The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-20
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Face in the Moonlight.

Mr.. Robert Mantell, who has obtained
considerable prominence as an actor OF
the romantic school, made his first ap-
pearance in this city in Portland theatre
last evening in Osborne's drama "The
Face in the Moonlight" to large and
intelligent audience. The plot of the
piece hinges on the dual character OF
Jacques Ferrand, a criminal known as
Rabat, and Victor Ambrose captain I'M
der Napoleon, and the play itself is laid
in Buonopartist times. The PRESS has
published the plot and it is unnecessary
to repeat it here.
AS the reckless, brutal Jacques, Mr..
Mantell was seen at his best. Into the
character he injected all those qualities
that reproduced to perfection the French
criminal with which Sue and Dumas have
made us all SO familiar. The swagger,
the mock grief, the sarcastic appeals for
sympathy, contrasted with ferocity, were
capitally portrayed and were appreciated
by the audience at once. Perhaps the
ic standpoint, was at the close of the
third act where, after Victor has parted
from his wife to go as he supposes to ex-
ecution, and she falls fainting to the
floor. the secret panel slides aside and
the jeering Jacques is seen pointing in
triumph to the PROSTATE woman, and to
the door through which his double has
disappeared. AS Captain Ambrose the
the serious lover of Lucille, Mr.. Mantell
was too cold and unimpassioned for the
situations in which he found himself.
His voice is rich and son orous, but he
used it in too measured and monotonous
a manner. The scene in the last act
where Victor and Jacques are compelled
to appear together was very cleverly
handled and its effectiveness was pro-
nounced, owing to the remarkable resem-
blance of Mr.. Mantell's nephew to his
uncle in face and figure.
Miss Charlotte Behrens was very good
as Lucille, although she also was rather
| cold until the scene in the third act.
Her dresses were handsome, and we
should say here that the play was cor
rectly costumed throughout. The other
support was good.
Mr.. Mantell and Miss Behrens were
called before the curtain at the close of
each act. The audience was exceedingly
enthusiastic. Tonight the play will be
repeated.
A Nutmeg Match. r.,
None of the attractions to be launched
on the theatrical sea this season set sail
under more favorable conditions than do
| the enterprises of Jabob Lift and
Thomas H. Davis. Their latest produc-
ton, the new comedy drama ga Nutmeg
Match" leaves port particularly well
| favored. Its success is assured, for hav-
ing been given trial presentation, it
was at once received as an admirable
| play. Besides, it is now to be given a
, superior scenic production and to be in
terpreted by company of players of ex-
ceptional ability. The play will be seen
on Friday and Saturday evenings at
| Portland theatre.
Stockbridge Courses.
The fancy of Jules Verne twas unable
to match the facts of astronomy. The
Moon is far more wonderful than he pic
| tured it. In the ''Urania'' entertain
ment to open the Stockbridge course
next week, such startlingly realistic
representations of lunar landscapes are
presented that the spectator might well
believe himself to be actually visiting
another world, and looking upon scenes