The Portland daily press., 1895-09-18
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The New Madalene.


Miss Ada Gray appeared at Portland
Theatre last evening in the 'fNew NADIA
lene,'' play familiar to old theatre-go-
ers. 1t is play that has many strong
points 1t is an outgrowth of the Franco
PrussiAn war.
Mercy Merrick was woman who had
been an inmate of a house OF refuge.
She had good impulses. She had tried
to be q reformed woman. Wherever she
went as soon as her past life was known,
she had to change her vocation. Finally
she became nun 50 in the French hospi
tai corps, and whilo with the army there
was an attack one night by the Germans
Before the attack an English girl had
sought protection at the French head
quarters. She was bound for England
to be taken under the care of her aunt,
for her mother was dead, and her father
consigned his child to her aunt's care
who had never seen her. A piece of
shell, from the German guns, strikes the
young girl and she is pronounced killed
by the French surgeon. The French re-
tire The Germans enter the French
headquarters. An inspiration comes to
Mercy Merrick. She takes the girl s
peril to guide her and assumes her name
with safe conduct to England The Ger
man surgeon, however, finds that the
young girl was not killed, but suffering
from concussion of the brain. He
restores her to life. Mercy assumes the
girls character in London, is cared for
by Lady Janet Ray. meets Julian Gray,
who falls in love with her and Of course
is brought to book in the end by the
girl whose name and position she has
taken, and thus a strong picture is
drawn of the hardness of the path Of the
transgressor.
The characters were well taken. Miss
Gray as Mercy Merrick was warmly ap-
tional scenes. Mr. Charles Tingay took
the part of Julian Gray, Mr.. W. F..
Devere was very good as the German
surgeon Witsell, Mr.. Keane was good as
Holmcroft, the newspaper correspondent.
Tonight East Lynne will be presented
HenTys
Thursday night Hi Henry's minstrels
will be seen at Portland theatre An ex-
change says of the company
s'There is the customary first part with
good jokes and strong musical features.
Then follows a trip around the world in
ten minutes taken by the aid OF the
camera and some interesting stereoptican
views and accompanied by singing. The
second part includes champion solo dane
ing, acrobatic feats, the funny pickanin-
nies, specialties by Deming, horizontal
bar performers and the premium quin
tette. The third act introduces Hi Henry
and his cornet, and the full band. The
fourth and concluding portion introduces
the Lanselle's living bronze statuary.
All these 6pecialties are excellent and
won liberal applause and frequent en-
cores The show is well worth seeing
and enjoying
The Derby Mascot.
The "Derby Mascot is a rising play
and it is announced that it will be put on
the boards at Portland theatre Friday
night in excellent style. Little Kate
Rooney is in the piece. Two car loads OF
special scenery are promised two thor
ough- bred race horses, King Faro and
Gray Bruce, ten buck and ring dances.
One of the most exciting scenes will be
that in which King Faro will make a
wonderful leap over a railroad crossing.
There will be beautiful swamp scene,
and most realistic gallows scene,
which, with the great Derby race itself,
make tremendous attraction.