The Portland daily press., 1894-09-21
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
.YH
The New South.

and Joseph Grismer have written comedy
drama that is entitled to rank with "Un
Cause Celebre,' and other plays of more
than ordinary force and character. The
play too serves the purpose for which the
drama-and we mean the drama in general
lis intended, that of holding up national
or state abuses to the public gaze and
making them odious. The PLOT of this drama
turns upon the action of the Georgia con-
yict law, which permits the leasing of
criminals serving sentences to contractors.
An officer of the United States army, en-
gagged upon special mission,is supposed to
have interfe1ed with elections. A tragedy
occurs, he is arrested convicted for the
crime, sentenced to prison and then leased
out to a contractor who has been his rival
in love. The heroine believes in his inno-
cence, and through her efforts the real
criminal is discovered What makes the
heroine's action all the stronger is the fact
that the tragedy for which the officer
suffered was ths killing of her own brother,
when negro was the real criminal. In
carrying out the plot the authors of the
play have so preserved the story and
have worked up their situations so natural
ly That while to certain extent. these
A0S dfb titOJ 49, Noo
exaggerated so as to weaken their force.
On the contrary they are strengthened BY
them. The scenes are laid in the South, of
course, and transpire on a plantation.
whose owner. retired Confederate general,
is one of the most natural and strongest
characters in the cast. The very essence of
plantation life is p1 esented in every scene,
the Southern accent marking the generals
speech. the ladies displaying in a marked
way the Southern manner, and the views of
the old manor house and grounds enhanc-
ing and emphasizing the effect.
In the part of Georgia Gywnne, the
heroine, Miss Phoebe Davies makes an
artistic, as well as a popular success. She
exagerates in no respect, she is strong
without boisterousness, effective without
stage trickcry. Her Georgia Gwynne l. an
exceedingly natural ladylike impersonation,
and it rises to marked power. in the third
act. Mr.. Grismer's Capt. Harry Ford, the
officer under ban, is a gentlemanly, quiet,
but none the less effective Characterization.
1t is this very characteristic of never for
getting that he is, above and beyond every
thing else, au officer and gentleman, that
adds SO much to its force, and that was
especially noticeable at the close of the
third act, where he dared Paul FitZhugh to
show the editorial to Georgia.
Every one.of the other characters in tho
cast were we'll taken to the least import
ance Mr.. Scott Coor, as we have already
stated, was typical Southerner of the
rank and position of Gen. Gwynne, MI.
Charles Winning was an excellent DR..
Lincoln, and with Miss Bebe Vining-the
Bessie Fessenden, who gave most delight
full representation Of the vivacious young
ward-furnished the comedy elements. The
scene in the dispensary was charming
feature of the play. Clarence Ferguson was
very good as the negro election boss Samp-
son, who commits the murder for which
Capt. Ford suffers. AS we have said the
minor characters were we'll taken.
The audience was deeply impressed and
enthusiastic for Portland. They called the
curtain three times, at the end of the
second, and twice at the end of the third
acts
The play will be repeated tonight and all
should see it.
Shore Acres
The beautiful play, Shores Acres" in
which Mr.. James A. Herne has won such
an artistic success, will be given care
full production at the Opera House
Thursday evening next. The four acts
of this realistic drama are laid near Bar
Harbor and its thirty characters are all
well known New England types. The
roll of Nathan'I Berry is accounted the
most picturesque and heroic in the mod :
ern drama, and Mr.. Herne's impersonat-
ton stamps HIM as one of the ablest
character acters this country has ever
produced.
Much Ado About Nothing.
Next Monday evening that charmin 3
actor Mile Rhea will appear at Portland
theatre as Beatrice in Much Ado About
Nothing supported by her own excellent
company. 10 give an idea of the OPT Mon
in which Mile Rhea ia held by the best
authority it is sufficient to say that
Edwin Booth, Americas great
tragedian, presented her with set of all
his plays, each containing his autograph.
| He said, "M'lle Rhea is the most talent
ed lady on the stage and must in very
short time gain position second to no
other artist" She also received thou
sands of letters congratulatory and eulo-
| CYSTIC from ladies and gentlemen OF
highest rank. Wade Hampton wrote
"Not even Rachel pleases me more".
| Robin Hood Company.
| The sale of seats, for Robin Hood and
the knickerbockers to be sung next
I Friday and Saturday at the City Hall
by Messrs, Barnabee, Karl & MacDon-
AIDS Robin Hood Opera Co., proceed
briskly, and the indications are that
the house will be ycrowded during the
engagement. No company visiting this
CITY comes here with higher claims than
this organization. Messrs. Barna bee
Karl & Macdonald are said to have
spared no expense in order to make
| their company one of the best on the
road and how we'll they have succeeded
will be decided by the large audiences
that will appear at City Hall tonight
and Saturday.
| Gentleman Jack.
For the first time since he became
| tho midi cputod oh q M nj on of the world