The Portland daily press., 1897-09-25
uusiC AND DRAMA.
spotting Duchess.

Duchess drew another large audience last
evening. Owing to the crowded condition
of our columns yesterday we were unable
to dwell upon several Of the scenes that
called for particular mention, especially
those between Major MostJn, MI.
Lacy and Vivian Miss Ffolliott Paget)
which were especially calculated to dis
play the powers of these two excellent
artists. But If we should b5gin to enum-
crate the little delicate points made by
not only the great people of the cast,
but by those in subordinate characters we
should require space not at our disposal
One instance we might mention is that
of the waiter who brings in the refresh
ments for Vivian when she is stopping at
the hotel after her expulsion from Brack-
enhurs5 Hall. The audience called the
purtain several times last night, and they
broke into tremendous applause at the
warming up race of the Downs and the
dnal Derby.
There VIII be matinee today and a
qnal production OF the Sporting
Duchess.
Way Down East.
One of the latest acquisitions to the
stage in the way of plays is a new
drama of country life among the farmers
of New England. The play has fortu-
nate title that suggests green meadows,
wild flowers, waving fields of sweet
scented timothy and clover" straw
berries and cream, and all sorts of real
delicious countryfeld things and people.
What is the title? Oh! 1t is "Way
down East, story about plain people.
The play is said to fulfill all the title
promises. The scene Of the play is laid
in one Of the old homesteads in which
NewEngland abounds, and most of us have
in our own family. The old farmer
the Squire of the neighborhood-re
CARDS with proper love and pride the prop
erty that has come down to him from his
father and grandfather before him and
has always regarded the place and the
family name as things to be sternly
guarded from any taint of dishonor.
About this rugged farmer and his family
and neighbors the author of the play
has wrought a powerful and touching
story that thrills thu heart of fatherss;and
mothers, sons and daughters. There is
plenty of fun too. No story of New Eng
land country people can be devoid of
humor and the author of ''Way Down
East has found it no difficult task to
find characters for her play whose chief
mission is to make the audience laugh
The play will be seen at the jefferson
Oct. 1st and End with these actors SO
popular here, Mr. Joseph Grismer and
Miss Phoebe Davis, in the principal parts.
Shore Acres.
Some years ago Mr. Herne wrote an
Irish comedy for Mr. Tony Farrell and
called it ''The Irish Heartshorn.' Mr..
Farrell didn't like the name of the play
and changd it to 'Myss Colleen" After
the success of '"Shore Acres" MIR. Herne
tried to buy back the play, agreeing to
give what Mr.. Farrell had paid for it,
but the actor would not part with it at
any price. Mr.. Herne has just written
another new play, 'Rev. Griffith Daven-
port which he conremplates producing
next season. A clergyman is its hero and
as it deals with the causes that lead to
the war between the North and the
South, it will prove particularly interest
ing. Arrangements have been made for
superb scenic production of "Shore
Acres" at the Jefferson, Sept. 30th.
Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Out of Mark Twins quaint story,
"Pudd nhead Wilson," Frank Mayo has
made most beautiful play, which comes
to US after having held the attention of
theatre goers, for long periods, in New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and
other large cities throughout the country,
and will be presented at The Jefferson
next Tuesday and Wednesday by COM
pany of high class players, which is prac-
tically the same that played in the piece
from the very first. MIR. Edwin Mayo
"a in Y1T1Y
eipal role. He is the son
of Frank Mayo, and he has won golden
opinions wherever he has. been seen in the
character. ssPudd nhead Wilson" is
clentless lawyer who has a fad of regis
tering the thu1nb-marks of every one he
meets on bits Of glass, and then filing
them away to study their peculiar curves
der is committed. The only clue to the
deed is the dagger which the assassin
used. But Pudd nhead" discovers the
imprint Of q thumb upon the blade. He
spends days in comparing this mark with
his bits of glass filed away, and finally
fastens the guilt upon q villager There
are stories running through the play of
love and political ambition and how d
white child and a thirty second part negro
child get "mixetd' and grow up occu-
pyingl the wrong stations in life. Mark
Twain's quaint humor predominates
throughout the story, which as whole,
is deliciously interesting.
sewtelle Dramatic Co.
The popular Sawtelle dralpatic COM
pany, Imperial concert orchestra and a
corps OF novelties such as have never been
seen by Portland audience before open
a weeks engagement Monday night at
the Portland Theatre in the nautical
scenic drama, "The Captains Mate.'
Mr.. Sawtelle has been at work for several
months organizing his present company.
They carry all elaborate display of seen
cry and wardrobe and the very strongest
specialties obtained from the best vaude-
Vile theatres in New York. Among
their many novelties are Prof. Sherman
and his caprine paradox, a remarkable
heard OF educated goats. The great
Ernani, the rival of La Loie Fuller in
her novelty dances, with startling and
brilliant electrical, calcium and stereop-
tacon effects. First, l'etoile dc mutt;
second. the fire dance; third, the lily of
tho Nile; fourth, La Chameleon. Ger
trude Hynes, with her grand orchestral
organ, built for, her at cost of $500 will