The Portland daily press., 1890-11-15
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


DR.. Lothrop deserves the thanks OF the
Portland theatre.goers for affording them so
satisfactory an entertainment as Fedora"
presented by Miss Fanny Davenport and her
excellent company. The story is intense
and not lacking In the tragic. The Princess
Fedora Is In love with Count Vladimir The
count is fatally wounded in little house on
the outskirts of st. Petersburg The author
OF the crime is unknown. The police can
not find him. The count is brought to his
house, and almost in the presence of Fedora,
dies without mentioning the name Of his as
sailant. 1t is only known that two weeks
previously a man visited the counts lodg.
ings, purloined letter from his desk and es-
capped. The porter recalls his name as
Ipanof. Strange to say. the police fail to
arrest lpanoff. He escapes to Paris. There
Fedora, who believes him the murderer of
her affianced, follows him, determined to
wrest the proof of his guilt from him. Loris
lpancff falls in love with Fedora and admits
he killed Vladimir. Then Fedora betrays
him to the police, and guard Is set to ar.
rest him when he comes from her house at
midnight. During that assignation he ex-
plains why he killed Vladimir 1t was be-
cause he had been intimate with his wife.
Then Fedora. Mortified atwhat she has done.
pleads and begs with him not to leave her,
fearing he viii go to his death. He stays.
Finally sire fears she has lost him and pois-
ons herself. She dies, but Loris Ipanoff
lives.
In dramatic intensity and force Fedora
stands out among plays. In directness and
clearness of construction IL is admirable
MissDavenport's impersonation is an artistic
achievement; strong. fierce and authoritative
throughout. she is entirely feminine and
sympathetic From her entree at the house
OF Vladimir, tmpatie mt. driven wild almost
at her lovers absence. to the fnal moment
when the poison has done its work and she
falls a iifeless corpse, she holds her audi
ence's attention with great tenacity. The
great scene In the third act with Ipanoff
when ha tells the story of the death o.
Vladimir and the causes that led to it, wal
wonderfully well done. Hope, fear, hate
love and terror, all the emotions, In fact
were wildly portrayed In every movement
In the ever-vaTying play Of feature, and
when at last, on her knees, she begs an(
prays Loris to stay, the realism could M
further go and the house broke into storm
of applause. The curtain was called at tn,
close of the second and third acts. Mis-
Davenport's costumes were elegant and he
diamonds superb aud sufficient without os
tentation.
Mr.. McDowelrs Ipanoff was not quite a
strong as we should have liked, but was ;
good impersonation. He has a fine figure
al attractive face, Is gentlemanly. possesse
strong, rich and musical voice, but his de
livery Is too monoton0us and has too mucl
artifciality. In the scene in the third act h,
forgot himself and was at his best, helping
materially in the effectiveness of the situa
tons and the dialogue.
The company is good one. Mr.. w. L
Flynn was a handsome and pleasing d.
Slrieux, Mr.. Bradley good Russian detec
tive and Miss Blanche Moulton an amusing
Countess Olga. The members of the compa
ny looked the characters they assumed ant
seemed to have some idea-not so frequent
ly the case-of the manners Of polite society
The piece was very well staged and MI
Grimmer's orchestra added materially to tn
evenings pleasure. The play will be re
peated tonight and there will be a splendid
house. The audience last night was bril-
liant and fashionable and filled almost ever,
seat.
FREDERIC BRYToN
The new comedy drama which this popu
lar actor Is to produce at Portland Theatre
Monday and Tuesday evenings affords hin
more opportunities for light comedy wori
than does Forgiven" In which he appear,
l M ndn uAoxy -
goers have seen lin and greatly admired
Mr.. Bryton In the latter strong play, and
will be interested to observe his work Ii
"Jim," In character that was specially ere
ated for him and which permits of greater
versatility. The company supporting Mr.
Bryton this season is pronounced an excel
lent one by our exchanges published in cit
les where the pieces have been produced, tn,
light as we'll as heavy parts beipg In goot
hands.
CECILIAN QUARTEYTE.
The Pennington Chronicle this week con
tains the following notice Of recent concer
by the Cecilian Quartette Of this city:
"The recital and concert by Miss Blanch,
M. Harrington of Bath, and the Cecilian
Quartette of Portland, In Music Hall las
Friday evening was listened to with mucf
| pleasure by sOod-siZed audience. The rem
diti0ns by each artist were well received and
enthusiastically encored. The CeciiaI
| Quartette may we'll take its place in the
front ranks, and Miss Harrington will al
ways remain favorite In Pennington. Her
posing, In the last scene on the programme,
was exceedingly fine and warmly applaud
ed"
STRAUSS.
November Goth, afternoon and evening
the celebrated Strauss Orchestra will be
heard at City Hall In the Stockbridge
Course. The Baltimore Sun says:
"The orchestra possesses In marvellous
| degree those first essentials to proper dance
! understanding precision, accent, rhythm
| and an attention to tempo-that is wonder
| Tul. 1t possesses mashine-like accuracy in
| execution, but full of human feeling and ex-
| preston. The entire orchestra, which num-
| bers about 40 pieces, play as one man, show
ing the most perfect discipline. The con-
| cert was brilliant success"
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
By far the best military drama yet present
| ed by local talent-and this city has had
many in times past-is the Sons of Veter-
ans drama to be produced In City Hall next
week, commencing Wednesday. November
| 10Th.
BIJoU THEATRE.
This afternoon there will be afforded In
the matinee an excellent opportunity for the
ladies and children to hear and see the CON-
pany at this house. Tonight will be the
last in which to see the present company.