The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-07
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
wilbur Opera Company.

| Next Monday evening the Wilbur OPP
era Company will commence at the Port
| land Theatre the second engagement
ever PLAYED by the organization in this
city. Two years ago the company was
unanimously acknowledged to be the
best that had ever appeared in this city
at popular prices. This season it is
stronger than ever. Commencing Tues
day matinee will be given each day,
making total of eleven performances in
all. No opera is to be repeated during
the engagement At each performance,
after the close of the opera, series of "a
living pictures will be presented. As
given by this company. the pictures are
acknowledged to be the finest shown by
any travelling company, and equal to
those produced in New York and Boston.
Seats. for any of the eleven performances
may now be obtained at the box Office.
The Amazons. Nafs
In these days in Maine, when woman
suffrage is being agitated to a greater
extent than ever before. Pinero's happy
conceit, "The AmazonsD appeals to it's
audience with more than usual force
The play, like Gilbert & Sullivan's OPP
eras. is clever satire. and the female
craze of the past few years on the part
of the sex to appear mannish," and the
dramatist has handled his subject with
much skill. But, in the hands OF less
competent company of players than that
Mr.. Charles Frohinan introduced to
Portland audience last evening, we fear
that the play. might prove little disap-
pointing, for it's success depended more
upon the clever acting OF the ladies and
gentlemen of the east, than the
brightness of the dialogue, which at
times seemed little forced.
The plot Of the play we have already
published; how Lady Castlejordan's
three daughters are brought up like
boys, owing to the failure of their moth
| err to bless her marriage with sons, and
these boy-girls were the loves of two
English and one French Noblemen, who
intrude upon Overcote Park and. in
| single day make the acquaintance OF the
girls and win their love. Perhaps there
should lie an exception made III the case
of Viscount Litterly. who has met Lady
Noeline in London, and rescued her
when disguised as man, she lnterfered
to save a girl from rowdy, and then,
woman-like, tainted away and was taken
to the viscounts' lodgings Two of 1.-The
three acts occur in the castle park, and
the other at Oyercote Hall.
| In the production of the piece last eve
ming. as we have said, it was fortunate
in it's cast. Miss tombstone Bennett
whose "Janen in the play of that name
gave her reputation the country over
was the Lady Thomasin, mannish to a
degree. Her carriage, her movements,
he L manner, her countenance, were all
in harmony with the character, and
when she took the fence" she did it in
great shape. Miss Maule Odell-who,
it was said last night, is the daughter
of former Portland resident-was par
ticularIy good as Lady Neoline. She
wore her mans costume with grace and
delicacy, her acting was spontaneous
and natural, and her variety
of expression, charming. MISS
E1uine Ellison was effective as the
LADY Wilhelmina, while Miss Louise
Rial was an excellent Sergeant
Shutter. OF the men, Mr.. George Alison,
who assumed the part of Viscount Lit
terly, was exceedingly good, and his
scenes with Lady Noeline, especially
that in which she tattooed the letter N"
on his arm, was delightful. Mr.. Stod
dard oayeyan admirable character sketch
of the Earl Tweenwayes, whose family
was historic, and his expression and
manner were capital, particularly in the
tea-fight in the castle grounds. Mr..
Beaumont Smiths Count Greval was
good in its way as Mr.. Stoddard's Tween
waves was in his, and the other charac-
tiers were well taken, the dog especially.
MIR. Smith showed himself a man of ac-
complishments in his singing, and play
ing on the guitar and piano, and Miss
Bennett did very clever bit of work
with the indian clubs. The curtain was
called at the end of each act. The audi
ence was representative one even if it
did not crowd the house. The orchestra
unuef MT. drau, leHuelo" oHetf SelectlOnS
very satisfactorily.
| Mr. Mitchell later VIII furnish novel
ties among the best known on the stage.
| The KendalIs, Fanny Davenport in "Gis-
monda," Nine. Modjeska, and many
others are engaged.
Kellar.
Keliar will be seen in Portland at the
City Hall tomorrow evening with an alb,
solutely new performance, in which he
will exhibit hele for the first time the
marvels which he has CLEANED abroad in
faithful study of the latest scientific
and marvellous developments of old world
Inagicians. Among these are "The
Mystic Light Of Bala," which has puz-