The Portland daily press., 1884-09-25
THE MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE.

THE MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE.
Charles Osborne's romantic DRAMA entitled the
Midnight Marriage" received its first interpreta-
tion in this city, in Portland Theatre last night be-
fore large and fashionable audience. The scene
OF the drama is laid in France, from 1928 to 1926,
and opens at the chateau of the brave but impover
ished, Count Casimir de Langlet, in Gascony which
the Count is about leaving. Here comes the Count
de st. Valer, fleeing as traitor to the King, who
begs for brief shelter from his pursuers. De
Langlet conceals him, and before he can leave the
chateau, Hortense de Guise, fleeing from Paris to
escape hated marriage, arrives, and the impressi-
bic Count at once falls desperately in love with her.
and, after declaring his passion, bids her farewell
st. Vallier, emerging from his hiding place. con-
fronts Hortense, and Claude de Guse, the Uncle of
H0rtense, with party in search of st. Vallier sur
prises them and arrests the fugitive, compelling
Horteuse also to return with him, that he may con-
summate her marriage with Philippe de Brion De
Langlet, returning to release st. Waller, and being
told OF the arrest, swears to release Hortense, and
the curtain falls In the second act the party have
reached a ruined chapel, and the uncle, having
bribed monk and summoned De Brion, insists that
H0rtense shall be married at midnight De Lang
let, having seized the livery from one of the De
Guise retainers reveals his disguise to Hortense
and under his direction she assents the marriage
De Langlet then awaits De BTion, and engages him
in combat seriously wounding him, then, donning
the wounded mans cloak and hat. he takes the
place of the bridegroom in the midnight marriage
has regained consciousness, reveals the de-
ception, but De Langlet and Hortense
escape, - the former going to the war un
der an assumed name, and the wife hiding
in a convent. The third act opens at the Chateau
de Guise, at Fontainebleau,- after lapse of two
years and half,-where Hortense is lured by a lie
devised by her uncle to the effect that the Count de
Langlet is dying there. De Brion claims her his
wife, but she seornfully defes him, and De Langet
arriving at the chateau at this opportune moment
claims his wife. Their happiness, however is
quickly shattered by the appearance of the regent
fbn nnnn gAr.nn
Langlet's arrest The curtain rises in the closing
act on the courtyard of the Regents chateau,
showing the block where Casimir de Langlet is to
be executed. Hortense has accompanied her hus-
band to prison, and is nearly wild with grief. The
fatal axe is descending when the trumpets of the
king are heard the executioner's hand is stayed
and all ends WE'LL the king gladly pardoning De
Langlet, who in the guise of common soldier
had saved his life at Psvia.
The action of the play is rapid and the situations
are good, in several instances strong. The wit of
the piece is rather forced, but, whole, the play
evidently pleases. Much of its success naturally is
owing to the strong acting of Mr.. William Redmund
and Mrs. Thomas Barry. The former proved an
mpassioned lover possessing much nobility of char
acter; the latter coquettish, charming earnest
woman whose fidelity to her husband was sufficient
if necessary, to carry her to the block. Mr.. W. F.
Owen, as the Count DANCE, by his excellent acting
and tine sense of humor made much out of part
that, in the hands of less skful actor would have
fallen rather fiat. The other characters require
SO special mention. The play was well costumed
Mrs. Barrys dress in the third act attracting es-
pecial attention.
The music by Grimmers orchestra was especially
good. The selection from the popular opera of
Falka, with its melodious waltz. proved a taking
number, while the Caledonia Club Parade,''
somewhat after the "Irish Patrol" style, proved
charming reminiscence of popular Scotch airs. The
play will be repeated tonight.
THE IDEAL OPERA COMPANY.
This morning, at O'Clock, numbers will be given
out at Stockbrdge's for the operatic performances
to be given at City Hall by the Ideal Opera Compa-
ny, out of course. The tickets will be sold at a.
m "Martha' will be given on Friday evening, Oct.
18th. Patience" on Oct. 18th (matinee), and
"Girofe-Girofa on Saturday night, Oct. 18th.
NOTES.
The role of Zanita, in the grand spectacle at the
Boston Theatre, was taken Tuesday night by Miss
Anna Jean Edmunds, owing to the indispostion of
Miss Stembler. The new Princess acquitted herself
with high honors. and proved to be capital actress
and clever vocalist. Bella and the ballet evoked
the usual paudits from the audience for the dash,
grace and beauty of their dancing.
Mrs. Kendall, in a lecture on the drama, at Biz
mingham, Eng, before the Social Science Congress-
said the stage was going to the dogs from the fact
the sprigs of nobility got a chance to air them
selves, and delude silly women at the expense
of deserving professionals, and that managers
and actors used the printer to give them fictitious
value in the eyes of the public.