The Portland daily press., 1897-11-23
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE JEFFERSON.


Last night at The jefferson, Mr.. Joseph
Arthur's successful 1nelo drama entitled
blue jeans was given it's first per-
Torrance in Portland. The title is no
1nisnomer for the play is redolent of
''hoosierdom" and of Posey country at
that where its scenes are laid. 1t is moth
ing If not realistic from tree from which
apple blossoms drop, to saw mill in
operation.
The play opens on fine sunset; the
old village cobbler, Jacob Tutewiler, is
working at his bench while his wife is
preparing refreshments for Perry Bascoin,
candidate for Congress under the men
torship of Col. Henry Clay Risener- Bos-
com falls victim to the charms OF sue
Eudcly, an adventures, who apandons
her rural lover, Ben Moore, who IN re-
yenge, Eecomes Baseom's political oppo-
rent. Bascom soon discovers that sue
has been married before. He then leaves
her and marries June, the poor house
waif. Sue becomes insanely jealous and
finds useful ally in Ben Moore, whom
she incites to kill Bascom. This he at
tempts to do, but is frustrated by June.
This climax introduces the SAW mill
scene of which so much has been writ
ten. 1t is a turning point in the plot, but
the action progresses and the marriage
of Col. Risner to one of June's old friends
IL a humorous episode. Much amusement
is afforded in the final scene by Tute-
wjIer's discovery that his daughter Nell
is a leading lady in New York thea
tire instead of New York's society, and
that his son has become a negro minstrel
instead of a minister of the gospel. In
the final scene proof is adduced that
Sues first husband is still alive and this
removes all obstacles to reconciliation
between June and Bascom and for them
and the baby the play ends happily at
the Christmas time.
The play abounds in scenes which are
delightful from their fidelity to nature,
notably so the wooing of June by Bascom
and the dinner table scene where Isaac
is directed to "act like the gentlemanly
Baseom. The music introduced by
''The Rising Sun Roarers," and the
gauntlette won repeated encores.
There was humor and quaintness in
Mr.. Rouk's Jacob Tutewiler, while Mr..
Deane was true in make up and in de-
lineation of the Hoosier politician. Mr..
Callahan made a good Perry Bascom,
but the honors of the evening belong to
Miss Marion Ballou and Miss Nettie
Bourne.
Miss Ballou as June had a loyable char
acter TO portray-as the breezy western
girl her dialogue was bright, her laugh
was infectious, and there was a cuteness
and naturalness about her which made
her most interesting parsonage. Miss
Bourne was called upon to portray dis
picabIe qualities of woman. such as re-
venge, scorn and jealousy, and acted q
hateful part in strong, and al times,
highly dramatic manner.
The cast in it's entirety was very accep-
table and evenly balanced. The play was
enthusiastically received by good-sized
audience which was made unusually
brilliant by the presence of party of 20
of Portland's society bellies in evening
dress, who were tho guests of MIR. j. G.
Jordan, the occasion marking the debut
of his daughter to Portland society.
'fBlue Jeans will be repeated to-
night.
KMR. BEANE FROM BOSTON.
There are no more popular people in the
dramatic profession than the Germans,
John, James and George, who appear on
Friday and Saturday at the Portland
theatre in their new comedy, Mr.. Beane
from Boston," in which their many
friends will find them more interesting
and humorous than ever. This new de-
parture is said to be great go. John
German as Sylvester Beane and George
German as Chaunoy Maginness are two
big hits this season, if we are to believe
what the press says, and why not? Their
former successes prove all the good things