The Portland daily press., 1881-02-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.



1t is wonderful what hold "Uncle Tom Is
Cabin" has on large portion of the commu-
nifty. Whether it is owing to the natural love
of liberty in every American breast and ha-
tired for oppression of any kind. love that
now sympathizes with the Irish in their strug-
gle for release from their old burdens, or from
whatever cause it it certain that the play, poor
as it is, nevertheless has great power of attrac-
ton.
New Portland Theatre was crowded last
night, with every seat taken, and numbers
standing. All the old jokes of Phinehas and
Iopsey seemed to strike the audience as some
thing fresh, and they applauded to the echo,
while the ripples of laughter ran around the
house. The acting was very good, Miss Clark
making an excellent Topsey and little ANY
Slavin bright Eva. The bloodhounds proved
a great sensation and growled and barked as if
they meant to get an encore, and they got it.
The jackass was one of the most prominent ar
lists attached to the show. The Jubilee singers
in the great plantation scene were excellent.
and gave their songs with good effect. The
piece was we'll put on the stage, the scene in
the ice fields and the grand transformation
scene. "The Gates Ajar," being particularly
good. Two more performances will be given
to-day, matinee and evening
HAvERLY's co1oRED MINsTRELs
The New York Times, speaking of Haverly's
Colored Minstrels, who will appear at the thea
tire Monday night says:
The organization comprises 100 performers.
nearly half of whom are women of all shades,
from ebony black to the delica to tint of the oc-
toroon. The entire stage is filled in the first
part, the twenty end men occupying the fore
ground, and the band and the chorus sitting on
platforms rising one above the other and form
ing vast pyramid of human faces. A good
deal of the first part of the programme consists
OF jubilee songs. 'Dese Bones will Rise
Again." by Taylor Green; ooh, Must Co."
by Fred Lyons; "When we Meet in the Sweet
By and By" by Billy Banks; and "Marys
Gone with Coon" by Billy Kersands, were
all greeted with roars of laughter and encored.
Some OF the old jokes familiar to us from in
fancy were sandwiched in between the songs,
but most OF them were new, and all them were
good. The first part ends with musical trav-
esty entitled Recruits for Gilmore which is
very funny, and was heartily appauded. The
second part is the usual olio of minstrel enter
talnments and introduces nearly all the princi-
pal members OF the company in their special
ties. The double sextet clog dance, in which
twelve very good dancers rattle their heels to-
gether to the time of the music, is feature of
the performance, as is also the stump speech of
Judge Crusoe on the progress Of Education
The entertainment is brought to a close by the
Darkies Christmas Jubilee, in which all the
company takes part, introducing genuine
Southern reels, songs, dances and buresque
circus. 1t would be impossible to crowd more
rolilcklng fun into two hours and half than
is provided by Mr.. Haverlys colored mnstrels
NOTES.
Next Monday morning the tickets for Fati-
nitza will be on sale at Stockbridge's. The
opera will be produced in the same superb
style as year ago by the Ideals, and of course
the house will be crowded.
"Where's the Cat' will be produced at Wal
lacks, New York, for the first time tonight
Salvini, John Mccullough, Lawrence Bar
rett, Nine. Janauschek, John Z. Raymond
and Agnes Robertson will take part in the en-
tertainment to be given in Booths Theatre,
New York, Feb. 18th, in aid of the Poe memo
rial fund.
I'll. W. R., in a communication to the Little
ton, N H., Journal, suggests that the different
musical associations In Northern New Hamp-
shire and Vermont, consisting of Littleton, ST.
Johnsbury, Haverhill, Lancaster and North
Conway hold grand musical council in early
summer at the Fabyan House, and his idea is
that the Portland organization join in.