The Portland daily press., 1896-11-24
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Odd Miss Podd.

Odd Miss Podd made her bow to
Portland audience last evening while
wearing peculiar costume, for over gar
mems evidently intended for her was
bath robe which looked very much like
mans. An aud ience which filled the
theatre was awaiting with pleasant ex-
pectations the appearance of Mr.. Neil
Burgess in the title role of his new play
while that gentleman was arraJing him.
self in the clothes of Odd Miss Podd. The
transformation wss about half completed
when word was brought to the theatre
that the leading lady, Miss Genevleve
Reynolds, was too Ill to appear. So MT.
Burgess hastily completed his costume
by DOMINIC his bath robe. The orchestra
played bar or two Of music. tao bells
rang and the curtain went up. Then
Mr.. Burgess appeared with Mr.. artiey
MoCalium and announced that owing
to the illness of the leading lady 1t
woul1 be impossible to give the perform
anos. A certificate signed by DIR. G. A.
Ring was read, stating that the lady was
too i'll to appear. So the audience filed
out, got their money or exchanged the
tickets for tonight's performance and
went home. The play will be given this
evening and a competent actress wi IL be
here to take the leading female part if it
company has been on the road but few
days which accounts for the fact that the
understudy WAS in readiness to take the
part last evening. Mr.. Burgess stated
that the part was SO interviewer with the
story of the play that to go on without
it would have been impossible.
Tbs piece was written by Miss Alice
Ives, who has won an enviable reputation
as dramatic author. 1t is story of
New England life, and introduces several
new and taking features including
balloon aacens ion and a bicycle race, the
bike ontest being made possible by
device patented by MIR. Burgess and con-
struoted on somewhat the same principle
as that employed in the horse race in
the County Fair. There will be a large
audience tonight but there are good seats
left for early applicants.
Stuart Robson.
"The wisest plans Of mice and men
oft gang agla" Ia most aptly illustrated
in the two comedies which Stuart
Robson makes the entertainme Mt at the
Portland Theatre on Thursday and Fri
day EVENING". Nov. 26 and 81 with
matines Thanksgiving Day when he
plays in this city with his sterling COM
pany of actors, whose lea ding lady will
be none 9th er than the great tragedienne
Madame Jauneschek. In the nne-act
opening farce, "Mr. Gilman's Wedding"
that young man finds that he is in great
danger of losing his bride and his hap
piness while yet in its honeymoon, by
charge of bigamy. And thus it is made
to sesm that his dreams and plans for
domestic happiness have been but those
of deception and crime. Fortunately,
ais misery Is short lived and explana-
lions clear all the mistakes away.
In the longer comedy which immedi7
ntely follows, the one long plan Of SUI
premaoy on the part of the wife goes
wrong in one short night, by the inop-
perfume return of long forgotten lover.
who tells his side of little romance,
and changes tale of heroism into one Of
deception and trickery, and away van
ishes thu little home autocraUy of twenty
years standing.
The Bride of Seville.
A very pleasant way to spend Thanks
giving afternoon Or evening would be to
make up theatre parties of ten or
twenty and go see the" Bride of Seville. !"
the merriest, prettiest opera that has yet
appeared here. If you would hear sing
ing that is singing be sure and attend
this merritorious performance. The
praise accorded by the local press on
its first presentation was honestly won
and appreciated by the Theatre going
people of this city.