The Portland daily press., 1897-12-22
Esus!C AND DRAnTA
FANNY DAVENPORT.


full and intensely interesting plays,
Fedora and La Tosca. +" Fedora
is character which superbly fits the per-
sonality OF Miss Davenport and would
seem to have been almost especially writ
ten for her. Since so mach depends on
the actors in this play, one can readily
understand the qualifications necessary
10 properly present the gloom, the mys-
terry. the anours, the romance and the
various lights and shadows Of which it
is composed Miss Davenport will be
splendidly supported with. MIR. Melbourne
acDowell as Loris Ipanoif, part which
requires almost equal ability with tho
portrayer of the leading character to in
sure effectiveness of the drama. "Fe-
DORA is most elaborate work, with
strange psychical and theatrical interest
The first act of the play is striking
illustration of Sario us unequalled abil-
ity as stage contriver. The act is
simply crowded with varied significant
and effective movements. The whole
play is perfect example of continuous
dramatic suspense.
"La Tosca'' is play in which she has
long since become famous, and which, by
some Of her critics. is rated as her best
impersonation. The scenery for ella
Tosca,' it is said, is not only superb but
accurate. Miss Davenport, in tho title
role of this piece, is seen in an impe1son-
alton in which she is constantly fascinat-
ing because of its intense humanity and
of the marvellous play of passion which
is an essential of its proper portraiture.
As Scarpia, Mr.. Mcdowell will DO geen
in character for which he is admirably
fitted, and in which he has already
achieved signal success. Seats are now
on sale and going very brisk.
THE HOUSE PARTY.
Today, Wednesday. at a. m. at
Cressy, Jones q Aliens the sale Of re-
served seats begins for The House Party.
Those who remember the rush for seats
in Pistol and Cophetua will make ar
rangements to secure places in the line,
for the best seats are sure to go quickly
and there will be a long line in waiting.
Those who enjoy original plays done by
amateurs in finished manner, drama tic
and clever situations, light comedy, good
jokes, good male quartette singing,
catchy songs and dancing, will find all
those in The House Party. 1t will be the
event of the season of it's kind, just as
Pistol ana Cophetua have been in the
seasons last past. People will all be talk
ing about it, and what people talk about
we cannot afford to miss seeing. At the
same time.we shall be helping one of the
worthiest. and most appealing of charities.
KATHERINE ROBER.
The return of the popular actress,
Katherine Rober. surrounded by the en-
tire membership OF her splendid organiza-
tion and the present .tion of her standard
plays, is a most welcome announcement.
Miss ROBBERS annual engagement in this
city. which is limited to twelve perform
ances only. including Christmas after
noon and evening and the following
week. Miss ROBBERS popularity is gain
ing every season, and to prove this the
theatres she has appeared in this season
could scarcely hold the crowds that
floeked nightly TO see her. So successful
was this l:ttle lady's recent engagement
in Newport, r. L., that hundreds were
turned away from the box office during
her too brief visits, and at every perform
anoe late cemers were even denied admis-
sion. The Rober company still includes
all of its old-time favorites. All of Miss
ROBBERS plays will be given on a scale of
unexampled splendor. and the entire
plant of scenery and stage settings that
have proved such potent factors in the
success of the Rober company will, dur
ing this engagement, be shown to even
greater advantage. Tickets on sale
THE TORNADO.
The scene of Lincoln j. Carriers play
The Tornado . is laid in a Wisconsin
village, on the Fourth of July. An ap.
preaching storm soon becomes manifest,
it turns out to be yeritable tornado,
houses are torn asunder and blown away,
great trees are taken up roots and all,
and waited into space, lightning flashes
and thund er reais. The scene is one of
awful intensity and trpthfulness. Then
follows the deck Of great ocean steamer,
the grand rigging scene with six sailors
on the yardarin of mast, turing sail; q
collision Of two steamships, d scene show
ing the open sea tossing lone man about
ON the waves which run as high as the
stage will permit. Chicago harbor ct
night q dissecting room in q medical
college, and beautiful autumnal scene
IN the. Wisconsin woods. 'tThe Tornado
was unanimously pronounced the most
deliberately staged nelordranla ever seen
in Chicago by the entire press Of that
city. The Tornado viii be seen at Port
land theatre tonight.
THE GAIETY.
There is long array Of talent at the
Gaiety this week. The Kamuras are a
good troupe of acrobats and tumblers,
the comedy troupe trio O. Brion, Jennings
and 0'Brien in song and dance, the
Brooks team in specialties, the sensational
dancers Drake and Hughes the doll dan