The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-16
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Sapplio.

The admirable company from the
Grand Opera house, Boston, presented
Mr. VIM. Mestayer's farce comedy OF
-Sappho" at Portland theatre last eve
ming to an audience. which II not as
numerous as when Rosedale" was given
by them-owing to the storm and the
meetings of the Pythians and Masons--
was representative one.
The action of this new comedy, is pc
cul1ar for one thing, it all takes
place during the afternoon and
evening : of one day, and the
morning of the next. The scene of the
play is the same throughout. 1t repre-
sents the entire sol of the Hotel Bernice,
Monte Carlo, Monaco, and through the
windows beautiful view of the famous
Casino is seen. This makes one of the
prettiest stage pictures imaginable.
The people introduced in the play are
such as one would run across in a place
with such cosmopolitan characteristics
as Monte Carlo presents during the
season., when people flock to it from
every country on the face of the globe.
Some come in search of health and rest,
while others, alas, come with hopes OF
winning fortunes at the gambling
tables.
The plot, if plot, can be said to belong
to farce comedy, is simply that Lady
Clara Finesse (Aliss Isabelle Evesson) has
written an opera, and as her husband
Sir John (Mr. Haworth) has forbidden
it's production, she engages manager,
Joe Steiner (AIr. Mestayer) who Is ap-
preached by Sir John, Count Touch
whisky, (Mr. Howard Could Lord Moose
head (Mr. Frank Keenan) the two latter
of whom wish to become her hackers In
the enterprise for the usual notorlety 1t
creates, Sir John for the purpose OF let
ting her see that she hasn't got such
good joke on john" and by Herbert
Graham, her uncle, toprotect her from
scandal. Out Of the complications that
arise smuch merriment is created vi
course all turns out right in the end.
Other characters are the wives of the
count. Lord Moosehead and the manager
Miss Annie Clarke and Miss Belle
Stokes, and Miss Kate Ryan, respective
~. Then there is a bright boy, Cyril
Graham (Mr. T.W. Ross) and Katrina
Miss Dayne) with whom he IS in love,
and pompous funky (Mr. Tassin.)
The fun of the piece rests in its
amusing situations, which were evident
ly enjoyed. last evening by the audience
Ionohfar and n
plause. The curtain was called at the
end of the second act. All the characters
were, of course, excellently taken, and
the piece was most handsomely costumed.
Sappho viii be repeated tonight es4
Adonis
On the afternoon and evening of Wash
ingtons birthday, Henry E. Dixey and
his able company will hold the boards at
CITY hall. j" Adonisn has been thorough
ly rewritten and is more attractive than
ever. The new features added to the
popular piece are startling, novel and
make the play better in all respects. The
automatic pi8no when the amusing role
Of Paderewski. the great Polish artist,
he of the acre of hair, is taken, is one Of
the funniest scenes ever presented. to an
audience. The barber impersonation is
declared by the New York critics to be
one of the most laugh provoking acts
ever witnessed. Seats should be secured
in due time for there is sure to be a
tremendous demand.
The Tuthil1 Stock Co.
Regarding this company. the follow
ing extract from the Buffalo Courier
speaks thus of this organization: THE
Benz. Tuthill Stock Company, which
closed weeks engagement in this city
Saturday night took many fairly earned,
deseryedly won dollars with them to
their next stand. The company is above
the average in point of artistic merit,
and the repertoire presented was most
entertaining and happy in selection. 1t
is safe to assure Mr.. Tuthill a warm,
hearty welcome from our theatre-going
public, when next he plays here. The
company will be at Portland Theatre
next week.
The African Choir.
Tickets are selling at Stock bridges for
the concert to be given by the African
choir at City Hall next Monday evening.
The concert is given to raise funds to
found an industrial training school for the
native races and to interest the people
in mission work. The Manchester
Union says: "a large audience gathered
at the First Congregational church last
evening. TheAfrican Native Choir
which conducted the entertainment, is
marvellous success, and shows more
forcibly than words can express in what
conditi III the natives of the !" Dark Con-
tinentn live"
James Whitcome Riley.
An exehnge says:
lit is the opinion of the public every
where that no stronger com bination was
ever formed than James Whitcomb Riley
and Douglass Sherley. Their work is in
direct contrast in every particular. One
tells the homely stories of health ana
home, the other the polished romance of