The Portland daily press., 1883-08-29
MUsIC AND DRAMA.

Charlotte Thompson and company appeared
last night for the first time In her new drama
"The Romanoff" at Portland Theatre. Sketchad
in biief the plot is as follows:
The Princess Etelka Zecksta 1.-THE Romanoff)
an Hungarian orphan living in ST. Petersburg
and mixing in the best society, Is engaged to
be married to enc Of the aides de camp of the
Gar, the Count Enzemi Derferndoff who, lead
by his friend Col. Ivan Muscholinski, has
rashly been coquetting with the Nihilists. He
pays visit to the Princess, meeting there an
English nobleman, Lord Tolweather, intro
doced TO the Princess ty a mutual friend, the
Russian minister In England, and with whom
he lad dined the previous evening at the club
Lord Tolweather, something OF fool, Is study
ing politics, interests himself In all social
Questions and especially Nihilism. Tn his
chat with the Princess he has, almost uncon-
sciously aroused her suspicious that her lover
Is running risks by leaning toward the pre-
vailing scourge Of Russia, and, with infinite
delieacy manages TO warn her lover The
Count leaves her with the evident intention
of renouncing Nihilism, bnt Is then and
there apprehsnded by the police, and resisting
is shot. In a dying condition he is Brought
back TO the Princess house. He can only utter
few words, indicating that he has been be.
trayed and claiming revenge. The Princess,
i'll q passion OF grief, vows TO consecrate her
life 10 her dead lover and revenge his betrayal.
In the second act, which occurs at Paris,
friendship for the Princess has sipened to such
an extent she looks upon him as q bIother. are
in eager quest Of the Counts betrayer She
has accidentally met and become STRANGELY
fascinated with General Gopslocoff, Who
turns cut to be tho Colonel Ivan Murcholinski
now living at the French capital in disguise,
referred 10 in the first act. To u strong scene
the Princess drags from Ivan a confession of
HIS guilt, and then, trying TO avergs his
treachery, makes the startling. discovery that
she loves the man OF all men che should most
hate aud despise.
In the last act the Princess, a prey 10 re-
morse of the most violent and terrible nature,
determines TO poison hersalf rather than viva
way to the weak and, IS she deems it, degrad.
ing passion for the ttaitrous Ivan, ana In
spite OF the efforts OF Lord Tolweather, takes
prussia acid and dies in great agony.
Mir. Marshall's play is well constructed bu;
1t needs condension. It has probably received
considerable pruning but 1t will bear mere
The emotional scenes are too long. People do
not like to be kept on the rack shy longer
than is absolutely necessary. The clinaxes
are powerful but is takes too much time to
work them mp. In the second act--the strong
act of the play--the indecsion of Etelka as to
whether she should shoot COL Ivan Muschol-
inski is too protracted, and, but for the fine
acting OF Miss Thompson and Mr.. Lsarock, q
great deal Of the effect OF the scene would be
lost. So in the last act, when the Doctor has
just explained the rapidity of death by prussia
acid and the fearful agonies caused by the
poison, the Princess has time to listen to quite
history Of the Colonel before the pangs Of
dissolution begin. The dialogue In the sterner
scenes is appropriate and, if not great, is
respectable; in the comedy portion of the
drama the humor is generally forced and weak.
Lord Tolweather is one of those impossible
characters, known only to the drama who is a
fool in the beginning but turns ont very
sensible and sterling character before you get
through with him.
The play evidently took with the audience
They liked the Dundrearyisms of Tolweather
the gushing simplicity of Rose Cheri, and the
astute fDesse Of the cid servant Hortense
Cheri, and applauded the actors heartily. Miss
Thompson brought to the character of the
Princess Etelka great intensity of passion,
Joined with much archness and grace. In the
second act she rose to great height where she
showed that her love trIumphed over her
revenge, and in the last act she counterfeited
with painful fidelity the spasms of horrible
death. Mr. Lsa-ock in the dual character Of
the Colonel and the Count Derfendorf gave
quiet, iorcible interpretation that was one of
the best efforts he has ever made in Portland,
while st. Maur's Tolweathcr was in its way
equally good, and noticeable for its ease and
finish. Mr.. Wooderson's Hortense was as
good character bit as his Jacob in "Jano
Eyre" The other parts were all we'll taken,
and the play had been thoroughly rehsarsed
and ran very smoothly. The curtain was
called at the end of both the first and second
acts.
The orchestra under Mr.. Grimmer added no
little to the effectof the drama.
THE BRYANT CONCERT.
1t is pleasant TO see the handsomely pegged
board at stockbridge's. showing the interest
evinced in Miss Bryant's complimentary con-
cert which VIII take placs AT Nigh s.ssa.
church tonight. Thers are still q number Of
good seats left and We would again call atten-
ton to the fact that this will be the last op-
portnnity to hear Mrs Annie Cary Raymond.
The programme, published yesterday, is ex-
ceediasly attractive; one OF the best that has
been presented to concert goers for years. The
residents Of Pine Point, Old Orchard and
Scarbore will be accommodated, after the
concert, by the Boston and Name.
THE PAVILION.
The entertainment given at the Pavilion by
Williams and Sullivan and their excellent
company attracts large audiences. All the
acts are of merit and are worthy OF comparison
with any variety entertainment in the large
cities. Take the Forest City Steanboa. Com
papy's boats.
NOTES.
Golfers Lights o. London" Company at
Portland Theatre next Monday night. Satur-
day the elegant car OF tho company will be
placed on exhibition on Commercial street.
near tbs Maine Central station. The paintings
on the Car are said TO have cost great deal Of
money.
viii Stockbsidge OF Portland has kindly
volunteered 10 give q vocal and instrumental
concert in Fryehurg in aid of the new church
Thursday evening, Sept. 9Th. These who
have attended his concerts there for the two
past years know that rich treat await the
lovers of music.