The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Joe OFT in Star Gazer.

Joe OFT in Star Gazer.
There are very few new stars who
started out the first of this season to win
stellar honors still left in the magic
circle. Among this few is Joe OFT, the
well known and very popular young
eccentric comedian, who severed his con
nectionlwith "The Dazlzer,n at the close
of last season, and started out on his
own hook in a comedy written for him
by FrankIyn Vice, entitled 1.-The Star
Gazer." Coming from a distinctively
theatrical family, and schooled in the art
of comedy since childhood, passing
through the various stages, he has risen,
step by step, until, having added to his
inherent talents and resources an orig
inality of execution, after the style of
no other comedian, living or dead, he
stands today as the leading exponent of
eccentric comedy. In his line he is une-
qualled, his style so entirely novel that
the public warmly welcomes him as
change from the routine of tradition.
Mr.. OFT is to appear at the Portland The
atre Friday and Saturday evenings and
Saturday afternoon of this week.
The Melba Concert.
The orders now III the hands OF. Mr..
Stock bridge and the applications for
seats received by every mail point to an
overwhelming success for the Melba con-
cert at City Hall on Tuesday evening,
March 9Th. The curiosity in regard to
the star" and the interest to hear the
famous Australian prima donna. whose
success on both sides Of the A atlantic has
been SO brilliant and complete. is only
natural. Rarely indeed does an artist
appear whose performances are SO salts
factory that the metropolitan critics.
without a Dissenting voice, characterize
her singing as the perfection of vocaliza-
ton.
Nine. Melba will be heard in
variety of operatic selections that are
well calculated to display her marvel
lous abilities to the best advantage. The
concert, in other respects will possess
many features of great atractiveness.
Miss Edmands. Mr.. Watkin Mills, Mr.
Adamowski, Mons. Mole. and the mem
artists of the first rank. Mr.. Watkin
Mills, who makes his debut here on this
occasion, is said to be one of the most
accomplished concert singers of the day
in England. For several years past his
name has been associated with every
ed Kingdom, which tends to prove the
high estimation in which his abilities
are held by connoisseurs and the public
at large. Mr.. Mills's voice is sonorous,
| rich and of extensive register. In ap-
pearance he is typical Englshman,
tall, vigorous and erect The sale of
seats op ems at Stock BRIDGES music store
this morning, at 9 o'clock. Numbers
given out at z. Only twelve tickets can
be bought by one person.
The New Boy.
The Boston Herald says: "The New
Boy" a farce-comedy of the English
school, by Arthur Law, delighted a
large audience at the Columb ia Theatre
last. evening. 1t is designated as farce
comedy, but there is an absence of the
come characteristic features of that d.
vision of dramatic construction. In
truth, it is pure comedy, full of sparkle
and wit, and bubbling over with laugh
| ter-exciting situations. Beautiful scenic
accessories are used nowadays by the
skillful manager to bolster up dramatic
product in that would be stale, fiat and
Improbable without their aid, hut Mr..
Laws delightful skit tickles the
palate without the aid of scenic condi-
| ments, the action taking place in one
room of DR.. Candy's academy, for boys"
| James L. Powers in the title role crea-
| ted laughter interminable. Rachel Booth
as Nancy Roach was pretty and piquant,
| Helen Kinnaird as Mrs. Rennick met all
the requirements of the part, r.. f. Cot
ton as Felix Roach WAS very effective,
and the rest of the cast contributed ma
terially to the strength of the comedy as
whole. THE New Boy" is another
good thing" push again.
"The New Boy" is to be at City Hall
next Monday. Sale opens at Center &
McDowelPs on Thursday, at a. m.
Notes.
| The numerous photographs of the va
rious mem bers of the New Boyn compa-
ny are attracting lots of attention
around town,