The Portland daily press., 1880-11-11
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE SORCERER.

on the occasion of the appearance of the Ideal
Opera Company was a foregone conclusion.
That the audience would be well pleased with
matter altogether. AS general thing
the verdict, where the opera had been per-
formed, had been rather unfavorable to this
effort of Gilbert and Sullivan. One critic
went so far as to say the orchestration was
bad, that the work lacked melody, and that it
was impossible for the authors to get cut of a
beaten track. This may have appeared true
to the critic since the company may have
proved unable to cope with the Sorcerer. In
the hands of the Ideals however the opera
proved charming, not a great affair it is GER
tain, but graceful, light, pleasing work,
Astounding in taking airs, delicate satire and
quaint humor. While it at no time excited
the audience to a storm of applause it was
evident that it gave great satisfaction.
The plot OF the opera, If plot it can be
called, has already been given in these columns
Miss Stone, who assumed the character of
Aline, was suffering from severe cold which,
while it affected her lower notes slightly did
not impair the effectiveness of her upper
register perceptibly. Her opening aria ''Oh
happy young heart" was very pleasingly rem
dered and also her share in the duet with
Alexis in the first act Miss Adelaide Phillips
had but small opportunity for the display of
her vocal powers i'll the part of Lady Sanga-
zure, but that little was worthy of her establish
ed repute. Her acting was perfection, and
her singing and dancing Of the minuet with
Sir Marmaduke was one OF the most finished
aud charming performances that has been
seen on the boards in Portland for many
day. This same finish characterized her act
ing in the scene where the villagers all par
took of the philter, and in the last act where
she returns to her only love, Sir Marmaduke
Miss Geraldine Ulmer was welcome addi-
ton to the company She is not only ple city
girl but she possesses well trained pleasing
voice, of good quality and fair compass, and
sings with taste and expression. AS Constance
Miss Ulmer was natural and unaffected, and
our citizens will be glad to see her in Portland
again. Mr.. M. w. Whitney was very happy
as the Vicar, and his numbers were more
pleasing than in Pnafore. His odd solo in the
second act, in which he accompanied himself
on the pipe, and his first air in the opera,
Time was when love and T. was delightful.
Mr.. Fessenden was so unfortunate as to leave
the orchestral parts for his principal solo in
Boston, and consequently the audience was
deprived of what would have constituted
telling feature of the evening. MI. Barnabees
j. w. Wells the head of the firm of sorGerers,
was capital The role was exactly in his vein
and he added immensely to he success of the
performance. His make up was admirable, and
his Introductory air, like the patter song III the
Pirates, was verv funny. Miss Burton and Mr..
Kammerlee were respectively all that could
be desired as Dame Partlett and Counsel, and
Mr.. Mcdonald was good Sir Marmaduke.
Perhaps the most taking number in the opera
was the beautiful quintette, unaccompanied,
in the second act, which was heartily encored.
The choruses were strong and effective, and
the orchestra, twelve pieces, excellent.
UNIvERsALIsT ENTERTAINMENTS.
L i.
entertainments. The Second Unversalist
Society announce three classes of amusements
in one. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
City Hall will be opened for their grand an
nual fair; Tuesday and Wednesday eve nings
Walter Goods opera "Tickelick" will be
given with elaborate appointments, grand
chorus and orchestra; and Thursday evening
their seasonswil close with grand promenade
concert. 1t is to be hoped that the Society
may reap fair reward, for certainly more
attractive list of entertainments has new er
been offered in this city. The sale of seats for
the opera opens at Stockbridge's this morning
at o'clock. Let there be rush.
The Grand Trunk Railroad and Steamers
We made alluson few days since to the
opening of the regular business here for the
winter of the Beaver and Dominion lines of
steamers, and that the steamer Lake Winnie
peg of the Beaver line was expected to sail
from this port on the Goth inst.
We now announce that two steamers of the
Dominion line are to sail from Liverpool for
Portland today, and are expected about the
oath inst, and will Immediately load for Eng
land
We also reserred to the large and increasing
business of the Grand Trunk road. This road
&c odd oIx, a.
freight here. They are. putting up large
new shed 375 by 100 feet on Atlantic wharf,
which will provide sufficient room for the win
ter's business. The Grand Trunk now has
seven large sheds, with berths for seven steam
ers. By the new arrangements the steamers
will enter the western dock and discharge
their cargoes. In the meantime freight will
be coming from the cars into the eastern sheds,
and the steamers as soon as unloaded will be
hauled alongside and loaded. This will pre-
vent any unnecessary accumulation of inward
Or outward bound freight. There will now be
sufficient room so that the freight for Liver
pool can be entirely separated from that for
Glasgow; in fact the freight for those ports
will occupy different sheds. The business for
the coming season is expected to be fully as
large as last winter if not larger, and the ia
cilities have been greatly increased,
1t is hoped that the head stevedores will en-
ploy Portland laborers instead of bringing men
from Canada or the Provinces Some 800 men
will probably be required, and it will give that
class of men here deserved opportunity to
work. Last winter the bringing of laborers
from Canada and the Provinces was regarded
as unjust to this city, and we are glad to learn
that it is the intention of those in authority to
favor Portland this season.