The Portland daily press., 1890-04-16
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
TIE RIVALS.

The RIVALS,
Portland, or any other city, rarely has the
opportunity to greet such a dramatic CON-
bination as appeared at Portland Theatre
last evening. Actors like Jefferson, Florence.
Mrs. Drew. Edwin Varrey. whose dramatic
education commenced when they were chill
dren. and whose families were renowned in
the annals of the stage for generations, are
rarely seen in combination, If at all, by the
theatrical public of the present day. 1t was
therefore not strange that days before the
performance tickets commanded a high
premium and that, to satisfy the demand,
Manager Newell had to remove the orchestra
into corner, and fill their seats with eager
purchasers. 1t was a typical audience, one
that fairly represented the culture. wealth
and fashion of the city.
The representation of that charming com
edy. "The Rivals"-which has commended
itself to the present generation more especial
ly from the beautiful and apropos illustra-
tions by Abby in Harper's Magazine-with
its brightness, its wonderful character draw
ing, its witticisms and absurdities, although
considerably altered by Jefferson, was some
thing long to be remembered. Jefferson's
Bob Acres, the vain country squire, seen
here some years ago, has lost not one whit in
its quaint1ess. its delicious drollery and its
magnetism. Those wonderful eyes of his,
that graceful figure, that delightful laugh,
that captured everybody, have retained all
their power. The various scenes of the
comedy seemed transformed to scenes in real
life and the fortunes of Bob were closely fol-
lowed from the beginning to the end as if
they were personal to the spectators. For
the present generation it will be great
| thing to have had 1t in their power to have
| seen the great comedian in the strength and
| fulness of his powers before he retired, as
his cousin William Warren did, from active
life on the stage.
To those who had seen Florence only as
"The Senator" or in characters of that ilk
his Sir Lucius O'Trigger was an astonish-
ment and delight. The gentleman who
said Sir Lucius should have been called Sir
Luscious was not far out of the way, fol
| Florence was as rich and mellow in brogue
| as hearty and boisterous as the Irish baronei
should be and yet he never overstepped the
limits of the character so as to be guilty OF
| exaggeration. He was at his best in the
letter scene, and the little interview with
Lucy.
Mrs. Drew's Mrs. Maaprop is historical.
She was en- rapport with her audience from
| the start. Her delicious misuse of words,
her display of vanity under the fiattery OF
Capt. Absolute. and her ease and finish were
a revelation to those only familiar with the
| old ladies of the stage of 1890.
Mr.. Varrey's Sir Anthony was a Gil
| bertian "reminiscences, an exceedingly good
representation Of the passionate, self-willed
old baronet. Mr.. Paulding's Capt Absolute
was good. and his stage presence pleasing
Miss Viola Allen was graceful, brilliant
Lydia, and her scene with Capt. Absolute, in
the second act, especially praseworthy
Miss Agnes Miller was very satisfactory
Lucy and Mr.. Nash a Straightforward
earnest Falkland. Mr.. Denham did very
good bit OF character acting as the old coun.
try servant David, and Mr.. Warren was an
acceptable Fay. Applause and laughter
were frequent throughout the evening and
| at the close of the second act, Messrs. Jeffer-
son and Florence were called before the cur
tain. The costumes were handsome and ap-
propriate to the time of the play.
EMMA ABBOTT DOES AN UNUSUAL THING.
Emma Abbott does an extraordinary thing
here in Portland by singing the Tuesday
afternoon performance. 1t was not in Mr..
Stockbridge's contract that she should sin q
at the matinee, but she was prevailed upon
by her manager, Mr.. Pratt, and finally con-
sented. 1t is in compliment to the city
which she has not visited for so many sea-
sons, and the short engagement of only three
performances will be rendered so much the
more enjoyable by her appearance at the
special matinee Tuesday afternoon. She
is in admirable voice and excellent spirit,
singing brilliantly and with all the vigor
that has marked her phenomenal career upon
the operate stage. Her company is com
| pact and powerful organization, one that has
won rarest honors all the season, during q
protracted western and southern and now an
eastern tour. The operas announced, SER
manu." Martha" and "Faust" all present
Miss Abbott and the company in the best
form and to advantage. The casts, chorus
| and orchestra are all strong and exquisitey
| balanced. The Portland season will open
next Monday evening with "Ernani" at City
| Hail.
| GRAND FAST DAY MATINEE.
Those people who desire real good enter
tainment Fast afternoon should go to City
Hall and enjoy themselves in sensible way.
The concert to be given on that occasion is
intended for both old folks and children.
Shaw's Male Quartette are singing splendid
| ly this season and they will be feature the
| instrumental quartette is made up Of four
smalt young 1nstrumentalists; and there will
beMaster Bert Crosby, soprano; Bert Somers,
ylolinist, and Ed u Burnham, clarionet.
| Charles l.. True will be the pianist. Tickets
| for sale at Chambers and Stockbrdge's.
OLD FOLKS CONCERT.
| The last rehearsal for this concert was
given Monday evening and everything points
to success In the entertainment to be given
Thursday. There will be solos by Mrs.
Nettie Smith and Nettie May Morrison. Get
| your tickets at once at Frank B. Clark's and
| Stockbridge's. Children half price.
| CONCERT AT CAPE ELIZABETH.
Thursday evening there will be a concert
given at town hall, Cape Elizabeth, with this
programme.
Prof. A. L. kyser.
Miss Adna Fisher W. ''0
| Little Girls View of Life 10 a Hotel ~
co,,o Co., Miss Gertie L. Soue.
CoHic oohg.'.'.' .,Selected
K. Burnham.
| Harmonica Solo ......................
| Master George Anderson.
:, Miss Eva Leavitt, in costume
| How Tended the Baby. Observation-Disclosures.
Miss Gertie l.. Soule.
Il
| Master George Anderson.
| Up Comes McGinty ........... .........
Miss Eva Leavitt.
Musical Selections. Original
f. Burnham.
| NOTES.
| The Old Folks Concert given in the Second
| Parish vestry last Wednesday evening will
| be repeated tonight.
We learn that when in Boston last week
attending the German Opera Miss Bette was
Induced by friends to sing before several of
the best Boston teachers of the voice and
they all expressed themselves much pleased,
characterizing her voice as remarkable
They all confirmed also the methods of Mr.
Stockbridge of Portland. The high rank of
the critics and their voluntary expressions