The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-22
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Robin Hood.

be, to follow in the footsteps OF any
other organization that has won great
fame and popularity under the same OF
similar name. The company that ap-
peared at City Hall last evening was
placed in Just such position. The Bos-
tonians. the most noted operatic organ
ization in this country, had appeared IN
Portland several times in DeKoven's de-
liphtfuI opera of robin Hoodn. with
Karl. MacDon aid, Barnabee Cowles.
Marie Stone and Jessie Bartlett Davis
in the CAST, and last night the roles they
had impressed upon the memory of all
music lovers were assumed by ladies and
gentlemen who, we have no doubt, had
never been heard..of by the majority OF
the audience. 1t is therefore great praise
to say that they won place in the re-
gard of their hearers, that their efforts
were greeted with marked applause, and
that the principal member were entnus-
1astically encored. We will venture to
assert in the face of the same adverse
criticisms, that if the old Bostonians
had never been heard in the opera pre-
sented last night, that there would have
beensan even stronger impression of the
performance left on the minds OF the
carers.
The great strength of the opera as pre-
sented by this company lies in the
strong, we'll balanced, we'll drilled Choir
us, with its good quality and body of
tone. The various concerted numbers
gave a great deal of pleasure. Mr.. Cavas-
SAINT as Will Searet. proved a possessor
of a powerful bass voice, which he used
artist cally, and won deserved encores for
his rendering of the sold Cross Bow
which Cowles made famous-and the
aArmorers' Song.p He also acted with
good discretion and much spirit. Then
there was Mr.. Basi Tetson, the Lite
John, who gave October Alen with SO
much expression and in such excellent
voice-and was so admirably assisted by
the chorus-that the audience encored
the number Miss elmer as Annabel,
sang an interpolated number when
dressed for the wedding in the last act
so sweetly, and in such harmony with
the spirit of the opera that she was also
warmly recalled. Miss Mary Palmer,
as Allan-a-Dale, sang the "Chlmes Of
St.Swithins" with much taste .-and also
her solo in the second act Miss RISKY,
as Maid Marian, and Mr.. Macreary as
Robin Hood, were heard at their best in
the concerted music. Clement Her
schell made a good deal of fun, a la Barn
abee, as the sheriff. and SO did Mr.. Mic
koids as Friar Tuck, Miss Agnes Stone,
bo5r hrr off
as Dame burden, and Mr.. David as
Guy of Osborne.
The opera was picturesquely staged
and costumed, and the orchestra under
Mr.. Smiths leadership did good work.
Robin Hood will be prepeated at the
matinee today, and "The Knie ker book
erso will be given tonight. i /. a. Ga
Much Ado About Nothing +
4 The most learned of the commentators
on Shakespeare have agreed in pro-
nouneing Much Ado about Nothing"
one of the most perfect creations of his
genius. 1t is supposed to be one of the
later productions from the poets pen.
and there seems to be internal evidence
in the finish and style to warrant this
another of the numerous plays of Shaks-
peare that affords such an example of his
power to interest an audience by Incl
dents and beauty of language, independ-
ent of plot. Few of his plays contain a
mora attractive group of characters than
Beatrice, Benedlck, Dogberry, Hero
and Claudio. 1t is as Beatrice, role
particularly well suited to her, that
Mime. Rhea will appear at. the Portland
Theatre next Monday evAhng, supported
by company that is highly spoken of.
shore Acres.
Town Topics, in criticism of Mr..
Herne's masterpiece of the playright's
art said the following: "Shore Acres"
is as delicately and simply beautiful as
a morning glory. Its characters are SO
clear and commanding, SO delightfully."-
quaint and ingenious, its sentiments are
SO poetic its moral Is so sweet, that he
who can resist or miss it's influence is
either superaesthetic or mentally ross. !"
Thursday evening of next week Mr.. Herne
will once more appear at the Portland
Theatre. All who saw MIR. Herne in
Shore Acres" last season will wish to
see him again.
Gentleman Jack
This morning at $50 the sale of seats
for Corbetts engagement begins at the
box Office at the Portland Theatre in
"Gentleman Jack" next Friday evening.
1t has been over three years since Corbett
has been seen in this city, and then it
was before be had earned his world wide
reputation. Undou btedy he and his
company will be greeted by an immense
audience.
Notes.
Bosworth Post will bring out the
"German Volunteer" with Charlie Col
Inns in the title role on the first week in
November, opening at City Hall with
the new scenery.