The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-25
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Mile. Rhea.

assumed the role of the unhappy consort
OF the great Napoleon, with marked sue
cess. Last evening she presented the
charming character of Beatrice, in
Shakespeare's Much Ado about Moth
lng," to an audience that was Hattering
in quality and of fairly good size.
Mile. Rhea is one of those actresses
to whom nature has been most kindly.
1t has given her fine, graceful figure.
mobile countenance, across which the
various moods sweep, as the tinted
clouds float acrass the autumnal sky.
Her eye sparkles at one time with pleas
ure, at another blazes with anger. Every
movement is instinct with emotion or
passion. Her French origin has doubt
less much to do with this, for French
women, as rule, are born actresses.
There were two scenes last evening in
which Mile. REea especially charmed.
The one was that in the third act, in
which she overhears the conversation be-
tween Ursula and Margaret about her,
and the other the famous scene with
enediek in the fourth, in which he
makes. known his love for her and she
entreats him to kill Claudio. Both
scenes were enthusiastic ally applauded,
and the curtain called at the end OF the
act. Mile. Rhea's accent adds no little
to the effect other scenes i'm which the
arch and wnmanly situations are most
prominent. Her costumes were extreme
ly rich and becoming,
Mr. Hart was deserving of much praise
for his excellent Interpretation OF Bene-
dick. He has CAPITAL stage presence,
was manly and soldierly,. and delivered
his lines in manner that left no mis-
take as to their meaning. Besides the
great scene with Beatrice in the fourth
act, he was very, happy in the scene
with.her in the second act.where she.bids
him to dinner, and throughout the play
was easy and natural.
Miss Rachel Deane as Hero, Mrs. Isabel
Waldron-so we'll known to Portland
theatres Ursula. and Miss Whit
taker as Margaret, were very good.
Messrs. c. W. Mcdonald as Leonato, AL
sorp and O'Meara as Claio and Don Pc
dro, were accepta ble Mr.. Fred Hight was
a fair Dogberry. and NJ. c. Bowers was
a good Verges.
Shore Acres
AS an American drama treating of life
in New England of this time and date,
Shore Acres' deserves the most respect
full consideration at the hands of all who
can enjoy and appreciate refined tage
art. Its success in boston and New York
was of such nature as to assure its sue
cess throughout the entire country.
Shore Acresn cannot be compared to
other New England plays, because tits
unlike all Others familiar to patrons of
the drama. 1t does not depend upon any
singing or dancing or thrilling dramatic
climaxes for applause or approval, and
yet few plays have been so heartily APP
proved or gained such glowing en-
comiums. The strength of aShore
Acres" lies in its character drawings.
the chief among these being the role Of
Nathaniel Berry, which is to be played
here by Mr.. James A. Herne. The play
will be given at the Portland Theatre
next Thursday evening.
Gentleman Jack,
Many incidents in Corbett's career are
introduced into the play .Gentleman
jack" in which be Is to appear at the
Portland Theatre Friday evening, and
several Of the scenes are true to the life.
Among them is one picturing the in
terror of his training quarters at Loeb
Arbour, Nj. near Asbury Park. where
he trained for his contest with Sullivan.
In this scene he shows the routine
throughout which he goes when prepar-
ing for such contest, including an ex-
hibition of bag punching which is mar
vellous i'll the quickness of hand and eve
displayed. In this scene William Delaney
who has been his trainer for years, ap-
pears with him.
Dockstader's Minstrels
Lew Dockstader is always welcome
visitor to this city, for the minstrel
entertainments presented under his fdirec-
ton are well known to the unequalled
for novelty and completeness. OF course
Lew himself is a great drawing card, his
Keen witticisms and original songs and
parodies being whole entertainment in
themselves. A feature this season is the
act presented by the three Marvelles,
from the Alhambra Music Hall, London.
1t is said to be wonderful display Of
grotesque acrobatic work, including con-
tortion feats and high kicking. The
company give two performances at the
Portland Theater next Satur Lay, matinee
and evening.
Notes.
The artistic entertainment, "Songs IL
lustratted and Illuminated, y the ere alton
of Denman Thompson. has been success
fully produced at the Boston Theatre be-
fore a very large audience.
Marion Manola has been taken from
the Kelley Institute at North Conway,
N. H., to her home in Winthrop, and was
accompanied by her 14-year-old daughter
Adelaide. Mrs. Mason has not greatly
improved during the weeks she has
spent in North Conway.
The. anniversary of Henry Irving's
very flrst appearance in London was
yesterday. 1t took place at the Prin-
ceSS'S Theatre 81 yaars 400 Cir