The Portland daily press., 1885-05-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


a very large, sppreeative and fashionable
audience greeted Mr.. John 7. Raymond in his
new play of "For Congress- at Portland
Theatre, last evening, and from his first en-
trance as Major General Josiah Timber, to the
fall of the curtain, the rpples Of laughter and
rounds of applause were continuous. The cur
tain was called at the close OF each act, and
Mr. Raymond has only to regret in his receL-
ton that the rain prevented packed house.
Mr.. Raymond, in "For Congress-" shows up
with great skill, the man@uvering politician,
who forces man to stand for Congress against
his will, and proceeds to FIX" things to en-
sure his nomination and election. He reveals,
with good deal Of cold, hard fact, the wiles
and methods adopted to carry elections, and if,
as there always must be in a stage picture,
there is somewhat of exaggeration it is so
shaded with the wit and humor of the charac-
ter that it passes for the ring of the true metal
One point that the actor introduces with par
ticular righteousness, and rare twinkle OF the
eye, is when he tells his sdjutant to be sure in
the convention which is to nominate Wooley,
to make especial point, In his nominating
Speech of economy-and then adds, with
slight hiatus-reform. Eyes," he says, "dwell
on reform, that's the thing now, and prohibit
ton. Bear strong on reform and touch lightly
on prohibition" Another excellent point is
his account Of his three speeches in behalf of
Wooley to three different nationalites, in
, which ne makes him out the son of hater of
kings and a lover of beer to one, a red-shirted
Republican and an idolizer of Garibaldi to the
second, and a red-hot Fenian. whose father
died with his boots on, to the third. Through
out all, Mr.. Raymond's wonderful command of
feature, his huency, his perfect ease and natur-
alness, carries his audience completely with
him. One of his best scenes was that with
Mrs. Muffin, after the widow had received the
first letter from him the General had written
in twenty years, in which Miss Hunter ably
supported him, and both were enthusiastically
called before the curtain. But it is useless to
attempt to enumerate. where so much might
be recalled.
The company is strong one, especially for
piece where they are so subordinated to the
star. Miss Stella Boniface, one of Wallack 3
former leading ladies, was both strong and vi
vacious as old Wooley's daughter. Mr.. Wea-
yer was an admirable representative of the
modern New York dude, and Miss Hunter
bright and sparkling as the widow. The other
parts were well taken.
Grimmer's orchestra played the following
programme:
Overture-Berlin in Tears and Laughter. Conrad
Waltzes-Annen from Opera Nanon. ........ Genee
Selection from Gasparone new. ....... Millocker
Probationary, pccolo solo.................. Reed
Galop-Mephlsto. .....,........... .Labltzky
THATCHER, PRIMROSE & WEST.
This well known band of MINISTRIES, COM
posed of the best performers in the profession,
will be at Portland Theatre, Wednesday night.
They will produce the same programme with
which they lately crowded the Boston Thea
tire for SO long time. There was good adj
vance sale OF seats yesterday.
THE LITTLE JOKER
The ST. Louis Chronicle says: "Carrie
Swain has made another upward step in her
presentation of "Chirp, the Little JOKER"
The play was written to fit her specialties, and
becomes interesting for that reason, if for
none other. AS seen last evening on the stage
Carrie Swain appeared handsome, graceful
acress not SO feshy as formerly, but more &C.
tive. She shows to best advantage in the Sec
ond act, when her. impersonation of news
boy begins, and her sketches are rendered.
She has a pleasing, melodious voice, and
dances gracefully. She, at the same time, in
tersperses a personality in these specialties,
which remind the spectator OF Maggie Mitch
ell, although it must be said that "she is her.
self alone" The gymnastic performance
with which che winds up the dancing is unex-
pected, and something generally beyond the
power of a woman. Her support is good the
cast containing number OF clever artists"
Carrie will be at Portland Theatre Friday
night and the sale of seats will begin tomor.
row.
THE sTocKBRIDGE COMPLEMENTARY.
Speaking of the Philomela Quartette, who
will appear at Stockholders complimentary
concert, May 26th, at City Hail. the Boston
Globe says: "The Philomela Quartette is
composed of excellent voices, and we'll deserves
all the praise which it BIAS elsewhere received,
Miss Louise Baldwin, the soprano, has par
ticularly fine voice and method, and Miss
Hunt, soprano, Miss Peakes, contralto, and
Mrs. Mitchell, contralto, were worthy associ-
ates. Every number given by the Quartette
was warmly encored."
''NIZE PUDDlNs,"
Saturday afternoon, as Frau Materna was on
her way from the dressing room to the stage in
the Fifth Avenue Market House, says the
Pttsburg Chronicle Telegraph. she passed the
stand of a vender of hams, bologna sausage,
etc., whose business was not at all interrupted
by the matinee CHANGING to look up, the
Wagnerian prims donna saw some sausage
and blood pudding hanging on hooks in the
butchers stand. She stopped, and slow pro-
gressive, Wagnerian smile stole over her no.
BILE countenanee. "Dem wuz nize puddins,"
she exclaimed. "Dem's de pest puddins efer