The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-25
MU SIC AND THE DRAMA.
HAZEL KIRKE.

| HAZEL kIRKEs
| Last season the Madison Square Theatre Com
pany presented "Hazel Kirke" otherwise
known as the ''Iron Will" at Portland Thea
tire for the first time, and We then had occca-
! sion to expatiate on the merits and dement's OF
the play 1t is therefore unnecessary, SO re-
| cent was that production, to do more than say,
| that while as drama there is nothing OF nov
| city in it, "Hazel Klrke" seems to appeal to
| the great majority of theatre goers and give
| great satisfaction.
The play has the good fortune to find three
| very strong interpreters in Mr.. Charles Wheat
| leigh as Dunstan Kirke, Mr. Frankau as Pitta-
Gus Green and Mr.. Crompton as Aaron Rodney.
| The ladies, while not as effective as Misses
| Spencer and Mills, who assumed the character
of Hazel, and Dolly button, last March, are
nevertheless very pretty, and evidently
pleased the very large audience. Mr..
Wheatleigh's quiet strength was admirable.
There was no tearing passion to tatters but
the iron will of the old miller was fully real
lied in his portraiture. At the end of the first
act, where he upbraided Lord Travers, and
then cast off his child with curse upon his
lips. the intensity of his passion absorbed the
audience and stirred them to the deepest re-
cesses of their natures. Again, at the end OF
the third act, where his iron will gave way un-
der the impression that his child was drown
ing, he was powerful from the naturalness of
his emotion. Mr.. Crompton's Aaron Rodney
was moulded in the same vein, while Mr..
Frankau's Pittacus was very easy, finished and
amusing.
Miss Cayvan has nice figure, speaking eyes,
mobile features, and pleasant voice. She ap-
peared to good advantage in the scene with
Lady Travers in the second act, which is
her strongest situation. She does not appear
quite as easy on the stage as we should sup
pose from her long acquaintance with the part,
bnt that will possibly come in time The same
criticism applies to Miss Cone, whose archness
in this character seemed rather forced, and her
gestures and movements rather too studied and
yet we have seen Miss Cone in other characters
where she was sufficiently easy. The other
characters were fairly taken.
The music by the orchestra was excellent
and consisted of an overture composed of airs
from Goods opera of Cupid" "Labitzsky's
Amaranthean waltzes, Won Suppe's "Boccac-
cio," and polka with piccolo and cornet solos.
Each of the ladies present last evening re-
ceived as souvenir an album of silhouettes of
the principal scenes in the play, and tonight
an elegant floral programme will De distributed
to each lady attending. By mistake the cast
OF the Ellsler-C ouldock Hazel Kirke Com
pany, was placed in the sovenirs instead of the
cast headed by Miss Cayyan and Mr.. Wheat
leigh. Last night the principal scenes were
enthusiastically applauded.
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
Friday night, Oliver Doud Byron will ap-
pear at Portland Theatre in ACROSS the Conti-
nent." The Charleston Sunday Times says:
"Mr. Oliver Doud Byron and his company
have, during the past three days, held regu-
lar carnival at the Academy of Music. For
real fun and enjoyment it would be difficult to
find better collection than is found in
"Across the Continent The play is brimful
of fun, sparkling and occasionally intensely
pathetic. 1t is handsomely mounted with fine
scenic effects, and, above all, there is not
second-class actor in the company. There is
simply three hours of solid enjoyment in
ACROSS the Continent" and it was according
ly given to crowded houses"
RENTzs MINsTRELs.
Saturday, Nine. Rentz's Ministries, which is
now an excellent minstrel and burlesque COM
pany will appear, for the first time this season
at Portland Theatre. 1t is claimed that the
company will present programme in which
every song, act and sketch will be new, while
the entertainment will close with delightful
burlesque of "Billee Taylor"
NOTES.
"a Messenger from Jarvis's Section" will |
be at Portland Theatre Nov. and s.
A very pleasant entertainment will be given
at Preble Chapel on Thursday afternoon and
evening. The receipts will go in aid of
most worthy charity which everybOdv should