The Portland daily press., 1886-04-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
ALONE IN LONDON.

ALONE IN bONOS~'
Robert Buchanan's realistic. emotional
drama Of "Alone in London" was brought
out by Col. Sims Brooklyn Park Theatre
Company at Portland Theatre last night.
The play is a type Of the usual class of
modern melo-drama, its story is well suited
to the average theatre-goers, and can easily
be imagined as occurring in any great metro
polls where poverty, wealth, Villalny and
virtue are constantly clashing.
These four different conditions Of life are
each brought prominently to view, in its
natural light, in the story of the trials and
triumphs of Annie Meadows, the heart Drok-
en- heroine who becomes infatuated with the
well dressed, glib-tongued thief Richard
Radcliffe who parades in the garb of gen.
tleman. The plot Of the, play shows how
Annie the herone eaTeS b mer s sha Gontp
by her husband and is compelled to sell flow
eTs on London streets to support herself and
child chow she is thrown into the companyof
thieves and yagabondS; how she suffers I'M
told cruelties at the hands of her heartless
husband how she discovers his true charac-
ter but, woman-like, cannot crush her love
for him; how he attempts to kill her and
how she is rescued by her old lover and lives
to foil her husbands scheme to ruin her
former benefactor, to watch the villain die
over sin.
Such play of necessity depends much for
its success the way it is staged on account
of the important mechanical effects required
in order to make the principal situations
most, effective The two principal scenes
are the view of Westminster Bridge at night,
and the slui1ce-way at Rotherhithe where
Nan is rescued from drowning by her old
lover. The former scene is very pretty, and
the latter one intensely realistic and one of
the best that has ever been seen in a Port
land theatre The water effect is admirably
handled, and the waves dancing in the moon
beams, bring out the surroundings in strong
relief.
The cast embraces some very good people.
Miss Cora S. Tanner is very pretty woman,
and in the stronger scenes rises to the situa-
ton with considerable force and power. She
is especially pleasing in her lighter moods.
Mr.. Ferguson-who played here last season
in "The Friendly Tips rather light for
the villain, her husband, but the points he
made in the one play as the -gentlemanly
dude, stands him in good stead here. Mr..
VIM. A. Sands, as John Biddlecomb, gives a
natural, hearty, intense piece of acting, and
Miss Laura Leclaire makes an admirable
Irishwoman. Miss Dwyer is an earnest, con
scientious Tom Chickweed, and the other
characters are well taken. A good word
should be said for little Oracle Pauling as
the child. The music by the orchestra is
excellent, and the new overture and gallon
both very pretty.
There was a good house last night but the
piece deserves crowded house tonight
THE PAYMENTS OF PARIS.
Another large audience was present last
evening at the fifth performance in "The
Dramatic Festival at City Hall. The play,
''The PavemeHts of Paris, is melo-drama
of intense interest. 1t has never before
been brought out in this city, and the audi
ence seemed to be much pleased with it, and
showed their appreciation by frequent and
hearty applause. Many actors appeared last
evening who have not before been seen in
the plays produced by this company.
This afternoon and evening closes the fes-
tival, which has been so highly successful.
This afternoon the management will give a
special doll souvenir performance of the
Two Orphans, when two hundred imported
dolls will egiven away to the children hold
ing reserved seat coupons, and this evening
the Two Orphans will be repeated. With the
large attendance of last evening nearly 5000
people have attended the five performances.
The doors will open this afternoon at one
o'clock the entertainment commencing at
two o'clock.
NOTES.
Oliver Byron and Kate Byron will produce
the comedy drama Inside Track April 18th
and Sth, at Portland Theatre. The sale of
seats will begin Monday.
Charles Barron and Annie Clarke will APP
r1nar at Portland fThaatra nril 1dfh o0d Eth