The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-11
MUSIC A~o DRAMA.
TIE BosroNIANs.

Ever since Mr.. Ira q. Stockbridge estalH
ished his annual courses Of entertainments
In Portland it has been his custom, and an
exc 4llent one it Is too, to introduce them
with that favorlte American organization.
"The Bostonians." originally known to our
music lovers under the name OF "The
Ideals" Season after season these popular
artists have produced many Of the old op-
eras, but Of late years they have preferred to
give, and the public have been delighted to
hear. the newest successes ia the musical
world.
Last evening the inlatory entertainment of
the regular StOckbrldge course of 1890 OF
crowded City Hall with the usual brilliant
and fashionable audience gathered TO listen
to the B0st0nians In De Kovens & Smiths
new opera Of Robin Hood" There are few
OF the present generation who have not been
absorbed In the story OF the celebrated Earl
of Huntington, who as the famous archer
Robin Hood, assisted by his band OF merry
men, In Ltneoln Green, roamed through
Sherwood Forest. hunting the noble deer,
and forcing contributions from the rich and
titled. which they generously bestowed in
large measure on the poor and suffering.
Familiar to all are Littlei0hn, the lieuten.
ant; the robust, jolly Friar Tuck, the lively
AAllan-a-Dale, A the merry Will Scarlet, and
subject Mr.. De Koven had little difficulty in
obtaining libretto. Mr.. Harry b. Smiths
verses are we'll put together, the action of
the piece Is rapid, there are none OF those
dragging places where one waits impatien Iv
for what Is to come. The characters are
many, the costumes exceedingly pieturesnna
even II they are not invariably anronos 10
time and place, and the stage pictures van.
stantly please the eye.
The music Is isexceedingly graceful through
out, and much Of II Is more than ordinarily
breezy and tuneiul, becoming even sugary
at times. II Is the common fault Of critics
perhaps to say that there are constant re-
minders Of familiar airs scattered through
new operas, but the fact remains. In Robin
Hood you catch "reminiscences OF Faust"
and the "MascOtte," a touch of Wagner,
sndtches OF Suppe and Strauss, and even the
well known "then go to her and say to her.
OF Sir Arthur Sullivan. But what of all
that. There Is enough that Is purely oriRi-
nal and catchy to enhance the reputation 81
the author Of "Don Quixote." without ac-
eusing him OF plagiarism. The chOruses are
delightful throughout the opera, especially
those with the bell attachment and waltz
movement. Perhaps as great a charm as any
in the opera Is the gee and madrigal writ
ing, much OF which has been compared very
favorably with Sir Arthur Sullivan's, 10 the
same school. The quartette following "a
Troubadour Sung OF His Love" Is a note
worthy instance. Where there are so many
pleasing numbers we will refer, among the
Cowles; ''Nut Brown Ale," by Mr.. McDon-
aid Meath Greenwood Trees" by Miss
Stone; the "Finker's SOng"-after the STYLE
OF the "Coopers Song" in "Boecaceio"-t
pastoral glee, "Oh, See the Lambkins Play"
the song and chorus. the former sung by Mr..
Cowles, "A Tailor There Dwelt% "Ohl We
Hunt the Stag" by Mr.. HOff the "Bells Of
St. Swlthins." by Mrs Bartlett, and the
"Milkmaid's Chorus. The grand ensemble
az the close oil the second act is an admirable
The soloists were all in fine voice and act
ed with spirit All the numbers mentioned
were kencored and several Others
Miss Stone, Mr.. Hoff, Mr.. MacDon-
Miss Bartlett, Messrs. Barnabee,
Cowles, rockingham and Lang were warm
ly welcomed and heartily applauded. Barn
aoee was exceedingly happy as the sheriff,
and the scene with Dame burden eonvulsed
the audience. Miss Reals, who made her ap.
pearanee as Annabel, has very pleasing
voice and good method, bright animated
face and Is an addition to the company. She
Is Toledo girl.
The orchestra. led by the veteran Mr..
Studley, was deserving Of high praise, and
the choruses were well drilled and effective.
The curtain was called after each act.
This afternoon in the matinee course
"Robin Hood" will be repeated, with Mr..
Schultz, the new tenor, as Robin, Miss Fin
layson In the place of Mrs. Davis, as Allen
a-Dale, and Miss Juliette Corden as Maid
Marian.
In the evening. in the Popular course,
IroVaLore VIII be given, in which Tom
Karl will appear.
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
The war drama Of "Blue and Gray" drew
we'll pleased audience to Portland Theatre
Theatre last evening. The plot Is Of a
Northern soldier. Mark Stanley, who loses
his heart to a Southern girl, Ruth Peyton. at
| the outbreak of the war. lie goes 70 Dastle'
| and She to her plantation homein Louisiana.
| They meet again at her home, when the he
/ ro captures Ruth's father, who IS a C0nted.
| crate colonel. The rebel officer IS convicted
of being a spy, and Is sentenced 70 DC shot:
son.tn-law. The two villains OF the play,
/ Yankee s1uire named Griggs, and COnfed-
| srate guerilla named Wilson, the latter a
cousin Of the heroine, manage 70 eneet the
| succeed In fastening the guilt on Mark Stan
| Law. But by the melodramatic herolsm Of
4 Ruth he escapes the vengeance OF his ac
Il eusers There Is battle scene aud a hnal
| act where Marx, blind from a wound, and
/ practical pauper, Is saved from the grinding
rxturtiOn Of our old friend Griggs by the
| timely arrival Of Ruth, who Is now an heir
ess % s2,oOOoOO, They marry, OF course,
| and the play Is over.
The company includes such we'll known
artists as Miss Ltsle Leigh, who last season
was the star OF Alone In London" Mr.. e.
l.. SnadeT, last season leading support with
Salylni Milt &. Barlow, the We'll known
minstrel; John z. Carroll. the leading irish
| comedian; George Morton, w. j. Thompson.
| Ed. Clifford, Miss Lottie Williams, the bright
little soubrette, Miss Ada Morton ana Mis-
Nellie Maskell. All acquit themselves al.
mlrably. The play will be repeated an tbe
matinee today and this evening.
THE BIJoU.
Don't forget the matinee for ladies and
ehudren this afternoon. IL will prove q
most enjoyable entertainment.
| SPIDER AND FLY.
I The spider ana Fly" will be p oduce9 ~
Portland Theatre next Monday and luesuaS