The Portland daily press., 1888-03-10
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
JULIUS CESAR.

JULIUS CESAR.
A dramatic company is possessed of good
courage that is willing to attempt Shakes
peare's famous tragedy Of Julius Cesar in
these later days when it is sure to be criti-
cised by so many earnest students of the
great master of play writing; and especially
is this the case when the company has been
preceded in this city, within a few years by
a combination of remarkable talent who
have presented the tragedy with an attention
to detail that is not surpassed on the metro
politan stage. and yet, in the face Of these
facts, Mr. Mack's company is entitled to
much credit for their work last evening.
Mr.. Downing's Marc Antony, like his
Spartacus, from physical point Of view, is
very attractive and picturesque. His deliy-
cry OF the great speeches Is marked by intel
ligence, and deep study, and the grand sem
timents of the poet find admirable channel
beautiful sonorous voice and clear cut enun-
Citations of the actor. His acting is realistic
and forcible and he was heartily and enthu-
siastically applauded.
The supporting characters of Brutus by
Mr.. Harry Merfdith, and Cassius by Mr..
William Harris, were very well assumed,
and the same clearness of enunciatlon we
have first mentioned appertained to them as
well as to Mr.. Downing. Miss Earle was
pleasing Portia, Of fine, commanding pres
ence, dignifed movement, and in the scene
with Brutus, womanly and effective. The
other parts were taken acceptably.
The play was well staged and well cos
tuned, and the details that often are made
ridiculous. like the cheers and actions Of the
populace, were realistic and in good taste.
Grimmer's orchestra played with their ac-
customed skill and the large audience ex-
pressed much pleasure as they left the
theatre.
DoCKsTADER's MINsTRELs.
Next Monday the sale of seats for the per-
formance of Dockstader's Minstrels will be-
gin at Portland Theatre. The performance
will be given Wednesday evening. The New
York Sun says: SIN the first part singing
the Dockstader troupe are unappr oachable.
Jose's alto, Reiger's tenor and D'Alton's
baritone, and Frillman's bass contribute to a
skillfully arranged hour of excellent vocal
ism, and Carl Rankin's witty work on the
end gives this portion of the entertainment
positive hiliarity."
Tommaso Salvini. the Italian trage dian
will play twenty weeks under the manage
ment of Wesley Sisson. Next season Alex
andre Salvini will be the leading man.
Theatre will be more than thirty feet wide,
and will occupy the space formerly used for
the Office of the Morton House.
Dunlap's Stage News says: "Among the
graduates to the stage are daughters Of Mon
cure ID. Conway, General Sheridan, Mr..
Walsh and General Banks, and a niece of
Edwin Booth, while daughter of Mrs.
Crowley (Jennie June) has gone upon the
stage, and Mr.. Thomas Barry of Boston, has
a daughter following in her mothers foot
steps, These girls are well bred, carefully
educated, cultured, intellectual and ambi-
tious. They have gifts, talent, brains in
vention, push and perseverance, and are
giving to the dramatic profession the same
study, earnestness and Conscientious thought
fulness they would bestow upon the profes-
sion of music, literature or medicine. The
young men in the same circle as these girls
are not studying for the stage to any great
extent their nearest approach being the
stage door Of burlesque theatre"
An exchange says: "It was up at Angus
ia, in Maine, that Nat Goodwin was brave
enough to challenge theatre goers with a
company of his own. The drama was his
own too. He played one night; the next
he turned up in Boston, the forlornest look
ing citizen in all New England. why, Nat
quoth one of his astonished friends, didn't
your audience like your play? Nat sighed
deeply as he answered, We'll, l think he
would have liked it if he had only waited for
the second act. ="