The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-28
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
TEE pzylL,s AUCTION

Gilmore's spectacular comedy, Devils Auction
or, The Golden Branch" will be produced at Port
land Theatre next Friday and Saturday evenings
by flrstclass company, under the management
of Charles II. Yale. The costumes are adapted
TO countries In which the different scenes are
laid, and the variety of entertainment is as great
as could be wished The Boston Advertiser gives
the plot of the play:
1.-THE title comes from the simple fact that Ger
5 ain charms or talismanS supposed to protect the
owner from the wileS of the devil, are sold at
public auction. When Count Fortune, released by
Mephisto, attempts to obtain, by show OF wealth,
the hand of Madeline, the daughter OF Pere And
roche, ChryStaline, the fairy protectresS, gives
Carlos the real lover of Madeline, purse Of gold
with which to purchase at the auction the golden
nranch, Carlos obtains the charm BY the use OF
IL ne tolls Count Fortune and Chaos, the imp of
darkness, RECEIVERS Madeline, and turns Toby, a
donkey, loved by Janet, the milk maid, into man,
VINO becomes his faithful follower. In myster-
lOuS chamber Count Fortune and CHAOS, the imp,
recover the golden branch and carry OH Madeline.
ChryStaline continues her friendship to Carlos,
palace of the pasha, the Count and Carlos meet
IoDy snatches the golden branch and the game is
ap:
the use of fine scenery and good mechanical
effects. The advertisements are numerous and
varied, introducing an English ballet troupe:
amusing conbatS between Toby and Chaos, and
between Toby and the athletes in the Egyptian
tournament; the feasts of the lanterns in China,
and aerobatlc and contortion featS by the Gar
nella Brothers. Miss Douchteau Is said to be
pretty, whether as a farmers daughter, or as the
Christian captive in Egypt Miss Victoria Nathan
son Jolly milkInaid, and Miss Louise Dempsey as
Chrystaline Is called an attractive vocalist. The
dancing Is good, especially that done by the
premers, MILES Eloise and Spinapourte."
THE SINGING sKEwL
Tonight Mistress Liddy Halves singing skewl
will be held at Congress Square church. eye
musick' will be sounded at O'Clock and the
price of admission is only two and one-half dimes
'Ye Olde tunes" will be sung with much fire and
vigor
NOTES.
Lester & Aliens mnstrels, with John L. Sulli-
van, will be at City Hall Feb Goth.
The American Opera will continue its season in
New York until April 10Th. Then it will go to
Boston.
The New York corporation known as the Amer
lean School of Opera has been merged into the
National Conservatory of Music of America, and
become the first branch thereof, with Mme
Fursch-Mad as directress
Emma Juch. who went right on singing after a
gas tank had fallen upon her during the first per-
Torrance of "Lohengrn, in the New York AGA
denny OF Music, was able to appear as usual Tues
day night. When she appeared in her part as
Elsa, she was received with cheering and shout
ing and $50 bouquet from the chorus. The
bouquet was about as big as comfortable arm
chair.
Nine. Lillian Norton left Monday evening for
pleson Opera Troupe, filling The place of Mile.
Fohstrom who is ILL., Mme Norton was tele-
graphed by Col. MapleS0n Sunday evening to can
eel at any cost the engagement she had made to
appear in the MelrOSe Lyceum concert, and join
the troupe at New York so as to be able to sing
Monday night Nine. Norton, however, very
hon0rably refused to break her contract and dis
appointed her MelroSe audience.