The Portland daily press., 1896-12-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Susie Kerwiu.

PRODUCES number Of taking and stirring |
airs. The choruses at the close Of the |
second and third acts arc strong. The
opera gives the comedians great latitude
for large amount Of business and |
allows some fine costuming. Miss ker-
win played Irene with excellent effect |
and Miss Englander's Queen of Portugal
was marked BY very praiseworthy treat
ment. MIR. Lodge was full of fun, and
Mr.. Flint and Mr.. Kingsley contributed
much in this line. Mr. Ferguson's King
of Portugal and Mr.. Renwiok's Don
Cervaptes, were all we'll taken. A
skillfully executed drill was feature
of the third act.
In the evening "The Two Vag abonds''
drew a good house, for i Is great
favorite, and 1t was given in every good
style. Carmen will be given at the
matinee today and Erminie Will
close the engagement in the evening.
Monbars and The Face in the Moonlight.
The eminent and romantic actor,
Robert Mantell, will be at Portland
theatre, December 2S and 20, opening In
his grand production OF Monbars. Mr..
Mantell is the only actor who now gives
10 finished presentation OF the greatest
play D'Ennery over wrote. lie mounts
IL with magnificent scenery and effects,
and never fails to engages company es-
peciallv adapted to I'LL the exaoting roles
of of the cast. On Tuesday night the
drama selected Is "The Face In the
Moonlight Both of these plays are Mr..
Mantells own property. The second
mentioned was written by Charles Os-
borne. It is powerful melo drama, lot
unlike the Courier de Lyons" The
story is Erenoh one OF the First EN-
pire period; picturesque, romantic and
powerful. OF all Mr.. Mantell's roper
roire, "Monbars'' has been the ladies
favorite and we may look for an ideal
house. D'Ennery, the author, wrote the
"Two Orphans, -" Celebrated Case, land
many other melodramas OF that school,
but in all he never pictured such hero
as Robert Monbars, courageous AZ
lion, handsome as an Apollo and with
love story that thrills the romantic
female heart. In such plays, Robert Man
tell ia himself. He has voice and ply
sique, manly carriage and dresses his
characters to perfection. His love lines
fascinate and his heroic action holds
his audience in awe. A word may be
said of Miss Charlotte Behrends, the
talented leading lady. She has assisted
Mr.. Mantell in his work for many years
and has acquired the perfection necessary
TO inspire star in his grandest scenes.
The company is under the management
OF N. W. Hanley, one of the Oldest and
most responsible impressions. All the
60 uipment of the play Is carried with the
company and perfect ensemble is
insured.
Nordica.
The sale of seats Tor Lillian Nordica's
enga cement at Portland theatre, Decem-
cdr 80, has opened with rush, and the
sale was brisk enough to warrant a
crowded house on the appearance Of this
great songstross.
It is rare indeed that a Maine girl at
| tains such distinction and success as
has been awarded this Pennington
girl. Her way to success has been bril-
liant and fattesing, and she is today one
Of the queens of song.
| Besides the stellar attraction, Nine
Sofia Scalchi is pre-sminently the
worlds famous contralto, while Barron
Bsrthold, Isadore Luckstone, J. G.
Dempsey and other celebrated artists and
brilliant features in tie fine programme
tb At is to be offered. We advise those
who intend purchasing tickets to do so
at once.
The Chicago Herald commenting ON
the recent concert given in that city by
Mime. Nortica and her company, says:
"The simple chfonicler of events would
| have his hands more than full to to II
of the happenings at the Auditorium
when Mime. Nordica at the head ct
superb combination, Effected her re.
entrance upon the American concert
platform. The reader who call recall
the Incidents which marked Pade-
reswsi's concert asst season will require
but little help to call up the pictures
of last night. The re was the same bril-
liant congregation of people in the same
handsome frame Of mind; the same de-
vout listening to the music, as If it were
an angel on which hung everlasting
things; the same steady growth of en-
thusiasn,, which began in conventional
applause and ended In cheers and shouts.
But above and beyond all, there was
marvellous music, which, while it chal-
lenged critical Judgment, SO that its real
value might become fully known, made
the duty OF prenouncing that judgment
wait upon the record of the effect pro-
duced 1t was a night Of musical por-
tent, and the horoscope Of the celebrated
artists predicted that they would have
wonderful success. And they had it. "
English Ballad Concert.
The third entertainment In the St.
Lawrence Aid course was given at City
hall last evening by the Albion Male
| Ouartette of Boston, assisted bysMisS S.