The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-03
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA,
THE GUY'NOR.

The GUY nor, as produced at the Portland
Theatre last evening, by the Boston Museum
Company, not only drew fine audience but
was received with shouts of laughter. Like
several of the plays that have been accepted
! with much favor on account of the drollery of
| many of the scenes, and the wit that studs
the dialogue, "The Guv'nor' is entitled to
praise and serves its purpose of amusing the
] public but it will never live to become STAN
| dard comedy any more than "Pink Dominoes"
or Baby" or any of that ilk. 1t is farce,
almost burlesque, in three acts, and at times,
on account OF its farcial quality, gets a little
tiresome.
The first act takes place in the garden of Mr..
Butterscotch at Fulham. Mr.. BIS son, Fred,
has fallen in love wqh Carrie Macclesfeld, the
daughter ola boat builder, and Kate Butter
scotch, Fred's sister, has fallen in love with
Carries brother and Fred's chum, Theodore.
Tho latter clandestinely meets Kate in the
garden, and prying neighbor informs But
terscotch, Sr.-"The Guv'nor''-of it in such q
way that he thinks it is his young wife who is
flirting with Theodore. To add to the compli-
cations, an overccat belonging to Mr.. Mac
Teddy, Scotchman, is lefl at tho house, by
mistake, and the Guv'nor takes it for Theo-
dore's. Another blunder of the GUY nor is his
mistaking new. groom for an expected
guest. The second act takes place at the boat
yard of old Macclesfeld. Fred goes there to
ask for Carries hand, and her father, who is
very deaf, thinks he is trying to buy a boat.
Finally he gets the right idea of things and
then the Guy'nor arrives, to find his wifes
lover whose address he has obtained, and gets
foul of old Macclesfield, as the man. The
Macclesfelds think the Guvnor has come to
settle about the marriages, and more ridicu-
lous complications ensue. In the third act,
which takes place at Butterscotch's house,
things become even more mixed, but are final
ly Strengthened out by the Guvnors learning
that young, and not old Maccles6eld, is the
man who has been clandestinely visiting his
garden and that his daughter, and not his
wife is, the lady sought. He consents to the
marriage of his children to those of Maccles-
field. The MacToddy comes for his coat and
the play ends.
In the hands of such company as that of
the Museum, of course, not a point is lost
Mr.. Warren's "Butterscotch'' is splendid
characterization of the English shopkeeper,
and Mr.. Barron's Freddy with his British
stammer, is very good presentation of the
good-natured English youth. Wilson's old
"Macclestield," the Putney boat-builder, deaf.
post, is immense. His makeup, that of
the broad-faced, corpulent, rolling old mar
deafness, his funny laugh ansi other peculiar.
ties of those suffering from the infirmity, were
fully appreciated, but, as a'critic has aptly said
he failed to watch the lips of those talking, as
deal, people always do. 1t was exceedingly
laughable, the scene where Macclesfeld talks
of his va chit Carrie, and Freddy of his sweet
heart Carrie. Nolan, Haworth and Burrows
were all respectively good in their parts, and
Mr.. Haworth sang "Annie Laurie" so we'll he
was encored and gave the "Heart Bowed
Down.
Mrs Vincent, as usual, was real kind,
good, loving Mrs. Macclesfeld," May Daven-
port pleasing Carrie - Miss Rose Temple a
vivacons ''Kate, - Miss Shaw very good eau
relia."
AUNT POLLY BAssETT AND YE "sKEwL."
This charming humorous entertainment
which so delighted large audience some time
ago, will again appear for Eye pleasure of ye
towne folke'' at the City Hall, tonight. There
is no doubt but full house will greet
s'ye skewl marm'' and her clever "darter Be-
Indy 1t is one of those entertainments
which delight the old, as well as the young,
giving a beautiful picture of the gay costumes
Of the bellies and beaux of q hundred years
ago, and a consistent representation of the pro-
verbal "Yankee Singin SkewP' of 5ye-gone
days. All who may attend will be sure of an
evening of rare enjoyment and innocent fun.
Reserved seats for sale at Stockbridge's Music
store:
BARNUa'S.
Barnum's circus, the 18th of June.
We accide ntally forgot to mention the con-
cert on Lincoln Park by Collins Band,
1t was delightful affair and drew a great
crowd.
Signora Ristori wishes to play Lady Macbeth
in English with some actor of position, and an
application has been made to Mr.. Irving in her
behalf Ristori is said to have now quite mas
tered tie English language.