The Portland daily press., 1896-01-18
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
1492,

City Hall last evening in "1492' to al
audience that was only limited by the
seating capacity. The burlesque has been
changed great deal since 1t was first
seen here and not entirely to its advan.
tage. We also missed Harlow as the
Daisy Queen of Spain, and the charm
ing Theresa Vaughan, whose singing was
delight. But the audience WAS evident
Iy we'll pleased judging by the applause
and encores.
The burlesque is handsomely costumed
and there are many shapely girls who
display their figures literally The
kaleidoscope massing of handsome scenery
and the fine costumes under the glare OF
the lime light is very striking, but
right here we want to say that the man
ner in which the calcium lights, and this
electric lights, is handled is something
terrible on persons eyesight. The calci-
um should be placed in the front OF the
balcony and it's rays shot over the heads
of the people instead of striking on the
lid of the piano in the orchestra, causing
a reflection like that Of the sun on a
mirror and throwing huge shadows on
the scenery.
In the introduction to the second act
Mr.. Stevens, in singing the new song,
does not meet with that success which
was the lot Of the sweetly sung AVA
Maria" formerly. During the course of
this act is a burlesque on Trilby by
Miss Maud Courtenay. wherein she sings
the popular old ballad "Ben Bolt, "
while under the influence Of Will H.
Sloan, as Svengali it was well rendered,
but the most decided hits of the second
act last night were the two original
songs of John Keefe as Sheriff Hayseed.
Tremendous applause followed his exit
and he was obliged to return twice.
AS tramp, and a musical one, Will
81. Sloan had the advantage. of originali-
ty. The appearance of the Stars and
Strips born by the guards in escorting
Columbus upon his landing in America
was loudly applauued. In the third act
the scene opens in the kitchen Of the
royal palace. and the second scene repre-
sents Spanish palace up to date.
The principals are: Christopher Colum-
bus, Raymond Stevens; King Ferdinand,
VIM. H. Sloan; the Royal Treasurer,
Charles Seagrave; Sheriff Hayseed from
Slab Hollow, VT, John Keefe; Infanta
Johanna, in love with Columbus, Miss
Maud Uourtenay; Isabella, Queen of
Spain, Mark Smith.
''149s" will be presented at the NATL
nee and evening performances today. ..
Colleen Bawn.
This beautiful story Of Irish life in the
days of '9s, will be presented at Portland
Theatre on the evenings of Thursday and
Friday, February 9th and 7th. Those
who enjoy peep into the rural life o
Ireland in the days of oppressed peasan-
try, will have their w'shes gratitled. A
number of Irish S. e, expressing the
deep celtic sentiment, will be sung by
some of Portlands well-known artists.
Too Much johnson.
William Gillette and his successful
comedy, Too Much johnson, comes to
the Portland theatre Monday evening,
with a prestige of an entire seasons run
in New York. where the play received its
first production last September. and
scored the one big triumph of the season,
playing continuously for ten months at
one theatre in the faoe of bad times
and all kinds of competition.
Gillette has been most successful
diences laugh. and success has always at
tended his serious efforts. His "Held
by the Enemy was the first great play
based on the War of tho Rebellion. His
lighter achievements, include
'sThe Professor y and ssThe Priavte Seo-
retary," and later with sMr. Wilkinson's s
Widows" Then he had a. share, too,
with Mr.. Burnett in writing "Esmer-
alda,'' which was great comedy triumph
IN it's day. In "Too Much johnson"
Gillette has his dual reputation of play
wright and actor at stake, as he himself
ILLS the role OF the hero, who is Wall
street broker, who. though married man
fs lured into Irritation with a pretty
French woman, also married. This
breker fools his wife by making her be-
1ieTe that when he is away from home he
is making trip to Cuba, where he has
just purchased a sugar plantation. The
BrobeSquely humorous complications or
the play are worked out by the author S
deft hand in remarkable way.
Notes.
Miss Ellsn Beachlaw, the beautif u
young soprano, assisted by Mr.. Dick
violinist, and Miss Day pianist, will give
a concert City Hall about February
18th, under the management of Mr.. Will
liam H. Wing.
s'Tbe Tornado will be seen at Port
land Theatre next Friday and Saturday.
Miss Virginia Harmed, who retired
from the cast of "Trilby' several months
ago, has become an heiress through the
death of an aunt, who LETT her Sac, 600.
Miss Harmed has gone to Cum berland,
Nd, where the estate is being settled.