The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-30
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


THE LITE DUKE.
Mrs. Alice Oates is an opera bou6e artist who
has been on the stage at the South and west
for some years, but who has never before last
evening appeared in Portland. Her company
was heralded as an organization OF thirty-iive
artists, a large number of whom failed to visit
this city, presumably on account of mistaken
dread of the Portland climate, or under the
msapprehension that this state was the thea
tire of open war Nevertheless the seventeen
or eighteen people the company mustered
were sufficient to fill the stage and their pref
ty costumes made picturesque appearance in
the tabeaux.
The plot of Lecocqs opera is simple The
Duke OF Parthenay, noble youth OF the time
OF Louis XIV. is married, while still a minor,
but. hardly have the nuptial VOWS been ex-
changed, when the Duke and Drchess are sep
arated. The lady is sent to convent Tor two
wears, and the Duke transferred from the
charge of his tutor, Frimouse, to the colonelcy
of a regiment The Duke with his regiment
storm the convent and after the soldiers have
retired from the school, the Duke, disguised as
country girl, makes an entrance ar d has
brief, but sweet, interview with his young
bride He then goes off to war, and achieves
a great victory with his regiment. The Ouch
ess escapes from the convent and seeks the
Duke in his tent after the battle. Her pres
ence is discovered by the soldiers, by the cilnk-
ing of the glasses, when the Duke and Ouch
ess drink together, and by order of the General
the Dukes sword is demanded, since the order
had previously been issued that no wine
should be partaEen of In consideration, how
ever, of the Dukes valiant services, the Gen
elal forgives him, and he is allowed to return
to his wife.
The opera of the Little DIXIE contains much
music that is bright and sparkling and while,
as comic opera, we DOUBT if the thinness OF
the plot would ever make 1t q great popular
success in its English guise as an opera 6oufe
the manner in which it was presented last
nght-a good deal of laughter was evoked. A
great deal was introduced that had no part IN
the libretto, including several local gags, but
the audience caught the interpretations and
showed their appreciation of them. The
choruses were vigorous and several Of the
solos were fairly given.
Mrs. Oates, the prined donna, has grown
good deal stouter Of late years and her voice
is not quite the organ that it was. Still, with
Miss Rostelle, she sang the duet "True Love"
with considerable expression, and the song
Good bye, Sweetheart introduced in the
camp scene-very prettily. But she put any
amount OF life into the opera and, if it was not
of the most refined kind, it must be remem-
bered that the refinement Of the beginning OF
the eighteenth century was chiefly on the sur
face. She dressed the part elegantly, and, in
| fact, all the costumes were handsome.
Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Steadman made lots OF
| fun as Montlandry and Frimouse. One OF the
| most amusing and best scenes in the opera
was that of the convent. The young ladies
all entered into the spirit of the scene, and
sang their singing lesson. with the solfggio.
very well. Among the pleasing numbers were
| the Pages Song, and the chorus TO the
Camp the refrain being repeated while the
Duke and Duchess sing THE fortune of war;
in the tent. The opera went off quickly and
smoothly and evidently pleased the large au-
dience. Tonight Girohe Girofa will be pre-
Sented.
THE PETERKINs.
An insight into the innocence and simplicity
OF the Peterkins family was granted to an
amused audience that assembled in the vestry
of the New Jerusalem church last evening.
Whilst this family are constantly CO nfronted
| by obstacles that to them appear insur mount
| able, they at all times display a serenity of
| temper and an amiabe surprise when the SIM
| pie cause of all their troubles is pointed out
which might well be initiated in all house
| houlds. The acting was very natural, the diff
| ferent parts we'll taken and the audience evil
| IDENTIFY amused.
ST. PAUE.
MendelssLon's Oratorio OF st. Paul has new
er been produced in this city. Only a few
numbers have been sung in concert here. The
| Haydn Association have consented to give the
oratorio entire for the benefit of the Maine
General Hospital at Union Hall, Thursday
evening February 18th, and the tickets will be
limited to the capacity of the hall. DR.. File
brown has the management of the concert on
behalf of the Board of managers of the hospi-
tai. The Haydns have never sung SO well at
rehearsal as in the rendition of this master
piece of Mendelssohn.
ST. JAMES BAND.
The st. James Band has been rehearsing for
some time past, and will offer to the public a
very interesting concert at Kavanagh Hall
next Monday evening. The band will be
assisted by well known vocal talent.