The Portland daily press., 1886-12-25
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
YoRIcK's LOVE.

foRlCK LOVE
Christmas Eve is generally considered the
worst night in the year by theatrical man
ayers. 1t is stay-at-home night for their
usual patrons. 1t was therefore a decided
compliment to Mr.. Lawrence Rarrett's abil-
tiles as an actor that he was able to draw so
large an audience to Portland Theatre last
night. If the spectators were rather cold
in the first act they fairly made up for it
by their warmth later in the progress of the
play, being, in fact, raised to high pitch of
enthusiasm.
Howells play of ''Yorick's Love" which
received its third representation in this city
having been given once before at the old
theatre in Fluent Block, and again at Port
land Theatre-is extremely sombre in char
acter and dealing as it does with illicit pas
sion, brings to its representation all the
powers of the actors who assume its roles,
as may well be imagined from the argument
which we published yesterday. Its charac-
ters are all strong and, though few in num-
Der, afford large scope to those who person
ate them. There is but little to tighten the
general gloom Of the drama, and that is af-
forded in the first act, where Yorick at
home, thinks himself happy in the love of
Alice ana Edmund, and in other parts Of
the play by Old Gregory and Mistress Dor
othy kThe situations are intensely realistic
and are worked up so naturally as to thrill
the spectators.
Mr.. .Barrett's impersonation of the merry
comedian Of Shakespeare's time, whose
happy home is rendered desolate through
the perfidy of his adopted son, and whose
light heart and bright spirits are dimmed
and broken, was, as we have said before
when the play was produced here, remark
ably intense and realistic 1t is true that
the actor possesses many mannerisms that
obtrude themselves here and there, and a
rapidity of utterance in passages that robs
them OF somewhat Of their force, but where
the situation calls for natural speech and
powerful setting the actor is equal to the oc-
caSion and holds, by these very qualities,
the absorbed attention of his listeners. His
splendid scene with Edmund in the second
act, when the serpent of jealousy has bitten
him. produced a storm of applause. His
scene with WALTON was one of the finest and
most impressive that can be found on the
stage of the present day, and the whole of
the last act, was terrible in its intensity.
Mr.. Barrett received excellent support
from Mr. Springer as Walton, whose 1ago-
like representation was a polished effort
Mr.. Welles was hardly the Edmund Of Mr.
Howell, except in appearance. Mr.. Collins
was good Master Haywood, and Mr.. Rog-
OAo al. NASOiiCht OlCsOiJ. MiSo Udlt, buOuSn
suffering from a bad cold, was a forceful
Alice, and Miriam O'Leary an arch Dor
othy
THE MESSIAH
There are good seats on sale at Stock
bridges for the rehearsal of the messiah"
which will be given by the Haydns, accom-
panied by the full Germania orchestra of
Boston, at City Hall, next Monday night.
The rehearsal will take place in the after
noon and will afford a capital opportunity to
those who cannot go in the evening to hear
manner.
NEW YEARS OPERAS
The celebrated Blaisdell orchestra will
visit Portland with the Mariana Opera
Company. This is the orchestra that Carl
Zerrahn uses in all of his conventions and
concerts. Tickets to the operas are having
good sale. This is the last day that SOU
venirs will be given away with opera tick
cts at Stockbridge's.
NOTES.
Librettos of both the operas to be given by
the Mariana Opera Company are on sale at
Stockbridge's.
j., Tickets for NAVAL Engagements" and
Trial by Jury" to be given under the aus.
pices of the Cosmopolitans at the theatre
next wednesday evening, are selling rapidly
and are limited to the seating capacity Of the
theatre. They can be exchanged for re-
served seats at the theatre box Office Mon
day morning at o'clock. "Trial by Jury,
with Mr.. Henry Z. Duncan as conductor,
will be brought out with Grimmer's orche S.
ira OF twelve pieces.