The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Fatal Card.

Cnambers and Stephenson's effective
melodrama, "The Fatal Card" was
presented at Portland theatre last eve
Mug to very large audience. The bal
coDy and gallery were crowded and there
were few vacant seats down stairs.
Last season 1.-THE Fatal Card' received
its first performance in Portland at City
hall and it created Is profound impress
sion. The story, it will be remembered,
is that George Forester was bad lot in
California and would have been hung
by the vigilants if Gerald Austin had
not rescued him in the nick Of time.
and as reminder of the event Forester
gives A ustin playing card. Later For
ester goes to England and, under the
name of Marrable, becomes burglar
and is at the head Of gang of burglars.
Austin falls in love with Maria BILE S
daughter. Marrable himself kills Aus
thus father in his office and seizes the
fortune that the bankers agent has
brought over from America in bonds.
covered he is about to blow up the cot
tage where he has Austin in his power
by means of a. clock bomb. Accidentally
he discovers that Austin is the man to
whom he gave the card. He seizes the
clock and throws it from the cottage. 1t
explodes and kills him and skaters the
cottage, but Austin and Margaret es-
cape.
The play had better scope for effect as
played at Portland theatre. The scenery
was good and the acting effective. The
great scene is that of Austin's office
where the banker is killed. The still
ness was almost painful. The enthusi-
asm of the audience during the play was
great and the curtain called several
times. Frederick Julian as Jim Dixon
and Charles Steadman as Forester, alias
MaFrable, were admirable villains; Mr..
W. II. Turner and Mr.. Walter Howe were
strong as the Austins, father and son.
Miss Gilbert made a good Mercedes and
the other parts were we'll taken.
Bostonians.
That tuneful and merry opera Robin
Hood, will be sung by the Bostonians
during their engagement here. The
principals that have been long and suo-
cessfully identified with the respeotives
roles, and who, in fact, created them,
will be heard insthe production here,s
which is sufficient warranty thas thu
singing of Robin Hood will beEcne of the
chief delights of the musical season. The
opera will be staged magnifcently with
special scenery and accessories and the
special orchestra carried by the Bostoni-
ans under the direction OF s. L. Studley,
is announced as feature.
The sec ond night the new opera l'In
Mexico !" will be given. The subscrip-
tions are filling so fast that it looks like
a success. Call at Stookbridge's at once
and subscribe.
Concert at willard.
saFollowing is the programme for the
band concert at Willard Casino, Sunday
afternoon, September 9th:
ARTI.
Maroh-22d Regiment, Gilmore
Overture-ZaDpa, Hsrold
Waltz-Ohantilly, WaIdtenfel
Intern Forget Me Not, Macbeth
Grand Selection-The Rugenots,
Meyerbeer
PART II.
Suite, Lachner
Moroccan de Salon-Hittle Wag,
Eilenberg
Largo, handel
Spanish Serenade, Yraider
Damon, Robinson
Saved From the Sea.
Saved from the Sea-" four-act
English melodrama, by Arthur Shirley
and Ben Landeok, was produced at the
Bowdoin Square theatre lately for the
first time in America. The house was
crowded in every part, in fact, it was
the largest audience ever seen in this
popular West End theatre and the audi
enoe was en- rapport with the play. It
was in entire and fearless sympathy with
and melodrama of the most
and heroic type, applaud ing
whenever there was the
smallest excuse for applause, and some
times when there was no excuse. Tt
Illustrated perfectly the strong hold this
has upon the heart of the
young and middle aged of large ele-
ment in evesy big city. "Saved from
the Sea" will be seen at Portland theatre.
next week.
The Texas Steer.
Hoyt's most laughable comedy, GA
Texas Steer" will delight Portland thea
re goers next Thursday, Oct. 1, at the
theatre, where it will be pre-
Iented for two performances. From
to end, ga Texas Steer'' bub-
,lss over with natural humor. While
ome of the scenes may be slittle sxag
yerated, none of them are at all forced.
As satire on certain political practices,
t teaches valuable lesson in a most
way. The company is
promised as a most excellent one and
festival of laughter can be safely antici-
pated.
Water Front Notes.
The schooner Eleazer W. Clark is on
the Marine railway.
4he schoone Ella M. Doughty is fitting
n 1f fNr n