The Portland daily press., 1894-02-05
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Isle of Champagne.

A packed house, andIsign mo. standing
ROOM at the box Office, greeted the Isle
of Champagne at Portland Theatre Sat
urday night. The extravaganza has been
very much overrated. 1t is true that it
is put on the stage in very handsome
manner; the costumes are rich, the
girls are we'll favored and several of the
scenes pretty. The choruses are strong
and ensembles well delivered But it
lacks pretty songs and duos, quartettes
and other concerted music. Mr.. Sea-
brooke is quite funny, but there is too
much Seabrooke. There is nobody else
that has much of anything to do worth
speaking of. or they are unable to do it
if they have. The young woman who
took the part of the New Bedford girl
was unequal to the vocal requirements,
and evidently had nothing special to do.
The Prince, the son of King Pommery,
could sing, but he hadn't anything spec
ial to make his part recognizable. These
too seemed to be shut out of the piece
for no earthly object whatever. The
Kings body guard, Mort and Chandon,
were rather amusing in their dances
The ballet dancing was very common
place. Miss Elvia Crox got a hand in the
"Song of All Nations" which was the
funniest and best thing in the extrava-
gnnza, because Seabrooke's talents had
admirable scope in it. This and the
"Prodigal Son. song received several en-
cores
Lewis Morrison and his company
should receive cordial welcome at the
Portland Theatre this and Tuesday even
ings in his dramatization of Goethe's
Faust" Mr.. Morrison's protrayal of
Mephistopheles is called beautiful piece
of finished acting. Heshas magnificent
voice under perfect control, unusual
scope of facial expression, fine stage
presence, captivating grace of move
ment and a perfect conception of the
character that he portrays Gathered
about him is strong supporting COM
pany, and the setting of the scenery and
the mechanical and electrical effects pro-
vided enhance the performance in high
degree. When Mr.. Morrisou's company
was in this city last season he was pre-
vented from playing by illness, this sea-
son, however, his health is excellent and
he will positively appear.
Injured Innocents.
There can be but four more rehearsals
for Injured Innocents before the grand
public performances, commencing
Thursday night. If you don't know
what an awfully funny show this is go
ing to be, you had better get tickets at
Stockbr1dge's at once, and find out
Those ''kids'' will make your eyes wat
er, the Cuffs will chill the very mar
row IN your bones, and the ballerinas
will knock Senorita Franaschina Paris,
of the Isle of Champagne. silly. When
the curtain rises at City Hall, Thursday
night, what a sight that audience will
see. r"Fs
Mr.. Rice's revival of an original feature
in "Adonis,'' the duchess's tigers, is
proving great hit. In his customary
manner Mr. Rice has surrounded his star
with bevy of pretty and shapely girls.
Several new musical features have been
arranged for future performances OF
"Adonis," beginning with the third
week Monday next, and following a GUS
tom which made the run of ''1492'' last
season at the Park so successful and the
attraction such a popular one, Mr.. Rice
will continue to do the same in his pre-
sensations of Henry E. Dixey in "Adon-
isl A feature next week will be Bon
ME Thornton, who will introduce some
of her latest songs. 1t will be remem-
bered that last season in "1492'' Mr..
Rice brought her on from New York to
introduce to the Boston public some of
the latest and most popular songs.
women's Literary Union.
The second entertainment of the Wom-
ems Literary Union was held at the Sec
end Advent church Saturday afternoon.
The following was the programme:
Piano duet, Misses Caswell and Trickey;
vocal solo,, Miss Small, with violin obi
cato by Miss Beebe; illustrated lecture,
''Scenes in Sunny Italy, by Rev. Abram
Conklin; trio, violin, cello and piano, by
the Misses Beebe and Caswell. There
was a large audience present which list
ened with the closest attention to the
lecture. The views were very fine. and
were clearly thrown upon the canvas.
Notes.
If all the ladies who attend injured
Innocents'' will remove their hats, the
entertainment will be held UP by future
historians as the beginning of the millen-
mum, and the blessings of posterity will
be showered upon them who thus make
the event memorable.
Miss Isabelle Evesson, who is well re-
Numbered in this CITY from her clever