The Portland daily press., 1883-05-05
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


a general thing, MAXI the rest of the dya.
mats persona, only feeders" Sam1 OF
Posen, however, possesses more melo-dramat.
ic features than the majority of its class, and
gives more opportunities to the minor person.
ages in the play, 80 that, while il offers moth.
ing novel in its situations, it makes better
frame for the central character. 1t contains
many bright sayings, in the drummer's YER
nacular, and not few amusing malapropisms.
and, II its situations are not new yet-as in the
hnale OF the third act which eliminates in the
death OF Celeste-the characters themselves,
BY the excellence of their acting, lift them ont
OF the rnt of antiquity and really invest them
with new charm. The Glded Age is full of
absurdities, and Baron Rudolph is equally ri
dieulous, but Raymond has given the Col. Sell
lers OF the one a national reputation, and
knight has placed one scene in the latter ON a
par with Jetferson's Grip" So Mr. Curtis
has made, in Samuel Plastriok, the jew ped
dIer, pronounced hit, and raised the char
acter to much greater prominence than ono
would think possible. One reason for this is
that almost all jew characters known to the
stage villify the race. In Sam'l of Posen wa
nave the lively wide-awake, busting drum
mer whose natural touches ara, at times, al
most startling. He is full of fun and good
nature, honest and manly, possesses smany pc.
cullar eeeentricities OF pronunciation, dress aud
manner, and these, Mr.. Curtis, who Is a
young, Intelligent, aud clever actor with a
good sense of humor, has caught on To-
IN such way that he not only delights the
great Hebrew populations in the large centres
out even Ia small cities, where the peculiar.
tues OF the jew are almost unknown, he
brings down the house.
The plot has already been given in
these columns. To recall it in brief Samuel
Plastrick of Posen is pedder Of niek-nacks
and III Mr.. Winslow's iswelry store attempts
to sell his wares. Here he finds Rebeoca Drew
fus, an old friend, One of the shop-sirls, Ce-
leste, plots with her lover, Br0nson-Mr. Wins
lows nephew-to ruin another nephew, fast
young man named Jack Cheyiot in order that
Bronson may marry Miss Winsow On this
plotting is strung the subsequent situations of
the play, aud in the end, Bronson after killing
Celeste (who has attacked him because be de-
nounced her as thief is arrested for his
crimes. Saml gets into business for himself
and Jack marries the girl of his heart
From his first appearance last evening with
his great case OF goods Of all descriptions his
comlcal expression, contagious laugh, and edd,
but perfectly correct costume, Mr.. Curtis was
ea rapport with his audience and he never lost
MS hold throughout the piece. He had against
him a box OF stage, wi ere a great deal of
the voice is lost behind the scenes, footlights
naring in the faces of his audience, and an at
mosphere that was something fearful and yet
ne made every point, and received an enthus-
lastle cal at the close or the second act and
another, with Mrs. Curtis, AZ the end Of the
third
Miss Albina de Mer-Mrs. Curtis-was a
very good representative of the Jealous cruel
Celeste. She acted with force, and if she was
not quietly intense, she was vigorously intense
10 ~. =
changing the diamonds, and in that where she
Is slain by Bronson abandoned herself with all
her soul 10 the character she was persouatiDg
MT. Eytlnge was as he always u.s. a capital old
man and fitted the part of the old jeweller exs
cellently. The role of the swell was wei
taken, and also the small part of the s'erushed
tragedian," the latter played by Mr.. Strath-
more. The piece was as well staged IS it could
Oe,and the audience was evidently we'll pleased
with the evenings entertainment. The music
oy Chambers orchestra was excellent, and the
Artilery, IN full uniform, under whose aus
piees the play was produced, usaered tue house
very acceptahly. Mr.. Edward G. SWEET, a
Portland Boy, the manager, has the thanks OF
the spectators for a new sensation. The play
viii be repeated tonight and viii bear seeing
several times.
ONLY A FARMER's DAUGHTER.
Whatever attractions were offered elsewhere
in the dramatic line last evening in our city,
the small audience who witnessed the presen-
tation of Elliott Barnes fine American play of
"Only Farmers Daughter at Portland
Theatre was especially favored among amuse-
ment seekers. The company is really an ex-
eellent one, and they and the play deserve
good house. The piece affords frequent op-
portunity for effective acting, the plot turning
on the ever-moying theme of cherished do
nestle affection, the complications which arse
In the progress OF the play touching nearly
every chord of human sympathy.
Miss Billings is strong as the traditional ad-
ventures Harold Lsnnox, the recrsant hus
band, and Justine, the exemplifcation Of con
jugal fidelity, we're characters well sustained
by Mr.. Frederick Maun, and Miss Emma
Frank. while T. D. Frawley, as Sammy
Green. raw country lad, proved a great fav-
orlte. VI course little Eta Gilroy. child ac-
tress, captiyated all. Her rendition was fine
throughout, and most effective in the second act
when confronting the base adventures. and in
the third act when, with the uuerring dis
elimination of childhood's innocence, she for
saKes the false husbank and father aud ceaves
10 the Wronged buE true-hearted wife and
mother. The other parts were well taken. At
the second performance this evening Of this
merltorious play there should be q large at
tendance
TIE LYcEUM.
This afternoon and evening afford the last
opportunities to see Ella MaFtyne, the Bartlett
Sisters and Walter Bray, all Of whom are great
fayorities at the Lyceum.
NOTES
Miss BERTHE Webb, the violinist, OF this city.
will play at a concert 10 Bridgton on the
evening OF Decoration Day.
Oa Friday, May 18th, Mr.. and Mrs. Chan
irau Will play London Assurance" at Port
land Theatre; Saturday aft9rroon, Isabel
Vane," new version OF "East Lynne" will
be presented, and Saturday evening, Exit, the
Arkansas Traveller"
Sarah BeTnhardt has been getting her life
insured in favor of her son Maurice. The
managers Of the insurance company, the Era
says, having heardEso much OF the fragile con-
dition OF the actress, insisted upon having the
separate opinion of as many as five medical
men. Each gave in his conviction that Nine.
Bernhard vas in the enjoyment OF perfect
health, and possessed remarkable physical
strength. From an examination made after
the great final poisoning scene in Fedora, J"
when the pulse Of M. Berton went up to 127
pnlsations to the minute, Nine. Bernhard was
found TO be comparatively calm, hers register
ing most regularly only 7G.
Inc Boston Transcript disagrees with the
journal about Prof. Pane's new caatata. 1t
says: In 'The Nativity" he shows once more
That fine artistic instinct which enables him
to draw musical inspiration from fine poetry
without allowing the fancy OF the poet TO lure
him away from the true domain Of music.
Ii his music ia inseparably welded TO the pc
et 8 verse, the marriage is q true one, and the
music 10 the spouse not the handmade. But If
MT. Paine's artistic point of view, SO to speak
is largely classic, the character of his music
OF the melody, harmony, part-writing--is dis
Linetly modern. Perhaps one Of bis most strik-
ing merits is that the very frequent chromatic
progressions do not introduce any element OF
weakness into his writing. He never sacrifices
the organic vigor of his work to the passing
sweetness OF a momentary sensuous effect"
Those who knew Peter Richards, Of the
richards Brothers, will regret to learn Of his
death at Liverpool short time since. Mr.
richards was great favorite at the Lyeeum
In this city, and when he sailed on the "Do-
minion" be carried with him the best wishes
oil his acquaintance At the time of his death
be was playing successful engagement in
Liverpool