The Portland daily press., 1897-09-28
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Portland Theatre.


tire last evening in presence of an enthusi-
astic and decidedly demonstrative andl-
ence which packed the house. Old favor
ties were greeted with the utmost cordi-
ality.
The initial play presented was the popu-
lar one : in four acts entitled Captains
Mate 1t is nautical story clean and
thrilling, which deals with murder, in
wolves an abduction, a mutiny on ship
board and the final return of the stolen
girl disguised as stowaway who is de-
servedly promoted on her way home to
the position of captains mate, and in
the end happily mArries her Gown true
love- the captain himself.
The central figure is Miss Sawtelle-she
has pleasing personality; is vivacious
piquant and adapts herself to the de-
'nands of her varied roles, first as the
plain working girl and afterwards as
the pootblack, In manner most meritori
Gus. Mr. Terriss made good Captain
Penfield and the blind sailor was well
personatsd by Mr.. Burrell. Mr.. Mort
mer as the william had thankless part,
but did it we'll.
Mr.. Fisher. made decided hit and
successfully rung the changes on Before
my very face, " in Irish brogue and W it'll
telling effect.
Miss Hendricks was veritable
Meg Merrilies," in appearance and an
''old tartar" in action. Mr.. Mckee as
Bud Delaney, ''who always pays his
debts" did clever piece of acting and
the entire supporting cast was of more
Than ordinary excellence, notably so Miss
Wilson as the Irish waitin maid, and
Miss Hurlbert as the Captains sister.
The variety bill is worthy of special
mention. The dialect and comic songs
were very catchy and great credit is due
Miss Haynes for her remarkable musical
numbers on the orchestral organ.
Perhaps the most striking feature of
the evenings entertainment was the
great Ernani, in her wonderful dances,
somewhat in imitation of Loi Fullers
skirt dancing. The ''star Of night the
fire dance, the lily Of the Nile and La
Chameleon follow one another in blend
ing of all the colors of the rainbow and
with O grace of motion which to be ap
preciated must be seen.
The verdict can safely be rendered that
MIR. Sawtelle offers for public patro mage
the best repertoire company which has
occupied the boards of q Portland theatre
for many day.
''Maine and Georgia is the attraction
for tonight with matinee performance
of the society drama, sWas She Right?"
Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Back in the fifties Frank Mayo and
Sam Clemens (it was not Mark Twain
then) were boon companions in Virginia
. City, New, both hustling young vaga-
bonds. They drifted apart, one sticking
to his literary inclinations and the other
adopting the stage for his profession.
The former became known to fame as the
greatest American humorist, while the
latter rose high in the theatrical world
10 Lal
grown gray headed, the former wrote
book about the folks who lived in his
own Missouri home "before the War;,
book which we'll sustained the prestige of
its author; and the other, seeing POSSIBLE
ties from q dramatic standpoint,
dra1natized his friends work, and gave
to the stage play that will live in his
toy as one of our best American produc.
rions. In the part of Dave Wilson,
"Pudd 'nhead,' Mr.. Edwin f. Mayo, son
o. Frank Mayo, is said to give most de-
llghtful sketch of the thoughtful and 1e.
thargic village philosopher. His work
is finished and his every movement we are
informed, shows careful thought and
study. The supporting company is the
same that played in the piece last season,
and includes Mr.. Frank Campaeu, Mr.. W.
r. Mickey, Manifee tombstone, Donald
Smedt, David Rivers, Augustus Balfour,
Edwin Nalod, VIM. Arthur. Miss Frances
Grahame Mayo, Miss Ada Dwyer, Miss
Belle Stoddard. Miss Sadie Dellmore and
many others. forming the strongest or
ganization of this kind now on the road.
Pudd 'nhead Wilson will be seen at the
"Jeffer SON. tonight and tomorrow night.
shore Acres.
"Shore Acres that popular play Of
ton at the Jefferson on Thursday even
ing. To those familiar with the beauties
OF this artistic comedy drama Its great
success Is not to be wondered at, and e
great many managers think the play the
most profitable piece of theatrical proper
ty in America. Mr.. Herne's profits are
said to have reached nearly three hundred
thousand dollars so far, and if the play
makes the hit it is expected to make in
London, he ought to make fully as much
more. ashore Acres, !" 1.-The Old Home
turned out nearly as much gold as the
famous Klondike REGION.
Way Down East.
Way Down East is a story woven
about the homestead of good natured
but strict old downeast farmer story
of the heart, and shows the conflict in the
home when parents and children differ
in the matter of choosing husbands and
WlVOo lOE tuo young lolhS. IL 10 QuSS-
ton of supreme moment in nearly every
home nest when the young birds choose
their future 1nates-so blindly and per-
versely, according to the opinion of the
parents that they feel in duty bound to
interfere for what they consider the well
fare of their offspring. 1t is at this criti
cal period of their lives that the author
has placed the story OF "Way Down
East" and from it, perhaps. many pa
rents and children also may learn some
useful lesson. The play is under the
management of VIM. A. Brady, and is
produced under the personal stage direo-
ton of Joseph r. Grismer. The COM
pany is an unusually strong one, inclu-
ding such well known people as Phoebe
Davies. Joseph r. Grismer, Forrest Rob-
sinson, Felix Haney, j. Alden Bass,
James A. Wilkes, Sadie Stringham, Mrs.
Sarah Stevens, Edith Carpenter and John
F. Deyez. Way Down East will be
presented at The Jefferson for two nights
and Saturday matinee, commencing
Friday, Oct. LIST.
Notes.
Calve has, it is said, abandoned the in
otr duin in, Do