The Portland daily press., 1894-02-02
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Rossini Club Concert.

The Rossini Club gave one of their de-
| lightful concerts at Kotzschmar Hall last
evening to an audience that filled almost
every seat The effect was very pleasing
as the members of the club took seats on
the stage, almost all of them dressed in
white. Vases of flowers decorated the
platform.
It is sufficient to say that the concert
fully upheld the deserved reputation of
the society. The programme was made
up most satisfactorily, and embraced
severa' numbers by members who have
not been heard in public, as well as those
of the ladies whose abilities are we'll
known in musical circles. We caunot
fail to speak of the hearty encores ex-
tended Miss Florence G. Knight and Miss
Ida King Tarbox, the former for her de-
| lightfuliy clear and artistic rendering of
s'Will O. the Wisp" from De Koven's
'Fencing Master" and the latter for her
rendering of the aria from LA Dame
Blanche" Miss Tarbox was presented
basket of beautiful roses. Miss Marian
Weeks in her piano solo "Au Mdtin'
displayed an agreeable touch, and refined
and artistic feeling. Miss Margaret Davis
and Mrs. Herbert Payson showed the eff
| feet of careful training and conscientious
study in their rendering of Mozart's
Sonata in G Major. Miss Helen Lamson
| displayed much ability in the piano solo
ssDer Jagd,' and Miss Margaret Goodwin
played reverie by Warner with exquisite
| feeling. The numbers of Mrs. johnson,
| Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Thompson,
Mrs. Henry St. John Smith, Miss Alice
Philbrook and Miss Kicker were of course
all that could be expected.
| Isle of Champagne.
Mr.. Thoas @. Seabrooke at the head of
| his superbly oragnized lyric comedy or
ganization will appear at the Portland
Theatre tomorrow in a grand presenta-
| ton of this novel and humorous bur-
lasque The Isle of Champagne" Thi-
| delightful work, with its wealth of spec
| tacular features, extensive cast, strong
choruses and dazzling ballet, has I'M
hesitatingly been pronounced one of the
most brilliant and entertaining
productions of the past sea-
son. Mr.. Seabrooke seems to have
found the opportunity of his
life in the droll role of King Pommery
Second, the highly exhilarated monarch
of "The isle of Champagne While Mr..
Seabrooke rules the scene with comic
originality and vigor, he does not usurp
the opportunities offered by the author,
for the rest of the compasny to do some
remarkably effective work. Hence, a
smooth performance is insured. The
mounting of the opera is noticeable in
point of brilliant elaboration and novel
effects. Add to this, Mr.. Seabrooke has
selected company of artists of the fore
most rank in their seversl lines, also a
chorus and ballet superior to the usual
assortment of talent and charms provid-
| ed in comic opera. Taken altogether,
| "The Isle of Champagne" possesses quail
| ties that entitle it to distinction as.being
| by far the most attractive effort yet con-
tributed to the American stage, in the
way of light opera. Miss Elvia Crox is
a prominent mem Der of the company in
the role of Diana, the Belle of the Isle.
Injured Innocents.
When the hour of seven arrived yes
| terday it was pretty we'll used up crowd
| that presented themselves for numbers
at Stock bridges. One man had sat all
night in an arm chair, wrapped in a
buffalo robeand wearing a great felt wide
| awake hat AS most all of those present
had right to buy thirty seats for the
three nights, it took a good while to sell
| the seats when 9o'clock came. But there
are plenty of good seats, for it must be
! remembered that there arethree preform-
ances. The earlier you apply the better
seats you will get. Cushman Hall has
| been merry with the sounds of singing
and fun for some weeks, and now as
the time for the performance APPROACH
es the rehearsals are increasing in inter-
est. The Athletic Club has been fortu-
nate in the men selected to engineer the
opera. Mr.. Elliott G. Mitchell, who has
the general management of the affair, is
too well known to our an usement lovers
to need any words from us. He has proba-
bly, furnished more fun and amusement
to our people than anyone else in Port
land. In addition to attending to the
thousand and one details OF manage
ment, Mr.. Mitchell has had entire charge
of the rehearsals of the opera and has
succeeded in getting fine work out of
the chorus. The rehearsals now include |
the stage business and the way Mr.. |
james Gilbert puts the performers
through their parts and Mr.. NJ B. Gilbert |
makes the ballerinas hop about, and |
brings out the excellent preliminary prep |
arations of Mr.. Mitchell.
Lewis Morrison.
This sterling actor in his great dra-
n,atic and spectacular production of |