The Portland daily press., 1894-01-06
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Rosedale.

would hold the stage, With the prospect
of becoming a standard drama. The
story of little Arthur May, the child who
stood between a spendthrift, gam bling
ex-coloneI and great estates, his abduc-
ton by Miles McKenna, the chief of
band of Gypsies, and son of faithless
steward of these same estates; his final
restoration to his mother, Lady Florence,
by Elliott Grey, an officer of Lancers, in
love with Rose Leigh, the daughter of
q deceased rector, whose living-as the
English call twas on those same
estates, is most naturally and pathetical-
~ told, and interviewer in it is charm
ing love story, besides plenty of wit and
humor of the best Sort
Audiences of twenty years ago in Port
land have not forgotten the cast at the
old Portland theatre. when the play was
then produced, how admirably Arnold
looked and acted as Elliot Grey, what
strong effective Miles McKenna Matt
Snyder made, how little Lizzie May
Timer won all hearts, But why prolong
the list. For nights the play crowded
the house.
Last night Mr.. Dexter's company from
the Grand Opera house, Boston, brought
out the play at Portland theatre. The
cast was one embracing many names
that have become household Words
among play-goers, and several of them
identified with the successes of the old
Boston Museum. There were Annie
Clarke as Lady Florence, Isabelle Ewes
son as Rose Leigh, Kate Ryan as
Tahitha, Helen Dayne as Sarah Sykes,
Belle Stokes as Lady Adela, Joseph
Haworth as Elliott Grey, Frank keenan,
as Miles McKenna, William Mestayer as
Bun berry Hobbs, Howard Gould as
Matthew Leigh, Mark Price as Col. May,
little Owe Smith as little Arthur May.
and the other characters were in suitable
hands. The smoothness and finish of the
performance were delightful and con-
trasted strongly with the way in which
too many plays are pitchforked on the
stage nowadays. and the stage settings,
while not elaborate, were appropriate
There were especially delightful
moments in the general enjoyment OF the
evening. One of these was the exceed
ingly naturals and amusing scene, in
the second act, where Rose binds
up Elliott's, hand, and that
in the third act where Rose and
Elliott have a tiff followed by Rose
teaching Elliott the Lord Bateman
ballad. Another was that in Matthew
Leigh's cottage where Tabitha refuses to
be gammoned by Col. May only to sue
cumb to Elliott's Establishments, and
where Sarah Sykes enacts the
green English country maid
to the life Still another was
the meeting of Elliott and Miles at
night in the Colonel's home where the
coolness of the man of brains proves
more than a match for the brutality of
the gypsy But the browning scene of
all was of course the gypsy camp, where
Elliott RECEIVERS the child and by his call
of aUp Lancers," brings the gypsies to
their knees with the prospect of future
punishment.
8 Mr.. Haw orth was graceful, natural and
foroible as Elliott, and exhibited avery
pleasing voice in his songs. Mr.. Frank
Keenan as Miles, was warmly welcomed,
and presented superb tiger-eye ring from
the Sheridan Rifles, and magnificent
floral horseshoe and bouquet from Port
land friends. He made very forcible
Miles and was warmly applauded. Miss
Annie Clarke was greeted with hearty
applause and received a hand
some bouquet. Miss Isabelle Evesson is
a very attractive woman personally, and
charming actress Mr.. Mestayer was a
delightful reminder OF class OF actors
who have done SO much for the stage, and
who have few, if any successors. Messrs.
Prices and Gould's abilities are well
known.
The curtain was called at the close of
the second and third acts, three times at
the end of the fourth, and Messrs.
Haworth and Keenan, brought before the
footlights.
The house was probably the greatest
of the year. The free list was suspended,
the house packed and every inch of
standings room taken.
The play will be repeated this evening.
Peck's Bad Boy.
Commencing Monday evening next the
Atkinson Comedy Company will appear
in sPeck's Bad Boy" for two nights
Since the play was seen here last it has
been entirely rewritten, and a large
number of new songs and specialties in
troduced, making it one of the strongest
farce comedy pieces now on the Ameri
can stage. The company consists of
eighteen people carefully selected to pro-
duce this favorite comedy. The company
since it was last here has been in all the
large cities, and we have heard that it is
spoken highly of everywhere. Seats are
now on sale at the box Office.
The Boston Globe.
It is understood that if the owners of
the Globe Theatre property do not see fit
to rebuild it as theatre John Stetson
will build theatre in the city. He said
Wednesday that he knew of several sites
which he could secure, and he thought
it very lik ely that he might take one of
them, as he does not care to go out of
business. Mr.. Stetson says that he does
not intend to try to hire another Boston
theatre in which to carry out his engage
ments for this season. In regard to the
L ;oJ l, l,