The Portland daily press., 1884-05-15
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON


Joseph Jefferson made his first appearance
last evening in this city, for several season, as
Caleb Plummer in the dramatization of
Dickens "Cricket on the Hearth" and as Mr..
Golighty in the sprightly farce of LEND Me
Five Shillings." 1t is enough to say that in
the former Characteristic old toy-maker-he
united humor and pathos, the utmost delicacy
and affection with the roughness and rags of
poverty. His remarkable mobility of feature
gives him an advantage over all the actors who
have essayed the part, while in personal mag
netism he is fully the equal, II not the superior,
Of any. He introduced little mannerisms,
such as quaint coughs and stammers, that art
fully set forth, while they seem to conceal, the
pathos Of situation. The tears start, in the
first scene in which the toy-msker appears,
when he clasps the rose tree in his arms, iu-
tended for his blind daughter, and passing it to
Dot as suddenly withdraws it because he can
not bear TO trust 1t from his sight. And what
could be more touching than the scene in
which he learns that his lifelong deception of
his daughter, in regard to TackletoD, has al
most broken her heart; what greater delicacy
of treatment OF the scene can be imagined. 1t
is like the imagination of the poet speaking
through the brush of the painter.
Mr.. Jetferson's support was very good. Mrs.
Cornelia jackson as lilly Slowbo was perfec-
ton. Look, gesture, movement, all repro
duced the Dickens creation over which 80
many thousands have laughed. Her by-play
was constant yet never obtrusive. Mr.. Down
ing looked John Peerybingle and acted the
part with manliness and fervor, and his hand
some brown eyes sdded no little to his powers
of expression. Miss Woolcott was pleasing
Dot and the other characters were sufficiently
good 10 make an acceptable surrounding.
In the farce Mr.. Jefferson was exceedingly
droll and ELECTED roars of laughter He was
called before the curtain at the close of the
first piece. and sent all his company on to
share In the compliment. The selections by
Mr.. Griminer'5 orchestra were decided
feature OF the evening. especially the selections
from the "Beggar Student" Tonight Mr..
Jefferson will appear in his great character of
Strip" He was greeted last night by a
splendid audience.
CHANDELIERS BAND.
We hope that the audience at City Hall last
night did not represent all the tickets sold, for
while there was fair attendance there was
not such house as there should have been.
The concert was decided musical treat. The
band played with their usual excellence. Miss
BERTHE Webb was enthusiastically applauded
and encored and presented with a lovely
bouquet. Mrs. Halves sang deliciously and
was also the recipient of likeicompiiments to
those paid Miss Webb. The Weber Club dis
played excellent drill in their selections, and
Mr.. Moulton read with taste and expression.
MF. Harvey Murray's apartments were
admirable as usual.
THE BLACK FLAG.
The plot of the "Black Flag" to be pkoduc-
cd at Portland Theatre with Yocghtlin's origi-
nal scenery, tomorrow night, is as follows:
1.-TWO brothers fall in love with the same girl,
who chooses the manly fellow, "Harry,"
who is driven from home By his hesrtless step
father. The hypocrite, Jack" who is tho
real villain, is allowed to revel in the luxury
which his fathers wealth brings him. He
commits forgery, and, in order to obtain mon
ey to cover up his crime, robs his fathers bank
nearly murders the old man, and finally, by a