The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-08

O'Conpor as an elocutionist is easily at
the head OF all amateur talent aud those
who love to hear good lines we'll recited
should not fail to be present. OF the
chorus we will speak later.
The Gay Parisians,
Last night 1.-THE Gay Parisians'' which
has had such run at the Boston Muse
um was presented at Portland theatre by
one of Charles Frohman's companies.
The audience packed the house and shout
ed and laughed from the beginning to
end of the play, at the many aburdities
that run through this farce comedy.
The story of the play deals with the
domestic troubles of Joseph Pinglet,
master builder, and his wife, Angelique,
and Mr.. Paillard, an architect, and his
wife Maroella. Mr.. Paillard has been
staying away from home great deal at
night, on pretense of having business
engagements that kept him out of town,
and Marcelln. his young wife. has grown
suspicious that all is not right In the
first ct, Mr.. an Mrs. Paillard are max
ing morning call on the Pinglets, who
are their next door neighbors, when Mr.
Palllard announces that he has made an
engagement to stay at hotel in the city
that night, to try to find out for the
proprietor what is the matter with one of
the apartments in the hotel, which Ia
supposed to be haunted. Marcella prompt
ly declares that he shall not stay away
from her another night, and quarrel
ensues, in which MT. and Mrs. Pinglet
take Marcella's part and Mr.. Paillard
leaves them in high anger, but yowing
that he will keep his engagement. Mrs.
IPinglet, having announced hor intention
of visiting her sick sister, during the
day, and possibly remaining over night,
goes to her room to dress leaving MI
Pinglet and Marcella alone Mr.. Pinglet,
anxious for nights fun, induces Mar
celia to go out with him to theatre and
supper, to spite her absent husband. 1t
to go to the same hotel where Mr.. Ping
let and Maroella have decided to take sup
per, after the theatre. Maximus, a
| nephew of Mr.. PaIllard, and Viotorine,
a maid at MIR. PinGlet's home, take adj
vantage of the absence of everybody to
also go out to theatre, and go for sup
| pei to the same hotel where the Others
have gone. Matthew, Mr.. Pinglet's
oouE try friend, and his four daughters,
| have also put up at the same hotel over
night. The result is series of oompli-
cations that are highly amusing, and in
the arrest of all who are In the hotel, in
a raid made by the police, following a
| ~
waiter. The third act shows the Pinglets
and the Paillards at home again, where
| all the tangles are Strengthened out salts
factorily, but not until after the cunning
and wickedly disposed Pinglet has made
it appear that his innocent wife and
equally innocent friends have been the
guilty ones in an intrigue.
W. J. ferguson, who takes the part of
| Pinglet, was first seen in Portland in
"The Two Orphans at It's first produc-
ton by the Fifth Avenue Theatre com
pany, years ago. He Is an admirable
comedian. His facial expression, his
figure, his make up all go to aid him In
his part. He is no mean pantominist, as
was evidenced in the scene where his
wife looks him in the room in the first
act. Mr.. Wells is also we'll adapted to
the part of Paillard the architect. Miss
Hall, who assumed the part of Marcella,
Paillard's wife, is hardly equal to the
| character but she was evidently strug-
Cling last night with very bad GOLD
that handicapped her. James o. Bar
rows as Matthew is one of the funniest
DEMONSTRATIONS we have seen for many
a day. His arrival at the Pinglet's with
his four daughters created shouts OF
laughter, and his facial contractions dur.
ing his stammering periods, were irresis.
tably mirth provoking. Miss Ellison as
Vitorine, the maid, who teaches Maxine
Nv. r. Shirley love, on different plan
from Plato, was bright and lively,
while Mr.. Shirley assumed bis role effec-
lively. The scene at the Hotel Mascotte
in which all hands are arrested by the
police caused the house to ring with
laughter. The curtain was called at the
end of every act. The stage setting was
good especially the hotel scene.
Prior to the principal play a pleasing
little curtain raiser was presented. en-
titled "Six Months Ago" in which
Messrs. Wells, Shirley and Marshall and
Miss Ellison took part. While the or
chestra played popular airs between the
scts the gallery boys whistled accom-
painmen is.
There has been so little interest mani
tested in regard to the Adamonski Quar-
tette concerts, that it has been decided
to give them up for this season.