The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-06
M'CULLUM'S THEATRE.
The Closing Performance Saturday
Night.

Night.
Farewell Gifts to the Performsrs-Cheers
for the Conpany-Interviews of the
Players.
BARLEY McCullum' S company made their
farewell bows Saturday night before an
audience which completely packed the
Peaks island theatre. First and last
nighters joined forces to make the wind
up of Mr.. McCullum's tenth summer
season memorable one and in this they
were highly successful. Cottagers were
very much in evidence and with them
the Shell and Edgewood clubs in uniform,
together with familiar faces from the
city, who, in eager expectation of the
fun in view, greeted with applause the
lifting of the curtain on the last produc-
ton of EsTurned Up
The audience fully realized the fact that
on this occasion the playwright chad no
rights which the cast was bound to re-
spect and the greatest liberty was anus
ingly taken with the original lines of the
play-in fact the lines were thrown to the
leeward and it was quite evident from
Mr.. McCullum's moist appearance that
at times he had to dive for his, but he
succeeded in getting good one when
seated near Ada Baltic He broke out,
"That he was shiyering because near
Winter
1t was fun galore from start to finish
from the foyer, imaginatively speaking,
OF course, to be the remotest corner of the
green room and the ease and abandon of
the players gave to the whole spirit OF
mirthfulness original and refreshing.
Who carried off the honors Of the night
is not easy to say. If the reception of
handsome floral tributes is criterion,
honors are easy for no one was allowed
to escape, not even the little "Picaninny, y
the son of "Klondike Kate from the
Kaffir country.
AS Mr.. McCullum stepped to the front
in the first act there was passed over the
footlights box with a mysterious tele-
gram on its cover. "Open that box, .
was the cry. sit is the new theatre, -
was his ready reply. When opened, how
ever, the box was found to contain set
of solid silver military hair brushes. and
the telegram gave list of his company
and admirers and begged his acceptance
of the gift and added, s'We kiss you
hand"
In the third act basket of flowers was
sent with an attachment of six Holsters
from one of his firm believers in the
internal fitness of things. -
A gift to Miss Reynolds was beauti-
full basket of flowers with silver match
box on it, inscribed, "To Genevieve Rey-
nolds, match for the best of Them
Mrs. McCullum's gift to Miss Reynolds
was a very handsome silver mounted
pocket book with "lucky cent"
Mr.. Pascoe during the entire play ably
seconded in the topical hits of the evening
and started the ball in the first act by
saying: what sight you look with
pink socks at Peaks island.'' The dark
ness which lowered over him at the pros
pect Of having a Kaffir woman for his
mother-i-n-law was temporarily dispelled
in the third act By a plentiful supply of
flour thrown in his face which afterwards
gave way to the deepest black, the result
of the affectionate demonstrations of the
dark-tkinned Cleopatra. /
The Commander of the Petrol came
sailing on the stage with the words,
Defender, nit,' spread upon the flow
ing sail with "Bug light in sight, Mr..
1ocA -
"croquet mallet," and the business man.
ager, Mr.. Granville, who it was thought
had mysteriously disappeared, was found
fishing for short Holsters. The whole
play abounded in local hits and happily,
in no wise coarsely, were they introduced,
and heartily appreciated by the audi
ence.
An opportunity was kindly given the
PRESS reporter to gather few echoes
from beneath the footlights, and they are
as follows:
Miss Winter-Impossible to express the
| happiness I have known on this beauti-
full island. The season will be a golden
| memory to me. From the kindness and
appreciation received from all the patrons
of Mr. McCullum's theatre, we as COM
pany feel enshrined in the hearts of the
people. Our manager we love, therefore
| work is easy. We know our work is
readily appreciated and faults forgotten.
These happy conditions in one of the
most delightful places imaginable make
us depart with regret, but alive with the
anxious hope we may return again to
friends and not the "old," but "new
theatre
Miss Reynolds-Coming as perfect
stranger, appreciate the many kindness
es extended to me. I have felt so well
here that had i felt better could not
have stood it. The loveliest summer in
my professional experience has just
passed at Peaks island. 1t was also the
sweetest, made SO in great measure by
the angelic treatment accorded the COM
pany by Mr.. McCullum.
Mr.. Pascoe-Sorry my fourth season is
over. Enjoyed every moment of it. I