The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-24
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
HAZEL KIRKE.


'HaZel Kirke" is is an old fashioned melo-
drama, formerly known as the "Iron Will"
1t is the story of an aged miller who has a
charming daughter. Said charming daughter
falls in love with noble lord who has been in
iured and nearly drowned on her fathers
premises. The miller, however, has promised
his daughter to neighboring squire who saved
him from ruin, and, discovering that Hazel,
his daughter, avows her love for his lordship,
he drives her out of his house with a curse.
She marries, but her noble mother-in-law per-
suades her she is a victim to mock marriage.
The almost distracted wife leaves her new
home and wanders back to the old saw mill,
where her father, blind from a fever, still
shows his unforgiving nature. In frenzy she
determines to drown herself, but is rescued by
her husband (who is seeking for herr and de-
voted village friend, is brought back to her
fathers house, where her father, having heard
that she is drowning, has gone crazy, but is re-
stored to his senses by song Hazel learned in
her childhood, and her loving embraces. The
comedy part of the drama is sustained by a
cousin of his lordship who falls in love with a
cousin of the miller's daughter.
So much for the story. 1t will be seen it is
dramatic principles and contains nothing OF
novelty. At times it reminds one of the
"Willow Copse." and at others of Dora"
The wit is, for the most part, labored, and the
dialogue stilted and forced. The first act is
flat as dish-water, and the "patter' of Pitta-
Gus Greene, his lordship's cousin, almost I'M
bearable. AS the play proceeds, owing to the
excellent acting of the company, it ''pans OUT
BETTER and the various situations are we'll
worked up.
Mr. Wheattegh's Dunstan Kirke was adj
mirable in its quiet strength. There was
no tearing passion to tatters, but the iron
will of the old miller was realized
fully in his portraiture. At the end of the
third tn act where that will gives way un-
der the impression that his child is drowning
his exhibition of grief was so faithful, so
natural, that he was called before the curtain.
Miss Lillian Spencer was also excellent as
Hazel Kirke. In the scene with Lady Travers
in the second act her stimulation of passion
showed that she possessed the qualities of
which emotional actresses are made and the
suddenness of her revulsion of feeling from
angry passion to the deepest grief was a most
artistic bit of work This scene owing not
only to her excellent acting and that of
Miss DENNIS, but only to the clearness of
enunciation and fine quality of both the ladies'
voices, created furore and the audience
favored both actresses with call. Mr.. Saville
was an amusing and finished Pittacus, Miss
Mills a pretty and natural Dolly Dalton and
the other characters were all well taken.
A beautiful stage picture was presented in
the third act, where Hazel, worn and weary,
heart-siek and almost distracted, gazes through
the open lattice at her aged and blind father,
while the wind bowls and the pttiless rain
beats without.
The music was excellent. The play will be
repeated tonight and should draw as pleased
and as crowded a house as assembled last
evening
JOSHUA wHITCOMB.
Friday and Saturday Mr.. Denman Thomp-
son, supported by his excellent company, will
once more appear in this city in his remarka-
BILE assumption of the old farmer, "Joshua
Whitcomb.' Miss Julia Wilson's ''Tot'' will
be pleasantly remembered by all who have
seen the play. The tickets are selling we'll.