The Portland daily press., 1881-12-30
MUSIC AND TIE DRAMA.
MICHAEL srRoaoFF.

Last evening the spectacle of Michael Stro-
golf had its first representation at Portland
Theatre, after long run in Boston.
The play is in prologue, five acts and ten
tableaux. The prologue opens in the palace at
Moscow during fete. There is a threatened
uprising of the Tartars against the Siberian
provinces. Ivan Ogoroff, a degraded Russian
officer, who escaped from prison by the aid OF
gypsey land who has been denounced for his
treachery to Russia by Maria Strogoff, mother
of Michael, and lssouted therefor) is present.
So are correspondents of the New York. Herald
one gO'Brien, and of the Paris Figaro, one
Jolliyet, who are on their way to the scene OF
disturbance. Ogoroff, disguised as gypsey'
comes to get special permit from the govern
or to pass the frontier. The favor is being exc
cuted when an officer announces to the gov
ernor the escape of Ogareff. Pausing, he
writes instructions to the police headquarters
to have the entire police put upon lis track,
and Ogareff waits in dread suspense until his
passport is completed, signed and delivered,
when no time is lost in leaving the palace
Another announces that the wires between
Mini and Irkntsk have been cut by the Tar
tars, and that, Therefore, the Grand DIXIE at
Irkutsk has not been informed of The day when
a relieving army will be before lrkutsk; and
the governor, askingsfor courier to carry the
despatch, is referred to the hero of the, play,
Michael Strogoff, who is described as daring,
loyal. strong and intelligent. He is furnished
with special permit for himself and one, I'M
der the title of Nicholas CorpanoH. He swears
to perform his mission for God, for the Gar,
and his native land
The play proper now commences at q post
house on the Siberian frontier. Nadia, beau
tiful peasant, is about to visit her father, ST.
berian exile and is taken under StrogoH's pro-
lection. They are about to enter vehicle for
their journey, when Ogareff appears and IN
suits Strogoff. The latter owing to his pledge
to the governor, cannot resent the LANGUAGE.
and Ogareff takes the team When Strogon
ascertains who has insulted him he swears re-
venee. While left behind battle RACES at
Kolyvan near by. The correspondents, " brien
and Jollivet try to outwit each other IN send
ing dispatches home, from the little telegraph
Office OF this village. Seon the wires are cut
and the crowd flock into the building. Maria
Strogoff appears and tries to stay the hight OF
her countrymen. Nadia and Michael appear
and Morfa calls upon her son to lead the de-
moralized band. He denies her. She de-
nounces him for a coward. To prove he is not
he hicks IN a loaded, blazing shell and f11ngS IL
from the window, and Maria then declares MIN
the courier of the Gar All leave the pullding
including gypsey spy who has heard 'ne
mothers charge.
In the third act the spy in the camp OF the
Emir, tells Ogareff that StrogoH IS among the
captiyes To find out which is StrogoH his
mother is ordered to be subjected to the knout
Strogoffssprings forward and seizing the wea-
pom fells Ogareff to the ground. The Emir
orders Strogoff to be blinded for the deed,
which is done. In the fourth ACT Strogof,
blind, assisted by his mother and NADIA, con-
tinues on his mission. The Tartar soldiers are
about to kill Maria and Nadia when the cor
RESPONDENTS appear on the scene. and save
their lives. They all escape on raft ana
reach Irkutsk to find it in flames. In the last
act Ogsreff, disguised as Michael, presents 10
the Grand Duke the courier's despatch. he is
praised for his fidelity and is permitted 70
guard the main approach to the city, Whlle
about to carry out his treachery Michael APP
pears. He has been making believe blind, and
when Ogareff rushes on him to kill him. Mich
ael grasps the dagger, aad plunges It IN Ogar-
eff's breast. Irkutsk is saved and Michael re-
warded ).
Such is the story of Michael Strogof and it
will be seen that opportunity is afforded
for the exhibition of a good deal OF dra-
matte power on the part OF the leading charac-
tiers. This opportunity was well improved by
Mr. William Redmund, as Michael, who, pos
sesses a fine figure, good presence, and who
rose to impressiveness in the scenes where he
denied his mother, where he saved her from
the knout, and finally where he wreaked his
revenge on Ogareff. Mrs Barry was as she al
WAYS is, excellent as Maria, Mr. Parks was
sufficiently villainons as Ogareff, Miss Noah
was pleasing, as we'll as pathetic, pleading,
Nadia. Miss Proctor effective as the gypsey spy
Sangarre, and Messrs. Maguinnis as O'Brien,
and Ince as Jollivet, made all the humor there
was possible of the two newspaper correspond
ents, of which, we regret to say, there is very
little. Still the audience thought their say
ings witty and were vastly pleased, which IS
the main thing no doubt.
The piece was very we'll put on the stage.
If any of the audience went to the theatre with
the idea they were about to see the Boston
Theatre rivalled they deserved to get wet
through going and coming. Such an expecta-
ton would be ridiculous. The spectacle pleas
ed the audience present exceedingly, Judging
with the fetes of Moscow, illustrated by the
calcium light; charmed with the brilliant COL
ors. glittering professions. dazzling ballets and
varied costumes of the Emir's camp; pleased
with the illusion of the moving panorama; and
thrilled by the spectacle OF the Battle neid OF
xolyvan, and the burning of 1rkutsk.
There will be great rush for seats tonight,
must not forget the matinee tomorrow. There
was a large audience last night despite the
rain.
The tickets for Patience should be secured at
once.
The Herald says Jay Rial's Uncle Toms is
the very best dramatic version of Mrs. Stoves
great novel, ever presented on the metropoh-
tan stage. The Company is an excellent one,
the scenic effects fine, and the bloodhounds
pursue Eliza with an effect that is thoroughly
dramatic.
A cable dispatch to the attorney OF Richard
Genee, in New York, brings the intelligence
that Genee's new operetta, "Rosna,' wes per
formed at the Carl Theatre, Vienna, on Christ
mas day, with brilliant success.
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