The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-21
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Clara Morris.

proper place where she can display her
abilities. 1t is folly to say that art can
transform barn chamber into a palace
for the more accessories are afforded the
clearer and brighter stand forth the
talents of the actor And yet Win all
the drawbacks that pertain to City hall
stage we doubt if they succeeded in
seriously affecting the impression that
Miss Morris intended to make upon her
audiencenlast evening. Her characterized
tion of Odette was one of the most power
full that has ever been given in this city.
The story of Odette, like all of Sardou's
productions, is not pleasant one, but it
has strength and affords opportunities
worthy of the prowess of the actress who
has won SO high place in the emotional
field. It tells of mother, who, welded
to man of illustrious name, forgets
herself and forms liaison with another
during the absence of her husband. he
returns at night to surprise her lover
entering the house. Their child, an IN
FAINT, is taken to his brothers house, the
mother banished from her home. one
goes through the usual course under the
circumstances until she becomes the mis-
tress of a gam bier, the keeper OF a conUl-
mental resort of doubtful repute. Inc
daughter grows to womanhood, becomes
engaged. and believes her mother dead.
She is taken to Nice and there the
mother comes. An attempt is made TO
buy her departure from France SO 1nat
the daughter may marry her betrothed,
for without such a proceeding the
marriage will be impossible. The mother
demands an interview with the daughter
and gains her point. The love for her
daughter secures the desired result, but
the end for Odette is a living death.
Tt can then be seen that the play is OF
the school that SO long had run IN this
country, but whose unWholesomeness
makes it unwelcome to many sincere
friends of the drama
AS Odette, the banished wife, and
loving mother, Clara Morris's earnest
ness and intelligent conception OF the
character made the impersonatlon one4oI
unusual interest, her audience, IN OBJ
serving her expressive face and listening
to her voice as it expressed re11lorse, de-
fiance or momen tary hopefulness, Tor
getting that she was personating a
woman whose conduct had deprived her
of home, husband and child, With con-
summate art she challenged her husband
to the duel of argument, of pleading,
of defiance in the third act, and her audi
ence demanded her appearance before the
curtain.
Miss Morris's support was excellent.
Mr.. Harriet was the cool man OF the world
and cynic Bechamel to perfection; MT.
Glendenning as Odette's husband, Count
Clermont de la loser, was forcible and
effective; Mr.. Kelly was good as PHILIPPE,
the Counts friend; Miss Jeanette
I,owerie as the Counts daughter Ber-
angers, gave a delightful bitof lngenue
acting; Mrs. Gaylor was excellent as the
baroness, and the other characters were
well taken. The audience was not as
large as it should have been, but was
thoroughly appreciative
Annie Ward Tiffany.
Despite other attractions, FofJlanu
theatre contained good sized audience
last evening to see an old Portland favor
;te in the person of Annie Ward Tiffany,
in Alfred Kennedy's comedy Lady
Barney The piece is strong, with
a delicious vein of humor running
through it, and the denouement well
worked up, SO as to produce the most
happy results The cast on the whole, was
excellent. the costumes of the ladies in
the drawing room scene being beautiful.
The work of Charles Fl. Crosby as Col.
Mat Creighton, was fine, his funny facial
expression creating roars of laughter;
and Harold Hartsul as Jack Caughtrey,
was also worthy of special mention.
Miss May Warren, as Lydia Chasner, Miss
Jessie Bertman as Kibbie, and Rose
Tiffany as Ethel Clifford, did their parts
well. The piece is brim full OF
pathos. humor and wit, and Miss Tiffany
has good chance to show her well
known abilities as an Irish character
actress, which she did to the utmost
Her different selections introduced
throughout UHo pay NCl0 o. i0e@oseio ~ ~
entertainment. 1t will be repeated this
afternoon and evening.
Alexander Sa1vini
Mr.. Alfred Bradley, representing the ro-
mantle actor Alexander Salvini, as was
stated yesterday, arrived in town for the
purpose of completing arrangements for
the Salvini engagement on Wednesday
and Thursday nights. The repertoire is
very large and varied, ranging from the
pastoral comedy of !" L'Ami Fritz" to
the tragic drama "Ruy Bias" 1t is in
the latter play and also in Don Caesar
de Bazann that Mr.. Salvini will appear
on the present occasion. 1t is well that
so prominent an actor should be secured
80 early in the season. 1t will serve to
rive our theatre goers o relish for the
good things in store for them Salvini's
name is a synonym for all that is best
in the aims of the stage. He comes of a
long race of illustrious actors; his
methods, his ambitions, his studious
enrey, and his Incompatible magnetism
show that in the hands of the true artist