The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-05
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
LIGHTS o, rnsroN.


The Lights o. London" is a strong melo-
drama. with emotional situations, and an eff
fective plot. Bat, while the acting is quite
good and occasionally full Of dramatic force,
the great success of the play is probably owing
to the remarkable fine scenery and effective
arrangements. Nor are these scenes clap
trappy and gilded representations OF imaginary
fairy realms, but life pictures of English coun-
try scenes and of the metropolis of the world.
We have some of the most finished efforts of
the scene painters brush before us. The beau
tifully designed Armytage Hail. with its clev-
or grouping and arrangement is almost mas
terpiece. The interior of the "Arms is true
reproduction of the old English tavern. The
"Slips" in Regent Park, with the high bridge
and beautiful perspective, with water that al
most flows, with splendid moonlight effects,
and with the skilfully managed leap into the
river and rescue, are wonderfully feeling, and
surprise and delight by their apparent reelity.
But the most tangible scene is London Bor-
ough on Saturday night. The scene itself ex-
cellently managed and OF the most deceptive
realism, is helped by the grouping of the roast
potato vender, the statesmen of sleeps tvotters,
the lively crowd, the gin shop into which one
can look, and the tout ensemble OF a Saturday
.
lower quarters. The Iacting is very good
throughout. 1t may again be repeated that
the whole company rendered their parts
smoothly, and the play went over the board in
excellent shape. M sssjas
1t ia rare that managers so amply fulfill
their promises. But in this case, the acting,
the staging, and the lentire production Of the
play were up to the expectations of the audi
ence. and remarkable, when all the limitations
are considered. Grimmer's orchestra plays
AZ and atxn AL. ~ A1
their entertainment. Everybody should 60
to Portland at least one night this week.
Last night the curtain was raised three
times on the scene where Harold Armytage
foils the police in Jarvis lodgings. We can
not refrain from mentioning how we'll Mrs.
Van Doren takes her part as Mrs. Jarvis, or
the strong acting of Mr.. Mitchell as Seth
Preene in the scene with his daughter, or the
remarkable performance of Tim, waif, by
little Gilroy, among such an excellent cast.
THE PAVILION.
The Forest City Amusement Company
should be prond of their success notwithstand-
ing the cold weather The Pavilion is quite
comfortable and the audience large. The
operas are not only we'll sung and acted but
they are very handsomely costumed. The
boats Of the company leave Custom House
wharf, and the price Of admission to the Pa
vilion, and sail, is very small.
NOl6Ss
The announcement is made that Mr. Mar
shall Mallory, one of the proprietors, accom-
panied by Mr.. Daniel Frohman, the manager
of the Madison Square Theatre, in New York,
will be in Boston during the present week for
the purpose OF definitely selecting site on
which to erect counterpart of the celebrated
New York house.
Miss Clara Morris has received offers from
numerous managers for next season, but has
finally decided to go on an extended starring
tour under the management of Mr.. Frank l..
Goodwin, playing in the principal cities of
the States. She has signed contract with
Mr.. Goodwin, who will at once set TO work to
engage q company to support her.
Warranted" the new farcical comedy BY
the author of "The Guv'nor was read TO the
Boston Museum company on Thursday last.
Its production will Immediately follow "Im-
pulse" Mr.. Fields holds entire control of
Warranted" for the United States and Cana
da, and applications for rights" are already
pouring in.
OF Henry Irving Mr. Booth says: "He has
strong instinct for the picturesque. and it
shows itself in all he does, but he is thorough
artist, and his eafnestness, his scholarly
taste, his intellectually, are as plainly seen
in his acting as his sense Of thepicturesque is
shown in his stage settings. He is an actor of
good-natured ability and much polish; his
mannerisms are marked, and at first distract
your attention, particularly in the peculiarities
OF voice, but one soon becomes accustomed to
them and forgets them In the enjoyment of his
admirable acting. He is at his best, it is said,
in such plays as Louis XII TIE Bells The
Courier of Lyons and Charles L. in which
his aptitude for the expression of the weird or
the picturesque are particularly noticeable. He
" certainly great artist, and,t although bis
following is SO numerous and devoted that al
most anything BE might choose to do would be
rapturously applauded, he well deserves the
good opinion of the English people, and bis
present position as the foremost actor of his
country"