The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-04-22
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.


THE PROFESSOR.
Mr.. Gillette's Professor with the company
or at least quite portion Of it-from the
New York Madison Square Theatre, drew
crowded house to Portland Theatre last night.
The professor" is play whose genus IL is
hard to determine. 1t cannot be called COM
edy, it is not at all extravaganza, and there
are some touches of what is meant fer emotion
al drama. We think the professor himself
would have some difficulty in CHASING 1t. How
ever "a rose by any other name" and therefore
when we say that the large audience was con-
yulsed for the most of the evening it is un-
necessary to show how, and where, the play is
faulty in construction. 1t is enough to know
that the audience was pleased, that, from the
rising of the curtain and the strains OF
"Upidee," to its final fall with Daisy EMBODIED
in the embrace of her lover and the villain In
the hands of the detective, the house rang
with merriment and plaudits. In fact at the
close OF the third act the audience called MI.
Gillette (the Professor) and Miss Belle jack
son daisy BROWN while they insisted on the
raising of the curtain at the end OF the second
act.
The play like all of its kind is too long.
There is no apparent connection in the scenes.
Some of the dialogue that is allotted to the
professor is funny, a good deal is stale repartee
and more of it is fiat. But for all that it taxes
There are some pretty scenes-the brook scene
is fair-and there is some good singing. Inc
actors make the most of their parts-and that
is very little for them to do-and dress prettlly;
All the characters are deliciously absurd and
do absurd things Miss Jackson is pretty,
modest, simple Daisy, Miss Morant makes
boisterous Estelle, Miss Taylor quiet, lady
like Mrs Elliott, Misses Bailey Melville,
Weaver Ottenque and Moore are all pretty
and gushing Mr.. Butler is q very amusing
Gustavus-his scene with Grace in the woods
being very funny-and the other characters
being sufficiently we'll TAKEN OF course Mr..
Gillette was quiet and natural as the rroIessor'
The music by the orchestra was excellent
The matinee will begin at ESQ to-day.
"'61-'65.'
Another first rate house greeted the Grand
Army boys at City Hall last evening. The
battle and prison scenes and tableaux. were
provocative of immense applause while
Charlie Collins, ably supported by the entire
company, Emade lots Of fun. Remember to-
night the last performance will be gwen.
THE BANKERS DAUGHTER.
Next Monday and Tuesday the Collier
Union Square combinatiol-one OF the COM
panies that possesses the authority te play
pieces which have proved successful on the
boards of the Union Square Theatre, New
York will appear at Portland Theatre In
Towards Bankers Daughter which had
such an immense run in New York, and drew
such brilliant audience in Portland last
season. The play is very strong society
drama of unAagging interest from hrst 10 last,
and is thoroughly clean in language, puslness
and suggestion. 1t is of the emotional class,
we'll lighted with genteel comedy which FOL
lows the serious scenes like sunshine and
breeze together. The parting of the husband
and wife after the duel is a very strong
dramatic situation.
John e. Ince went to see Anna Dickinson
"Hamlet." Somebody asked him how he was
pleased "She's all right" said he. II Ike
her we'll enough; but she's got a bad play. Len
Grover ought to fix it up for her. New YORK
Mirror.
Grover is writing up the "Frozen Deep Tor
Wheelock in first rate shape.
Mr. r. NJ Field, manager OF the Boston
Museum has purchased for his house new.
piece by Sims of London and also some French
comedies.
Patti may accept Mapleson's terms for next
season in America.
Miss dickinson threatens to drop out of
male attire and public notice together. There
seems to have been some kind OF mistake
about her representations. A Phlladelphlan
who told her he had seen her Hamlet was cor
rected. SIT was my Grown of Thorns,' she
said.
Mr. Leslie Gossin, a good and experienced
actor formerly of Portland, has a play which
he is anxious to produce, because he believes
the story is very strong. There is only one diff
ficulty about itr-that while not political IN
tone. it deals with some of the incidents in our
recent war. The last scene or picture is the
entry of the Northern troops into New Orleans
after its capture. This, it is feared will wound
the feelings of the people south of what was
once Mason and Dixon's line. The conclusion
goes South, of making the concluding scene
the entry of the Confederate troops into
Fredericksburg after the defeat of the Yankees
This is, indeed, an admirable idea, and the
play is likely to be well advertised through it.