The Portland daily press., 1895-01-29
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Cotton King.


1.-THE Cotton King,'' play that has had u
long run at the Bowdoin Square theatre,
Boston, and received the most aattering
praises from press and public. was given for
the fin time in Portland last evening. The
story of the play is this: 1'Jack Osborn.
the son of humble Lancashire parents, has
been to America and made fortune. They
know him in the states as the Cotton
King Chance or destiny. has willed it that
ne should return to England to buy the
Ashton works, where his father and mother
were "hands., In the neighborhood of the
village of Lambton he meets and wine the
heart of Hetty Drayson. who also receives
offers from the villain of the play, Richard
Stockley. Osborn has not yet paid the
last instaIment on the purchase OF the mills,
to provide the cash tor which he has cabled
out to his agents in New York mystic
message. Stockley brides the telegraph
clerk to wire different message; there is
a panic in cotton. and Osborn is penniless.
stocKley then tries to win Osborn's sweet
heart, but the girl sticks to her true love.
Osborn goes to iAmeIica, dealing at the New
York Stock Exchanges and ebecoming a
millionaire. He finally returns TO England
marries his sweethearts and all fss wells the
villiaa, stockley.. Justly suffering for his
crimes a5l3.;s9 29S xKsii.i saJ29aG
Tie Cotton King is good, strong play. 1t
is apparently mixture of All That
GIitters,' 1.-The Factory Girl,' and other
we'll known plays, but for all that it has
merit enough of Its own to Keep large
Audience deeply interested. Of course there
are all the usual improba biiities that mark
the melo-drama constantly coming to the
surface, but everybody expects tnem3 and
gladly welcomes them. AS scenic pro-
duction the Cotton King is great success.
The scene representing work shop in
cotton mill, with an elevator in operation
is seld ON surpassed for elaborateness and
all the points in detail. The rainbow IN the
first act is very realistic. The scene in the
Ashton mills and millyard were excellent.
Mr.. Edward Mawson as John Osborne,
made distinct success. He was earnest
and magnetic. tull of force in the strong
scenes, tender and pathetic in the love
scenes. His description of his incarceration
and escape from the lunatic asylum brought
down the house, orchestra and gallery unit
ing in their tribute. Closely following Mr..
Mawson was Mr.. Giles Shine, as the engine
driver Shillinger. 1t was one of the
strongest and most natural representations
scene on the stage for many day. Botn
Mr.. Mawson and Nh. Shine received calls be-
fore the curtain separate from those that
called out the rest of the company. Miss
Rosalie Katt was effective as Hetty Dray-
son, Jack s sweet heart, while Rose Reaudit
as Kitty Marshall, the female Sandow, was
very attractive. The other characters We're
all well taken.
The Cotton KiLg will be repeated tonight,
Wednesday night and Wednesday matinee.
Don't fail to see it.
Willie Collier in some of the Boys.s
The sale of seats for William Golfers
engagement at the Portland Theatre
Friday and Saturday evenings and Sat
urday afternoon of this week opens at
the box Office this morning at $50
better than the burlesque methods of
farce comedy MIR. Collier is this year
presenting a legitimate comedy by
Edward E. Kidder entitled Gone of the
Boys" Mr.. Collier plays the role of
"Shifless Ike" village youth whose
sole ambition at the opening of the
story seems to be desire to live without
working, and to be considered the tough
est boy in town. In this part Mr.. Collier
is said to be more amusing than ever
before and to display even greater artis-
tic excellence in it's portrayal than be
did as the judge in "Hoss and Hoss.
Many Of his old associates are still in
his supporting company. among them
NJ. L. Heckbert. James B. Gentry. Helen
Reimer and Louise Allen Collier.
Schlotterbeck's Eucalyptol Cream is for