The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-01
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Senator.

QrlCl III Tic AuuciiCdA COHiSuy3 u0
Senator and the many excellent points
in the play and the acting were thorough
Iy enjoyed. The story relates the efforts
of Senator Rivers to secure for his old
friends, the Denmans, the passage of a
bill allowing their family claims which
had been before Congress for many
years, and in securing which the father
had worn out his life. The senator finds
this no small undertaking, but manages
to get the bill through in spite of the
schemes of his opponents.
The serious elements of the play serve
wide and commendable purpose, but
it must not be imagined that Mr.. Aldrich
treats his audiences with too much Sc
robustness. He is comedian above all
things, and very excellent comedian,
as the American people discovered long
before fThe Senator was born. The
play is replete with comedy Of a high
order. Its dialogue is bright and crisp,
and for every sober reflection that it
plants in the breast it has dozen merry
laughs to temper the thought. Of
course, the Senator falls in love with the
lady whose cause he so successfully
champions, and equally. of course, the
reward of his heroic efforts is her hand
and heart. A very pretty little second
arv love is woven into the play, and in
cidentally typical scenes from the life of
II; iofxr fa
front. There is a Chinese traveller
whose funny remarks form a strong sat-
ire on some of the customs of American
society" yillainous foreign secretary
whose schemes "The Senator illustrates
at every point, and a lovely woman, who
depends on the Senator for mentality"
and makes things very lively when she
appears on the scene, which is pretty
constantly.
All these characters Mr.. Aldrich en-
trusts to the handling of competent ac-
tors. He does not prove the Sc fish poll
cy adopted by SO many ''stars," of in
sisting on taking all the glory to himself
and adding to the reflection of his own
brilliancy by contrast with the bad act
ing of poor supporting company. The
result is performance smooth and COM
plete in all its details, and fair show of
the great success which ",The Senator
has achieved is due to this fact
MI. Henry Bergman as Count Won
Strahl, gave a polished performance as
the Austrian diplomat, and added to the
laurels which he had already won by his
acting in other plays; VIM.
Dean was good as Alex. Armstrong;
Adolph Jackson was very good as Rich
ard Vance; Lewis Baker gave a capital
Characterization of the army lieutenant;
Evelyn Evans was refined and sympathet-
ic as Sila4 Denham; Harry Braham was
satisfactory as Ling Ching, the Chinese
baron; and VIM. Herbert good as Isaiah
Sharpless. The female characters were
all in capable hands. Miss Matte Earl
as Mrs. Hilary, was vivacious and pleas
ing throughout; Miss Emma Haggar as
Josie Armstrong, was bewitching with
her bright, airy ways and rather incom-
prehensible slang expressions; Miss Car
rie Rose as Mabel Denman, was espec-
tally interesting and pleasing; Miss De-
laro as Mrs. Schuyler, and Miss Terrell
as Mrs. Armstrong, were satisfactory.
The audience was enthusiastic, and
complimented Mr.. Aldrich with double
call at the close of the second act, and
called all the company before the curtain
at the end of the third act. Be sure
and 60 either to the matinee or evening
performances today.
Patience and Mikado.
Those who fail to secure seats at
Stockbridge's now for Patience" and
'Mikado,'' will have to content them
selves with what they can get later.
There are good seats on sale, excellent
both for hearing and seeing. People
who live out of town can order seats and
be sure of late trains and half fares.
Germans Minstrels.
Lovers of minstrelsy anticipate and
will enjoy minstrel treat when Cor
mans minstrels appear at Portland
Theatre, iApril 4th. The company is
one of the strongest in every way that
has ever appeared here, and their per-
Torrance is entirely new, novel and re-
fined, discarding all worn out ideas.
Their departures are noted for unique
originality. Assiduous workers in the
realms of novelty, they are this season
presenting productions which they feel
assured will eclipse anything heretofore
presented by them.
Unity Clubs Entertainment.
The ladies of All Souls Universalist
church were entertained last evening by
ths Unity Club. A four-act farce was
given, written by member of the club
for this occasion. The following was
the cast:
G. Washington Maglllicuddy, NJ. De-.
- 1870. -. Z. stevens
Mr.. Frederick Augustus Randolph of Kezar
rams. Harry Cram
Sam, a long suffering and impatient waiter,
Mr. VIM. Henry Tompkins. -. Cyrus ThurIow
vD.-x 1Iz&lr re..l<z