The Portland daily press., 1894-03-02
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Sultan's Favorite.

The Sultan's EayOr1te
This is the title of the new comedy IN
which Miss Uilie Akerstrom and her
company opened their engagement at the
Portland Theatre last evening. The
play is comedy something after the
style of "Pygmalion and Galatea," and
"Niobe' resembling them in the fact
that the story of the play hinges on the
coming to life of an inanimate object
In the above mentioned plays it is a
statue, but in this play it is picture,
or rather the subject of a picture. Miss
Akerstrom is the authoress, and plays
the part of Guiana" She makes a
very pretty figure in her Turkish cos
tune and acts the part in very naive
manner. During the play Miss Aker-
strom introduces her new dance La
Clerom atope." This is produced with
beautiful calcium light effects. The
stage is in total darkness when suddenly
under the glare of ten calcium lights
a 1.-THE sand dainty little figure is re-
vealed, clad in a flowing gown requiring
one hundred yards of silk in its making.
The music quickens ana the dress floats
out in graceful curves. 1t swirls hither
and thither, impelled by the motion i'm
arted by the movement of the arms and
peculiar steps with the feet. 1t rolls
like the waves Of the sea, and the plain
white gown becomes thing of life, and
all this time the lights produce beauti-
full com binations of colored effects that
are understandable.
which made great hit last season will
be the attraction.
A change has bee n made sin the pro-
gramme for Saturday. Instead of Nan, y
1.-THE SuItan's Favorite'' will be repeated
it being judged better play for the
amusement of the ladies and children.
Miss Akerstrom's latest dance, La
Chromotope, will also be given.
The prices at the matinee will be 25
cents for adults and Is cents for children
under IA years of age for any seats in
the house.
O'Dowd's Neighbors.
That funny little man, Mark Murphy
who in years past has furnished SO
comes to the Portland Theatre next Mon
day evening in his latest and greatest
success, "O'Dowd's Neighbors." This
play is in it's third season now, and there
is good reason for it's popularity, for it
is far above the ordinary run of farce
= docorihod
a Irish operate Comedy" which title
just about fits it. The Introduction of
much operatic music makes pleasantly
artistic performance, and added TO the
various popular songs. dances and paro-
dies which it contains, gives it a splen-
did position among plays of this sort.
Mike Kelly, the great base ball star, ia
a prominent member of the company,
and is as much of a success as come
dian as he is as ball player.
Elijah
The Haydn Association will give
Elijah" on Monday evening next, when
the great baritone, Mr.. Arthur Beres-
ford, will appear as Elijah The lead
ing singers of this city will assume the
other solo characters, and there will be
the grand chorus Of the full soc ETY.. Re-
served seats at Stockbridge's
An exchange says: Mr.. Beresford is
gifted with voice of great range and
power, pure type of the basso pro-
fundo. He uses it discreetly and with
fine judgment of it's powers"
Notes.
"The Princess Nicotine" in which
Miss Lillian Russell will appear at the
Hollis Street theatre, Boston, the week of
March IL, is said to be one of the most
gorgeous productions of comic opera ever
seen.
"A Milk White Flag"has proved good
drawing card at theeeBoston theatre. It's
m usic and funny situations have made
it popular with large number of theatre
goers. 1t will be seen here soon.
Of the the performance of "Noze di
Figaro" by the Abbey troupe in Boston,
Wednesday, Philip Hale says Mrs.
ably. In purity of tone, in finish of
phrasing, in general musical feeling and
expression, she surpassed any of her pre-
vious appearances in opera since she
cane to Boston two seasons ago. 1t is a
part that is eminently fitted to her voice
and artistic character. The Countess is
not prey to any violent emotion she is
melancholy, but that mood is quickly
dispelled by jest of Susanna. She is
not bove an intrigue, provided that the
end is innocent and a means of restoring
to her the devotion of her husband. Not
without good reason did hearty and sin
cere applause follow the noble delivery
of Dove Sono.' Mrs. Nordica sang the
music allotted to Susanna with taste and
et~s1 ,f<Nt,.
without piquancy, and without the
coquetry.that argued i'll for the happiness
of Figaro. her husband. The Letter
Aria, as sung by her and Mrs. Games
Story, had double charm, and the de-
mand for its repetition was imperative.