The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-13
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Fatal Gard.

tertainment melo-drama that has de-
lighted packed audiences tor several sea-
sons in London and New York, that for
three months crowded the Boston Musem,
and employees in the cast 20 picked actors,
the lovers of the drama should crowd
City Hall when it is offered to them.
Last night was the first of the production
here of such a melo-drama, '"The Fatal
Card" and if ringing applause, curtain
calls, and, when that had been done, still
unsatisfied, the actors had to respond by
their presence beforeSthe curtain, it will
be seen that the play made decided hit.
We have given the plot of the play on a
former occasion. The first act, the scene
of the mining camp, is rather disappoint-
ing. 1t seems too common place In it's
dialogue and its framework, but from
that point the interest fast increases. The
scene insAustins office in the third act
is novel and extremely powerful. The
villains in the Office on one side of the
hallway listening to the angry discussion
between the banker and his son in the
bankers office on the other side; the
the son returning to ask pardon of the
father, knocking at the Office door and
pleading with the father who lies inside
stretched cold in death with the murder
ers bending over him, and finally as one
OF the villains glides away with the
blood-stalned booty under his arm, he is
recognized by the woman the principal
scoundrel has deserted. These scenes are
photographed on the brain of the specta-
tor by the remarkably realistic character
of the acting. Mr.. Giles Shine. that
excellent actor. was exceedingly strong
and Mr.. Holt as the leader of the gang of
villains, George Forester, alias Mara
BILE. These two characterizations stood out
in bold relief last night among SO many
other good portraitures. Again in the
third act. the scene where Dixon has taken
the key from Burgess and Marrable COM
pels him to give it to him, the key that
would hang him as damning evidence of
his completely in the murder, was a very
finished bit of acting on the part of Mr..
Holt. In fact the latter's quiet, forceful
acting Throughout made much of the
success of the play.
Mr. George Alison as Gearld was very
good indeed, and at no time better than
in the last act where he stands ON the
upper step in the cottage and deies the
band of outlaws from whom he can ex-
pet no mercy. He was also good in the
love scenes with Miss Busby, who made
charming Margaret, and who had an
opportunity to show her power in her adj
mirable scene with her father, Marrable,
in the third act Mr.. McRae as Harry
Burgess and Miss Wood as Cecile were
very happy in pretty little scene when
Cecile discovers him at his bath, which
evoked shouts of laughter. Miss Adrienne
Desrolles was effective as Mercedes, the
woman who was originally the pal Of
Marrable, and Mr.. Herman gave correct
representation of Capt. Dixon. OF course
the other parts were well taken.
The last scene in the drama where
Marrable winds up the bomb that is ex-
peoted to blowyoung Austen to pieces, is
one of thrilling intensity and held the au-
dience last night so still that the ticking
of the machine SO plainly heard, empha-
sizing the terrible situation.
1t is to be hoped that our theatre goers
will take advantage of the two nights
and matinee that the piece will be re-
peated, to crowd the house. This is the
most expensive company that has been
seen hero for years. Mr.. Frohman has
selected it with great care and his Iiber-
ality and taste is shown In the excellence
OF the entertainment. Tickets at Stock
bridges.
Gilbert Opera Company.
Mr.. j. A. Gilbert is SO we'll known to
Portland people that the announcement
that he will bring an opera company to
Portland Theatre next week will attract
large audiences to that place of enter
tainment. Mr. Gilbert's company has
been playing through the State with
great success. The press have only good
words to say for ii. They open Monday
night in 'Billee Taylor" Besides the
opera, Mr.. Gilbert will present "Living
Pictures" in the best style. 1t is remem
bered how popular Living Pictures,,
were here last season. Tickets are on
sale at the box office.
The reserved seats for the performances
Of this charming little comic opera will
be on sale at Cressy. Jones & Aliens
Dec. Is, when the numbers will be given
out at O'Clock, and the tickets sold All
9 o'clock. The performances will be
given at Kotzschmar hall tor the benefit
of the Children's Ward of the Maine Cen
erel Hospital.
The Representatives. Concert,
1t will be great delight to all our citi-
zens to once more hear Mrs. Annie Cary
Raymond's voice In concert, and not
only her, but that of her sister, Mrs
Ada Cary McKenney. This great event
will take place ON Wednesday evening
Dec. 18th. Miss Sally Akers, the niece
of Paul Akers, Names great scpultor,
will be the beneficiary, and her voice is
highly spoken OF by all who nave heard
it. Miss Clementina Varney is fine
vocalist. and Miss Geraldine Morgan has
the highest enconiums as a violinist. MIR
Murray will accompany. Tickets now on
sale at Stockbridge's.