The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-23
MUSIC AND DRAMR.
LEWIS MORRISON.

Mr.. Lewis Morrison and his talented
company, appeared at The Jefferson last
evening in Faust" to an audience thai
nearly filled the house, that was marked
ly enthusiastic and that evinced its ap-
probation by continued applause and
calls before the curtain.
We have on various occasions, when
Goethe's masterpiece Faust has been
presented in this city, dilated upon its
inimitable phiIosophio and dramatic
qualities. In GerIaany-and for that mat
fer in Francezshe performance OF
!" Faust meanss ullihouse. and the
best efforts Of the company. With the
feutonic race it holds the place of " Ham
lett with the Anglo. Saxon, drama OF
supreme philosophic tendencies, treating
some of the severest problems OF life IN
striking and acceptable dramatlo
form. True, Faust pure and simple,
as Germans have it. who listened TO
Goethe as they do the Bible, would not
be as effective with our audiences. But
Morrison's arrangement comes pretty
near to the original, and what extraneous
additions are made have been forced
upon him by the theatric usages and re-
auirements of later days. Altogether.
Morrison's is a serious, faithful and
superbly Elective presentation, per-
formance that fascinates the audience and
leaves it with many thoughts. Morri-
son himself is splendid ''Mepihsto.
The satanic character, which is in full
strain all through, has its edge taken of,
but its force not lessened, by the humor
of the treatment, and in the manifesto
ton of both, and in the cutting realism
of the demonstration, Morrison is the best
Mephisto without peer. 1t is q superb
rendition, elevating, provoking retiec-
ton, of the strongest moral force, and
dramatically of the highest.
Mr. Morrison's support is good. We
missed Miss Florence Roberts in the part
of Marguerite because her PRESERVATION
when she has assumed it in Portland,
ha always been such An admirable
effort. But Miss Mabel Morrison is to
be commended for very good interpre-
tation of the character, bringing out the
pure and maidenly qualities of the Ger
man girl in ID manner to please her
audience. Mr.. White Whittley's Faust
has lost none Of it's excellencies and the
other parts were well taken. The Incl
dental music gave great pleasure, Miss
Florence Brooks taking the soprano part,
Mr.. David Audarda and Mr.. Charles G.
Taylor the tenor, and Mr.. George H.
Wiseman and Geo. S. Trinble the bari
tone and bass respectively. The electrical
effects throughout the play were even
finer than when eeen here before, those
of the Broken being especially grand,
The play ended with the apotheosis of
Marguerite, most charming picture.
There will be a matinee of "Faust"
this afternoon and the last performance
will be given tonight.
Next Thursday Mr.. Morrison will play
a return engagement and produce his
great play " Frederick the Great;
YATES OPERA COMPANY.
Waite's Comic Opera Company, which
is to fill an engagement of one full week
at the Portland theatre beginning next
Monday eve ling, with a spectacular pro-
duction of Aubers roma ntic and tuneful
opera Fra Diavolo," has the reputation
of playing to the largest number of people
last season of any stage attraction before
the public.
The record of the number Of people for
one week, was broken in nineteen first
class theatres of as many leading cities.
1t is rare that seats can be secured at
any price for any of the entertainments
to be given after the first two days, SO
popular does the work of this excellent
organization become. At present it is
the largest and most expensive popular
priced company in the world
NOTES.
Nine. Rhea will be at The jefferson
rext Friday and Saturday.
Held By the Enemy will be given
at The Jefferson next Wednesday eve
ming.