The Portland daily press., 1880-10-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MY PARTNER.

ME-. Daftiey OaulpoeHS play oil my Paft-
ner'' was produced for the first time in this
city at New Portland Theatre last night. al
though it has been before the country for over
year, and has proved as great a success as the
"Danites." That it met with deserved ap-
probation at the hands of the brilliant and
fashionable audience that completely filled the
theatre was due as much to the actors, if not
more, than to the play itself.
Most of the criticisms of the drama have
been SO fattering that it seems hypercritical to
differ from the able opinions of many theatri-
cal writers in the great cities. We do endorse
the verdict of one able critic who has said that
"the language of the play at times drops into
the commonplace and bathos." We agree,
however, in the opinion that the drama pos
sesses several very strong situations, and is full
of an earnestness that eompels attention. A
play, therefore, which can do this must neces-
sarly be entitled to great praise, and this we
cheerfully accord AS far as the wit and hui
NOR of the piece is concerned they centre in
two persons, and are not Of the very highest
order. But for all that the jokes tell, and the
audience "catch on' to them and are by no
means chary of applause.
1t may be said that in play dealing with
rough pioneer life elegance of diction is not to
be expected, nor should we grumble if the
poetry is a little of the machine order, and
the jokes SAVIOR of the ward-room, but even in
the rudeness OF half civilized existence there
is as much true poetry as in the most enlight-
ened circles, and both Joaquin Miller and
Bret Harte have given us examples of that
fact. With all this however we still admit
that "My Partner engrosses the attention of
the spectator and would hold him even more
closely than it does if some of the scenes were
somewhat curtailed.
Of the acting we have almost nothing but
praise. Mr.. AldEch as Joe Saunders appears
to the best advantage. We have never known
him to do as we'll. He still possesses certain,
mannerisms and extravagances, but they are
toned down to great extent and all his bet
ter qualities are forcibly put forward His
speech to his partner begging forgiveness when
he returns to the cabin and finds, Ned living
dead with his head on the table, at the close Of
the second act, his terrible fear that Mary will
be forced to tell her story of shame to her
father In the third act, and his insistance that
Ned should swear to repair the wrong inflicted
on the girl who had no mother to guide herr
In the first act; in all these he is extremely
powerful and not devoid of tender pathos.
Mr.. Frank Mordaunt's "Major Britt is
remarkable assumption. 1t is as great in its
way as Mr.. Florence's "Bardwell Slote," and
In some respects its superior. Asa character
ization it stands out living portrait. The
little touches, SO artistic. in their way are
wonderfully realistic. The extravaganza gal
lantry, the stump speaking, are inimitable.
Mr.; Parsloes wing Lee" is now historical,
His Chinaman adds no little to relieve the
somber scenes of the play. Miss Goldthwaite
acts with feeling and appreciation, without
over-actmg, and makes Mary that any Joe, or
Ned, might fairly run great lengths to obtain
The other members of the cast are all worthy
OF special mention.
The scenery, a view of Mt. Shasta and the
harbor OF the Golden Gate, are additional tri::
umphs for Mr.. Dave Richards brush, and the
music by Mr. Collins orchestra is particularly
good.
Onr readers should remember that there will
be two performances today, the matinee at 9. 80
and the evening performance, and that they
should by no means fail to witness such ad-
mirable acting.
RAINBOW REvELs.
Next Monday night one of the brightest en-
tertaihments ever put on the boards in Port
land will be given at New Portland Theatre
The Boston journal says:
Last evening the Stewart Com bnation. an
English theatrical organization, made their
first appearance in this city in '.Rainbow
levels" The entertainment is of light and
jolly character, and something in the style of
the performances which made the Vokes so
popular both In this and in their own country
Ihe members OF the company are of one fami-
ly-father, three daughters and two sons. In
the course OF the evening they assume no less
than twenty-four different characters in each
OF which there is an entire change of costume
The first part of the piece is of the specially
order, and introduces selections from popular
operas, together with ballads with guitar and
pianoforte accompaniment, double song and
dance, hornpipe and Irish jig. That this part
OF the entertainment met with the approval of
the audience, the liberal applause and frequent
recalls, furnished sufficient evidence The
second part, which was devoted to burlesoue
OF Cinderella" also abounded in musical
gems, interspersed with terpsichorean efforts
The entertainment is a novel one, is wholly
approval of our theatre-goers. While all the
artists were excellent, the highest praise should
be awarded to Miss Nellie Stewart, bright.
handsome young lady, with considerable versa
tility. Her ballad, 'Maid of Athens re-
ceived well-deserved encore, as did her
Dutch song and dance, and the fsLaughing
Song" The costumes were elegant ana the
orchestral music was decidedly pleasing.
NOTES
Yesterday was the birthday of both Mr..
Aldrich and Parsloe and the "My Partner
company had quite celebration in honor of
the event. Presents were exchanged and
everything was lovely. We are pleased to
meet Mr.. Stinson with this combination.
The Lowell Times says of Miss Nettie Milli-
Ken who lately sang there, 'the selections by
MISS Milllken were particularly we'll received.
Her enunciation is clear and distinct and her
voice gives evidence of careful training