The Portland daily press., 1891-09-15
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
MARGARET MATHER.


Miss Margaret Mather's dramatic season at
Portland Theatre. The audience filled ev-
cry chair, and many had to stand through
out the performance. 1t was an audience
that the star could be proud of; one that
appreciated the most delicate shades of ex-
preston, both OF speech and feature, that
entered into the sorrows Of Medea, and
laughed with the vivacious Mrs. Oldfeld,
and that showed its satisfaction by hearty
applause. calls before the curtain, and the
gift of beautiful flowers,
The bill selected for the evening was Me-
dea and Nance Oldfeld. The mythical story
of Medea has been made the subject Of trag-
edies by Euripides. Seneca. Corneille and
others. According to the mythology, Medea
was a princess, daughter of Estes,
King of Colchis, by the oceauid Idyia or
Hecate, daughter of Perses. She was IA
nous for her skill in sorcery, and enabled
Jason, with whom she fell In love, to pos
sess himself Of the golden fleece, which he
and his band of Argorauts had sailed FROM
lolaus, in Thessaly, to secure. Medea ac-
companied her lover to Greece, and lived
with him as his wife, bat was subsequently
NSoSesSN W caooh AOk OACuodt QduSuktI VI
Creon, King of Corinth. In revenge, Medea
destroyed her children by Jason, and sent
Creusa poisoned garment that burned her
to death. Then, fleeing to Athens in cha
riot drawn by winged dragons. she there
married Egens, by whom she had several
sons. Having been afterwards detected In
laying snares for the destruction of Theseus,
she was driven from Attica to Asia and
founded the Median nation. Such is the
myth, which is followed generally in Miss
Mather's version. 1t is at the close of the
drama that the principal change is made
Medea kills her children, goes mad, and
caught in the arms Of Jason-who relents
on the death CT his children-falls dead at
his feet. The first act in Miss Mather's YER
sion has been added It was written by Mr.
Skinner. of the Brooklyn Eagle. 1t is really
prologue, and serves to lengthen out the
original play. Like all plays of the classic
school, Medea is filled with quite long
speeches that serve to display the oratorical
powers OF the actors 1t is not until the lat
ter part of the second act that the real life
and action Of the drama begins. In the first
act, where Jason induces Medea to flee with
~~.A-t sASAO 40 ooAhO "a OhuOuitlOu VI Wudb Is 10
come. but 1t is really in the scene where Me-
dea finds Jason false to her, and enamored
OF Creusa. that the interest becomes fastened
on the development of the story, and from
thence on Is witnessed fine exhibition es
human passions.
1t seems almost impossible tsocr a woman of
MISS Mather's pbEsique to rise to so great
height 60 so dignity and ennoble the charac-
Ter of Medea as Miss Mather does; to almost
wither Jason with her scorn at one moment.
to melt into all of womanly tenderness and
love at the next; but she does it so complete
ly, so regardless of self. so wrapt in the
character, that there were many moist eyes
in the house. The elimination of her power
was reached when, in the final scene, Jason
demands his children, and the king imposes
upon her a sentence of Punishment. She
PUSHES from the audience chamber, destroys
her children, and re-appearing in the glare
OF the burning palace, reels from the thresh-
old with mad laugh. to be caught in the
arms OF Jason. whom she lovingly caresses
and then falls corpse. 1t was scene to
burn into the memory. The long cloak, with
its Venetian hood. lined with white satin,
set off the actresses beauty with the clearness
and delicacy of silhouette. The love light
In her eyes as she bestowed upon her lover
her last caresses TRANSPORTED her. If she
exhibited it with great effect when she part
ed with her children, she made it all the
more pronounced at the last.
Mr.. Skinner was as strong in the character
of Jason as could have been desired. He has
a fine stage presence, his voice is clear, dis
tinct and resonant, and he was spirited, SOL
dierly. manly. even If cruel. Mr.. Whiting
was good as Orpheus. and delivered his lines
admirably, while Mr.. Lapgdon was good
king and Miss Josephine Eytinge was ac-
of Medea were very amusing, and added all
there was Of comedy to the play.
In. Nance Oldfeld, Miss Mather was ex-
ceedingly bright, spirited aud attractive
The change from the gloom Of classic TRACE
dy to the light comedy was most agreeable,
and the play fittingly closed delightful eve
ming.
Tonight the Violin Maker and Honey.
moon.
boys AND GIRLS"
The production of John j. McNally's new
satirical, musical farce-comedy entitled
"Boys and Girls" by Messrs. Rich & Harris,
is to be something. out Of the ordinary. 1t is
to come as a surprise. boys and Girls" is
to be played by a company of the strongest
musical and pant0mimic and comedy talent.
Inc enterprising managers have gone so far
as TO engage the renowned European panto-
mimists and athletes, the Leopolds, who will
with Miss May Irwin, Miss Flora Irwin. Mr..
Ignatio Martinetti. Mr.. William B. Wood,
formerly of Wood & Shepherd, Miss Georgia
Lake, Miss Sadie Kirby. Mr.. Julian Mitchell
Mr., James A.: Sturgis. Miss Blanche How
ard and Miss Laura j. Russell, form an or
ganization which cannot be eclipsed. Sure
~ such names as these are guarantee that
"B0ys and Girls" will be Interpreted In a
brilliant manner. There is a plot to ''Boys
ly satirical manner the athletic craze Of the
age. The situations are side-splittng, the
fun never ceasing throughout the comedy.
The plights and ludicrOus predicaments In
which the characters are placed will create
the liveliest merrlment and roars of laugh
ter
ROBIN HOOD.
The Bostonians will be at City Hall next
Saturday afternoon and evening in "Robin
Hood" All the old favorites will appear. to-
gether with the two new soprano singers.
Seats are selling steadily at Stockbrige's.
Half fare Is offered on the Maine Central
Grand Trunk and Portland & Rochester.
Late trains are run on all these roads. To
those holding tickets for either the regul ar
SveAoOot 81 hOuuSbuOu Will Do uldu6
for the evening performance. The company
this year have new and rich costumes and
special scenery. They have an orchestra of
fourteen Boston musicians. This will be
the only chance to hear "Robin Hood" in
Portland this year.
MIR. BARNES OF NEW YORK.
Mr.. A. G. Gunter's romantic play, "Mr.
Barnes Of New York." will be seen at the
Portland Theatre tomorrow evening, the
production being made by. Manager Frank
w. Sanger's Broadway Theatre Company of
New York city. The story Of this strong
dramatic work has been made familiar by
the enormous sale Of the book from which It
Is taken, as well as by the very successful
tours made with this play by Manager Sang
er's companies the last two years. A new
Interest will. however, be given the produc-
ton by the new artists engaged for it. and
the elaborate stage setting with which Il
will be supplied. The leading Characters of
the play Will be cast as follows:
Marina Paoli... ...............Miss Nav Wbee,er
Enlu AhstIueqer. Miss Emma Field
xnSuy SMai Miss Clara Werner
oun Nnai tiios.ss'. miss Lola Bertelle
MI. Ddrnes.,. Hugo TOland
Hount Ddnella.. ...............Mr Sheridan Block
T Anstrutner.. Mr. Coulter Brinker
AohaSso honaiui.. Charles Lamb
NOTES.
Miss Dora Wiley is meeting with great