The Portland daily press., 1895-03-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Pauline Hall in Dorcas.

Last evening a remarkably fine audi
ence gathered in Portland theatre to
witness the first performance in this
city of Dorcas," light opera in three
acts, the music by Max Hirschfeld, who
was also the musical director, and the
Iibretto by the Paulsons who are the
authors also of "Erminie" and "Niobe.n
The reputation that has preceded the
opera is we'll deserved, from musical
point of view. Mr.. Hirschfeld has done
excellent work. His solos and concerted
numbers are tuneful, bright ard at
times rise to dignity that is not COM
mon to this form of musical writing.
But the iibretto is not so satisfactory.
1t is rather stupid in its dialogue and
it's salvation is the perversion of words
by Griselda, the old nurse and mpan-
ion of Lady Lam bourne, who is sort of
Mrs. Malaprop.
The plot is easily told. Lady Honoria
wishes to marry Lord Beauregard
but each desires to become acquainted
with the other incognito. The Lord
DISCUSSES himself as secretary to Hon
oria's brother, while she takes the dress
of peddler and later that of a simple
landlords wife. Neither suspects the
truth, and after complications, some con-
ventional, some decidedly broad, all
ends as it should with the lovers united.
Miss PaulineHall is an actress of great
versatility as was easily shown in the
several characters of the doll peddler,
the landlords wife, and the great lady
of society. Upon her first appearance
as the doll peddler she was greeted with
the heartiest applause, and her roll;ck-
ing manner, her chic ways, and.her adj
Inirable rendering of the doll song, cap
tured ner audience at once. AS the rus
tic landlady she was equally good, and
finally when she appeared in her true
character as the Lady Honoria, her arch
ness, grace and dignity were alike de-
lightful. She costumed the part with
her usual good taste. Her duet in the
second act with Mr.. F. Mathematical
Beauregard-was delightful and an en-
grand voice and method charmed the
musical people of the town who were
present In large numbers.
Miss Jeanette St. Henry not only cos
TUNED the part of Dora, Lady Lam
bourne, richly, but she sang very sweet
ly. She is a graceful actress and has q
delightful voice, we'll trained, and the
chess song i'll the second act with Mr..
Mich elena, was twice encored. 1t was
charming both in suggestion and in the
admira BILE manner in which it was sung.
Miss Kate Davis as Griselda, in he1
quaint costume of the period, and
couture, made one of the great hits OF
the evening. In the poly glot song neal
the close of the second act-one of the
best num- ers in the opera-she was ex.
tremely funny, and double encore was
the result.
Mr.. NJ ichelena. as Lord Blarngood, has
tenor voice of great sweetness and..con.
siderable power, and is one of the mos
agreeable singers We have heard in opera
for a long time. His soloain the second
act, Music" he was compelled to re-
peat. Mr.. Chilvers made spirited an6
satisfactory Lord Lam bourne, and Mr..
Charles H. Bradshaw strong and anus
ing. country landlord. The other charac
tiers were well taken. The orchestrs
was good and effectively directed by Mir.
Hirschfield. The audience was spontap.
eous and very enthusiastic, redemand.