The Portland daily press., 1881-11-22
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
GERsTER.

The GerSt9r concert at Clty Hail laSJ eVeHiHg
was an immense success as far as the pleasure
it gave to the large, brilliant and critical audi
ence was concerned, whatever it may be pecu-
niarily
That Nine. Gerster should arouse her hear
ers to such pitch Of enthusiasm as is rarely
seen in Portland was not unexpected by those
present who had enjoyed the good fortune OF
bearing her superb voice elsewhere. Her first
number on the programme. Bellini's grand
aria, "Ahl non giunge." could not have been
bettered as selection in which to show off to
perfection the beauties of the artists wonder
full voice. And wonderful is the proper name
for it, A high soprano, of exceeding purity,
clear as bell--except once or twice wnere
there was the very faintest intimation OF huski-
ness, as if the rawness of the weather had just
touched it, exceedingly flexible, beautiful IN
its notes. especially the upper ones, such is the
remarkable gift that has been bestowed on
her. The brilliancy of Jforitttre for which the
aria is celebrated, met with such an exponent
in Nine. Gester as has never before been heard
here, and she even added new difficulties to
those set down by the composer. Her rapid
runs trlls staccati and sustained tones were
managed with equal certainty and ease, ana
her voice, bird-like, rippled along touching
with ease f in alt, and closing the aria with
fat in alt. In response to the thunder of ap-
piause which followed she sang, most conquet-
tishly, a beautiful little Hungarian song writ
ten expressly for her. Her Variations on the
Carnival of Venice" and the "Lulaoy from
Guy Mannering, by Mr.. Pease. given as an en-
core, exhibited the complete mastery OF all
styles that mark the accomplished artist. 10
a singer, to listen to this great cantatlce's
methods must prove most valuable lesson.
Mne. Gerster is very fine looking, large IL
figure without being at all too plump, with
very expressive face, dark-set eyes and pleas,
ant mouth Her neck is very large and well
rounded. She was very elegantly costumeo
aud sang with great expression.
The other artists of the company were also,
for the most part, entitled to great praise.
Mime. Urso's playing has been noted for It's
smoothness, delicacy and finish, and last night
she showed degree of strength never before
exhibited here by her. The "Wltches Dance
was given without any flemish or stage TRICK,
and in the most finished style. She gave
Ernst's Transcription from "Lucia" with much
ire, vitality and expression and, for one OF
her encores, Wienia Sski's fanciful 0dlse ca
price with much grace aud refinement.
Mr.. Sweet captured the house. he has a
baritoue of great power which be uses with
much skill and effect In his fore passages ne
was rather vigorous and his voice lacked some,
what in resonance, but he has good method
generally, and is decided addition to the con-
cert stage. For encores he sang Mattei's "Odt
Tu'' aud Pease's Yoho.
Miss Dickerson showed herself the possessor
of rich, and sweet contralto. but sae dld not
seem to understand how to make the most OF
it The tenor, Perugini does not call for spec
ial mention. Mr.. Pease played cdpraccso
brilliante of Mendelssohn and Liszts' 'polonaiss
in E Major" in a manner that showed ne mad
made much improvement OF late, and Mr..
Biumeuberg played violoncello solo, Win
much grace and beauty of style. The concert
closed with a duet from "Don Pasquale' by
Mme Gerster and Mr. Sweet which was one OF
the most delightful numbers on the programme
ROOMS TO RENT.
The Herald says of Spillers "Rooms for
Rent which will be produced at Portland
Theatre Thanksgiving night:-"Roo for
Rent" four act farcical comedy by Messrs
Edward Hoist and Hermann Lee, was pre-
sented for the first time in this city last eve
ming at the Windsor, which was packed with
thoroughly delighted audience. The motive
of the piece, like that of French Flats is to
caricature life in boarding house. The
story of the piece, briefly told, is as follows
Mr.. Cleveland, retired real estate agent,
opens lodging house, and his rooms for rent
are occupied by Mile. Rossvela, concert sing
er and music teacher; Harry Huccleman,
Bohemian and his artist chum, Albert bay
mond; sam Cutter, a detective, and his wife,
who is an enthusiastic artist; Col. Bombast
and his niece Alice; Frederick Dahl, Danish
dancing master, and Burke Whitmore aud his
daughter Helen. Three acts are filled with
the most ludicrous incidents and accidents,
ouarres and reconciliations, predicaments and
iscrapes' into which the dodgers fall by reason
of their dispositions, loves and hates; and to
tell about them all would require more space
than can be spared. In the fourth act all the
tangled threads are straightened and every
body is made happy. The fun grows fast and
furious, and the auditor becomes infected with
its rolicking spirit SO that one does not stop to
seek for the plot but wonders when the hilar-
ity will cease. The cast is admirable aud
every member of the company is well fitted
for his or her part The following will be
the cast:
Harry Hucc' eman, (author, actor peuny-a-lner
and general Bohemian, who plays ian awful
frederick @ i Dahl, q Danish dancing master, who
.'has 10 luck-was born on Fridao. .Eduard dolst
Albert Raymond Gan artist, honest but poor
ehum O mpceemah) man, vas IN tbe war, l. L
sam'l Cutter, "a detective, who has "a good elue)
Mr. Cleveland, (who has "Rooms for R~nt''l
Thos. Chapman
Burke whitmore, with dark purpose .,
John, (handy man around the house)
Mrs Julia Cutter (Who sometimes will Paiiat
Mile Rossvella, operate voealisD
Miss Geneyieve Reynolds
Alice Bombast (the Colonels neice who thinks
she's lust spl.ndid').... Miss Fannie Mcneil
Helen Whitmore Burke Whitmore's daughter)
Miss Mamie Jounson
ROBSON AND CRANE.
There was very ine advance sale OF seats
to the Robson and Crane performance, at Port
lan.. Theatre yesterday morning The play OF
Sharps and Flats will be produced next Mon
day night and there will be a splendid audi
ence present Good seats still remain on sale
NOTES.
Whitmore and Clark's minstrels Nov 2oth
Mile Ferni essayed Margherita in Faust
Saturday night in New York. The Times
says:-"Mlle. Ferni's Margherita, while 1t IS
by no means SO well sustained and satisfactory
a characterization as her Mignon, is neverthe-
less most interesting effort. 1t is marked, as
her Mignon is, byrepose and delicacy. She was
received with many manifestations OF pleasure
last evening, aud she sang and acted with
much earnestness and with excellent effect.
The Cecilia Quartette, assisted by Miss BERTHE
Webb, violinst. and Mr.. Lindall, cornet. Will
give concert in aid of the Y. NJ. G. A. at
City Hall Dec. 1st.
HEIR.
HEIR, the cutler on Exchange street, is
honnd that people shall have no difficulty in