance at the
birthday party, his encounter with Tots folks
and many other cases we might cite, are evil
dences of this. The audience were convulse
from the rise to the fall of the curtain and
called him before the scenes at the close of the
second act.
Miss Julia Wilson as Tot, and Mr.. Martin
etti as Roundy with their songs and dances
were great addition to the drama. The other
characters were we'll taken. The following
was the cast
Roundy. boot black .Ignacio Martinetti
John Martin, a lover of horseracing and theatres,
Frederick Dolby, a young Englishman,
Cy. Prime, nigh on to eighty . George A. Bean
Bill johnson, loafer, just as bad as they make
Reuben @hitcomb, joshuas SON. Fred p Peters
Mr. burroughs, model policeman. G. Adams
shsT of the Msoe
Nal ia riu ha1la .o,1,<
' ' w ' ~ Miss VIZ Virginia Bray
Mrs. johnson, Tots mother :. Miss Edna Weeden
Aunt Matilda Joshua's sister. -. Mrs. d. Nourse
Amantha Bartlett, one Of the neighbours gals,
Miss Blanche Vaughan
Aunt Martha ................M Mrs. E. Rogers
TONY PASTOR.
There will be large audience in attendance
at Portland Theatre tonight to see Tony Pas
tors large company of "a performers in $50
West on the Emigrant Train The piece
abounds in comicalities. songs, dances and
other interesting features, and is just the
thing to kill dull care and cause an evening to
pass pleasantly. The company will also ap-
pear at matinee tomorrow, and Saturday
evening.
HAvERLY'S.
Haverlys Minstrels will appear at City Hall
Monday night and the tickets can now be pro-
SS>AS0 gu RpoCApAiuSO D. IL ooculS uuucCoSSdry
for us to elaborate the excellences of this
troupe they have visited Portland so recently
and given so much satisfaction. If anything,
the programme will be more attractive than
before.
THE GALLEY SLAVE.
The following company will appear in the
Galley Slave" at Portland Theatre next
week, which company Mr.. M. W. Hanley is
representing in this city: Misses Marie Pres
colt, Lille Glover, Nellie Barbour, Charlotte
Neville, Nellie Ransome. Mrs. Stoneall.
Messrs j. +. Wheelock, Frank Aiken, j. B,
Booth, Owen Fawcett Fl. B. Duffield, J. V.
Arlingham, j. Viggottie, j. F. Herne.
Ross1NI CONCERT.
The concert which was to have been given
by the Rossini Club at Rossini Hall upon the
occasion of the composers birthday, was post
poned and will take place at the hall Saturday
evening The programme will be carefully
selected and the entertainment literally pat
ronized.
NOTES.
Miss Julie Wilson, as Tot in "Josh Whit
comb, sang last night "Tot's Lullaby" new
piece by Walter Gale, words by Denman
Thompson.
The Gorham Beethoven Society gave con-
cert Wednesday night in Ridlon's Hall. The
exercises consisted of vocal and instrumental
music anu were very successfully rendered.
Miss Annie X. Hill of Portland formerly a
resident OF Gorham, was present and rem
dered some pieces very artistically and was
often encored. The hall was well filed The
proceeds are to assist in defraying the expenses
OF the club.
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, under
the objection of Mr.. Bernhard Lstemann, APP
peared in Boston in programme the princi-
pal feature OF which was Prof. J. X. Paine's
new Spring" symphony in A major. This,
work, the Journal says, is certainly destined
to greatly extend Mr.. Paine's fame as a COM
poser. 1t displays even more mastery quail
ties than his first symphony. While adhering
to the old forms, he exhibits the boldness Of
treatment and richness of orchestral color
characteristic of the modern school. The sew
eral divisions of the symphony are as follows:
Introduction Adagio Sostenuto "a minor),
Allegro ma non troppo "a MAJOR, scherzo-
Allegro ID minor), Adagio un POGO naoco IF
major, Allegro giojoso "a major.) There is
beauty and freshness in every movement sug-
gestive of its subject, but it is always vigorous
and dignifed-never trivial. The Scherzo is
especially beautiful The composition was
finely performed by Mr.. Listemann's orches-
ira, none of the delicate effects with which it
abounds failing to receive the most careful
attention. AT the close of each movement
there was hearty applause, and at the close of
the Symphony there was an ovation to the
composer, who, rising in his seat in the front
balcony, bowed his Acknowledgements.