The Portland daily press., 1896-11-30
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Chimn nie Fadden.


distinctly American origin and contain
ing nothing but American ideas and
characters will be presented at the Port
land Theatre. The play is ''Chimmie
Fadden," dramatization Of Edward W.
Iownsend's stories of the same name.
The piece comes with the emphatic COM
mendation of the dramatic critics of New
York and Boston, and with record of
having played a remarkably successful
season of five consecutive months in the
metropolis and a month at the Hub.
The title rols will be played by Mr..
Charles Hopper, who created the char
acter, which is one of those chRraot eris-
tic types only to be found in the slum
quarters of a big city. Despite the
wretehednoss and poverty of his bringing
up, anu his evil surroundings, Chimmie
is honest He is witty. too, and philo-
sophie. Towards women he is Cheva-
ller Bayard. In the defense of the weak
he is a perfect Gladiator. His weakness
es are a taste for clothes of noisy patterns
and vocabulary uniquely forcibls and
picturesque. His adventures begin in
the Bowery. A glimpse is given of his
life in the slums and then Chimmie be.
comes one of the househ old of q Knick-
erbooker family. and later has experience
at summer homo on Long Island
Sound. Comedy and drama are said to
be alternately introduced in the play.
and variety of inoidenu and strongly con-
trasting character types appear to us
one Of it's chief recommendations. AS
Chimmie, Charles Hopper is said to COM
pletely realize ones idea of what the
part should be. The four or five songs
introduced in 'Chimmie Fadden" by
Mr.. Charles Hopper are all of his own
composition.
The Span of Life.
Cur theatre -goers will be pleased to
learn that their favorite melodrama tic
play. "The Span OF Life, " will be- pro-
duced at the Portland Theatre, FRIDAY
and Saturday, Dec. and 5, by William
Cslder's American company. Mr.. Cal
der, who will personally conduct the per-
formance this season, assures us that this
seasons company is the best ever seen in
The Span of Life The Boston Her
aid of Nov. 10 says: "Good old melo-
drama ruled at the BoWdoiu Square
Theatre last night, at the hands of Will
liam Calder's company in sThe Span of
Life. The company and the play have
won merited commendation on former
visits, and their first appearance this sea-
son was greeted with a crowded house
that accorded the piece genuine ova-
tion. Geo. G. Staley as Richard Blunt
and Robert Neil as Dunstan Leech, the
hero and villain respectively, sustained
the burden of the story, assisted by Miss
Rachel Sterling, the heroine, and Miss
Florence Foster, the other villain. Mr..
William Friend and Miss Clara Coleman,
Messrs. j. H. Ferris, A. K. Adams ana
Fritz Arthur, Miss D. Perrault, and
Little Daisy.
Peck's Bad Boy.
There is something in the play of the
Bad Boy which reviyes in the mind of
9very behoider, the memories of the
keenest relish. His pranks upon his in
hulgent parent, upon the long suffering
and forbearing grooeIyman. and the
sxhaustleass resources of his frivolous
and irrepressible nature, kindle an
appreciation ION the art of the auditor |
which provokes the widest merriInent
and elioits the most uproarous ppaIause.
As pieces of original composition the
Bad Boy stories have never been
approached in our language aud for
absurd stage situations, continuous and
exhilirating comedy, the play is incom-
arabic. The play will be seen at Port
land theatre Wednesday evening.
The Country Squire
The bright little play in four acts, OF |
"The Country Squire" written by
Master Philip Pitcher, was given at
Fraternity ball. Saturday afternoon,
WITH the following cast Of characters.
Mr. Ellington, Stanley Williams
George Ellington, his son. Harold Brown
Jack Fairwsather, Sylvan Shurtlef
William Leighton, Lawrence Wood bury
Warden, Willie Marks
Farmer Hayseed, Philip Pitcher
Bridget O'Flannigan. Philip Young
The boys are entitled to great credit
for the bringing out and arrangement
of the play and the natural manner in
which each performed his part. The
large audience expressed much pleasure
at the performance, and the topical song
by Farmer Hayseed brought forth loud
applause. The polite little ushers,
Lewis York and Hugh Chisholm, per-
formed their duties with the ease of |
professionals.
The boys deserve to be congratulated |
at the result of the efforts, as the pro-
ceeds will furnish the amusement room
for the Boys home in Deer;ng.