The Portland daily press., 1884-11-12
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


NUNKY.
Portland Theatre was crowded last night by the
most brilliant audience that has been seen in that
popular place of entertainment this season and the
most pleased. The occasion was the production by
the original .cast of the Boston Museum company.
of the late great at that theatre Carl Fors
ters adaptation of Gustaye Won Moseri's "Der Bib
iothekar,' ''The Private Secretary or "Nunky,'
by whichever title may choose to call the most
mirth-provoking of the three-act farce-comedies
known to the stage. AS for plot, one might as well
try and analyze laugh, and yet there is thread
on which to string the fun. An old Anglo-Indian
returns to England to take his nephew to his heart
and fortune. He,runs across young curate, who
is very fresh, who has made the acquaintance of
the nephew. and the nephews young friend, the
son of Sir Frederick Fairleigh. Both these young
fellows have got in q scrape, on account o money
matters, and visit Sir Frederick the nephew assum-
ing the position of the baronets private secretary
The uncle, or "Nunky," mistakes the curate for his
nephew, and tries to hide him from his friends be-
cause he considers him a dwelling idiot. Lon
don tailor, anxious to move in "society - becomes
the medium for unraveling the skein of complica-
tions that has surrounded the unhappy eurate and
for introducing the uncle to the real nephew
The central figure in the play is, of course, the
curate, which is played by Mr.. Ian Robertson, who
is a study in himself. 1t is a very delicate position
in which Mr. Robertson is placed. He is required
to be ridiculous and yet ridicule "the coth;
His long, gaunt form, thin face, high cheek bones
speaking eyes; his shrinking avn ward movements
the peculiar action of the hands, impressed them,
selves on the spectator at once, To these charac-
teristics he added that slow, careful delivery of
words expressed in the best of language that
marks the clustered student. His drawing deliv-
cry of the catchwords, "Don't you know brought
forth shrieks of laughter. His innocent surprise at
every fresh complication in which he found himself
bis anxiety about his goods and chattels were de-
hghtfnl, and the general artistic completeness of
the characterization was all the more enhanced by
the clear cut sharply drawn representations of MI.
Parks as Mr.. Cowpsrthwait, the nephew, MIR. Hud-
son as "Nunky," Mr.. Kent as Tomkins the tailor
Mrs Vincent as Miss Freeman the chaperone of
Sir Frederick's daughter, Miss Robbins and Miss
O'Leary as the daughter and daughters friend and
Mr.. Burrows as Sir Frederick.
OF the dialogue it may be said that it is generally
crisp aid bright while the situations are original
and ridiculous in the extreme. One of the most
charming scenes that where Dick attempts to
give the girls reading lesson; delightful stage
hit as has been witnessed for many dag.
Prior to the comedy Mr.. Charles Barron Miss
Annie Clarke and Mr.. Burrows presented the anus.
ing comedietta of "My Unce's Will with even
more than usual of their accustomed ease and greece
The orchestral selections, especially Suppes "Trip
to Africa" were delightfully."- rendered by Mr.
Grimmer's band and the only regret expressed was
that no other performances would be given here at
present by this company. Mr.. r. M. Field the les
See OF the Museum, was present last night. The
genial face of Mr. Thayer was seen as business man
ager on this occasion.
NOTES.
The reading by Miss Nella Brown at CITY Hall to-
night, will crafty all lovers of excellent decama-
ton. There are many public readers, but none
more satisfactory than Miss Brown.
A few good seats still remain at Stockbridge's
for Miss Florence Marryatts presentation of Glove
Letters" at City Hall, Thursday night.
"Falka' was brought out in splendid style at the
Boston Bijou, Monday.
Mile. Marie Van Zandt, who had to leave tie
stage of the Opera Comique, in Paris last Saturday
night before concluding the part of Rosina in the
"Barber of Seville" appears to be really i'll. Her
physician certiies thai she is suffering from ner-
yous exhaustion and & neral debility
Mime Ristori opened her American season at the
Chestnut street Opera House, Philadelphia, Mon
day night. The aLdierce, though moderate in num-
bers, was extremely enthusiastic, and both Ristor
and the new English leading man, Mr. Usmond
Toare, were repeatedly called before the curtain.
The play was Elizabeth Giacomett's tragedy, in
which she made her first appearance on The Aneri-
can stage seventeen years ago. She has n 4stered
English so well that her is not apparent ex-
cept i'll impassoned scenes, where rapid speech is
required. Her support is not above the average of
stars but the play admirably mounted. Nine
Ristori was overwhelmed with flowers and the DIS
tinguished audience showered upon her every 10: rk
OF it's pleasure aid enthusiasm. Double prices
were charged, which accounted for the smanes IS of
the house. but the engag. ment is likely to prove
not less profitable than Irvingg past performances
in that city.