The Portland daily press., 1891-10-07
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
TILE srocknRIpeE POPULAR.

|
The opening of the Stockbridge Popular
course for the season Of 1912 AZ City Hall,
last evening, was marked by new depart
ure. Hitherto Mr.. Stockbridge mas confined
his entertainments to operas and concerts,
Init now he adds the drama to his amuse.
ment enterprises. Last evening, Miss Helen
Rarry. the we'll known English actress, SUP.
ported by her special company, presented
very funny "skit." in the shape of farce.
comedy, taken from a German comedietta
and arranged for the American stage by An.
gustus Thomas. Mr.. Thomas's worl, is en-
titled "a Nights Frolic."
The story of the play tells In brief how
young girl in love with the man of her choice
is destined by her equity, and grouty. father
retired American commodore. for vorng
son Oh an old friend. a French captain Of
cnasseurs. The Hon. Mrs. Margaret vane
better known as Lady Betty, a widow, agrees
70 neip her young friend to defeat her ia
theirs Will and enable her to marry "the
other feller." To do this she is comnelled N
assume the attire of French chasseur ana
the embarrassments caused thereby make
the principal fun Of the play. There is in
trouuced also young married woman and
ner nusDand-whom Lady Betty sets by the
ears with her meddling; the real French
chasseur. who is admired by Lady Betty and
who nearly brings her to grief; and negro
servant OF the Commodore's. OF course ALI
turns out right in the end, but Lady Betty
finds the value Of the old adage. mind your
own business"
Miss Barry obtains In Lady Betty a part
admirably suited to her. She possesses
tall. erect. well proportional figure-which
Is particularly manly in the military cos
tume-a fine face. with mobile. expressive
features, that give great effect to the chief
points OF the play. a womanly grace and re-
inement, in feminine costume, and voice
that In its clearness of enunciation and de-
hghtful qualityit is great pleasure to listen
to. In the first act, as the mischievous Lady
Betty, who tells the story Of the wonderful
mash" she has sustained at the hands of
Captain Chandon Of the chasseurs, who kills
lion that has escaped from its cage; who
posts her friend, Mrs. Sedley. as to the
weaknesses of young husbands, and who,
| with such breeziness, assures her dear Nell
lie Staunton that she will pull her through
all right. Miss Barry exhibited a chic that
was very taking. In the second act she was
most dashing young officer. Before she
had done with her disguise, the young Wild
ow found herself locked at night in the
same bedroom with Captain Chandon. forced
into duel, scared nearly to death by rats,
and drenched with water from firem ans
hose. In the third act she returned to her
proper costume, and by her vivacity and her
shrewdness carried all her points.
To say the audience was pleased Is putting
1t mildly. Mr.. Thomas has done his work so
we'll and produced so bright dialogue, that
every point was made effective at the hands
OF this brilliant actress. There is perhaps a
little spinning out Of the second act, but 1t is
nevertheless a very funny bit of compost.
ton. and Its closing situation. where the ex-
cited Lady Betty rings the fire alarm and
calls In the department, ELECTED roars Of
laughter. The curtain was called after each
act Miss Barry's costumes were elegant,
and the piece was beautifully costumed and
staged better than we have ever seen any
thing in City Hall.
The support was excellent, Miss Mary
Shaw as Sophie Sedley, Miss Prom as Nellie
Stanton. Mr.. Gilmour as Captain Chandop,
| Mr.. Westford as Mr.. SedIey, Mr.. Andrus as
Claude, Mr.. Mcleod as John, the colored
servant, and Mr.. Durant as Stephen, were
all worthy of their reputation. Chandler Is
orchestra furnished excellent music. The
| play will be repeated tonight. PM
| -gss CAMILLE ., i-.s- a's7'
Last evening. miss Josephine Cameron
appeared at Portland Theatre in aCamiIle, /"
q hat hoc hod f.ka u
Portland. The lady won the good opinion
and applause of the audience by her thor
ough conception Of the part and her natural
ness. She makes several innovations in the
conventional manner Of playing the part
and her audience last night evidently ap-
proved Of her new method. Her dying
scene was especially effective. Miss Gamer
on was well supported by Mr.. Clifford. Next
Saturday Miss Cameron will return to Port.
land and play "East Lynne"
"a NILE A MINUTE"
will appear at Portland Theatre October II,
10 and IA. 1t is claimed that never in the
history of the American stage has such gi-
gantic piece of mechanism been introduced
In melodrama as the locomotive which car
ries two people to the rescue of young wife.
The engine occupies the entire rear stage. 1t
is manned by an expert engineer and fire.
man, and twelve men are entrustedSWith the
care of it while In transportation and on the
road. 1t was built by one of the biggest
manufacturers in England, aud Is an exact
| fac-simile of the locomotive that heads the
famous English express, the "Flying Dutch
man." This engine will run at the rate Of
"a mile a minute" in full view of the audi
ence.
The Boston Post of July 10Th, said. speak.
ing of the 50th performance Of ''Niobe" at
the Boston Museum:
A record of fifty performances In mldsum-
mer is one to be proud Of, and that Is what
| "Ni0be" has accomplished at the Museum.
large and remarkably distinguished audi.
ence gathered last evening to celebrate the
| event. and the play was received with even
more than the customary. amount Of ap-
plause. of the piece itself an opinion has
already been expressed In these columns, land
we need only add that a second hearing con-
firms our first favorable impression. M
ODE" is at times frankly farcical-indeed,
the fundamental idea is one that cannot be
taken seriously. But 1t never descends to
the low plane of what is generally received
as farce-comedy. 1t does not depend upon
acrobatics or the tricks of the variety stage,
but has real humor, and (strangest of all
real wit. Literary merit In a modern play
is something to be accepted gratefully.
The comedy will be given here at Portland
Theatre tonight, exactly as it was played at
the Museum.
THE THIRD ORGAN RECITAL.
Mr.. Duncan will give his third organ re.
cital at Congress square church on Saturday
afternoon at $50 o'clock. He will be assist.
ed by the popular young singer, Miss Kath-
crime M. Kicker. Among the selections for
the organ will be Batiste's celebrated Offer
toire In A major. One of Miss Ricker's
songs will be II Brigantino, by Harkensolh-
ner. We do not need to say that the recital
will be very enjoyable.
DIVIDE MUsIN.
| OF Divide Musin what can be said that all
the world has not already thought? Violin
lists stand upon royal ground with their SIM
| pie instrument, and there is trio of musical
artirts, Joachim, Wilhelm, and Sarcastic, the
Spaniard, who are CAD 20 form a .quartette
with Musin as the fourth member. Let
these not be compared, for each has in him
his national and ancestral traits. Musin has
| brilliancy, an airness and glitter that are
his own He represented everything with