The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-09


to the house are all in place.
When Mr.. Francis Wilson, and com
pany, appear next Tuesday they will
have as attractive quarters as can be
found in the country. The New York
Sun says of his extravaganza and him
self:
Half a King is success from start
to finish. 1t is years since Francis Will
son has had an opera which suited his
personality SO entirely. Harry B. Smith
has done some remarkable clever work in
his latest libretto; the lyrics are excel
It's slangy, it is true, but most of its
points are pithily made and 1t certainly
produces laughter. Mr.. Englander's
score ranks higher than his work in ''The
Caliph." To put 1t shortly, the whole
production is noted for its vim and dash
and uninterrupted snap. g Half King"
does not play for moment, and the plot
is SO well worked out and clever that it
would be almost an injustice to outline 1t
here. Mr.. Wilson has part which suits
his personality to a L. He is always
Francis Wilson, that goes without saying.
But in this particular Francis Wilson
opera he is much more diverting Fran
els Wilson than he has been since the pro-
duction of The Merry Monarch.
Cressy, Jones & Aliens.
/. The advance sale of seats for the second
night of Francis Wilson's Halt a King
at The Jefferson, will begin this morn
ing at 8 o'clock at Cressey,. Jones &
Aliens. The prices will be sl.50 for
orchestra and sls5o and 81 for first balco-
ny. Six tickets only to each person.
Sweet Inniscarra.
Sweet Inniscarra," which Chauncey
Olcott presents at The Jefferson for three
nights and matinee commencing
Thursday evening, Sept. 16, is 70 man.
tic drama written for Mr.. o lcott by his
manager, Augustus. Pitou. The period
Of the play is the year 1912. The story is
of a wealthy young Irish gentleman, who
firing of London society, starts for
tour through Ireland. While in the viii
lage of Inniscarra, on the River Lee, he
meets Kate O'Donoghue, who has under
taken the tuition of the village children
while waiting the coming of a new school
master whom she has never seen. Gerald
falls in love with her ON sight, and mas
querades as the new pedagogue. Kate
loves him in return, believing him to be-
a poor man. Her father, however, is des i
termined on a match between her and
Squire Creswick, a neighboring landlord,
whom he believes to be man of honor,
while in reality, Creswick is an adven-
turer who is seeking her hand to retrieve
his squandered fortunes by her DOVER
Squire O'Donoghue has brother in COM
mand of a war vessel which has just ar
rived at Cork. The latter sends the press
gang with the ostensible purpose of pres
sing the boatman, but in reality to cap
ture Gerald and get him out of the way.
The arrangements for the marriage of
Kate and Creswick are then pushed for
ward with all dispatch. Kate is told that
Gerald has accepted money from Cres-
wick to leave the country. Gerald, how
ever, escapes and arrives in time to
thwart the plans of Creswick, and when
and exposes the trickery of Creswick is |
at once accepted as son-in-law. The
scenery undoubtedly surpasses anything
ever seen in an Irish play The Glen of
Destiny is most costly scene while
O'Donoghue castle, ..the Shamrock
and the River Lee are triumphs of the
painters art. Mr.. Olcott has composed
several new songs and his delightful sing
ing stamps him as one of the most artis-
tic singers that has ever appeared in such
a role.
Riverton Park.
iy,
ditions summer and autumn seem to meet
and mingle, make Riverton Park the OBJ
jectiye point of all who are fond of nov
city show of the highest order and crowds
of people continue to flock to the enter
tainments now being given there by the
Howard Novelty Comique company.
Yesterday was no exception and the
large audiences at the afternoon and
evening performances seemed satisfied
with the treat given them by that excel
lent organization and it is safe to predict
that the lively interest which is now be-
ing taken in the many enjoyable features
Of the varied novelties will continue to
the closing night.
Ryan's Annual Benefit Concert.
Mr.. W. j. Ryan of this city has secured
the talent for his annual benefit concert
which will take place at City hall, We'd
nesday evening. October 90. The two or
CARNATIONS which will appear on this
occasion are the Boston Ideal club, com.
posed of the following artists: G. L. Ian
sing, banjo and mandolin; B. E. Shat
tuck, banjo and guitar; L. H. Galeucia,
banjo and guitar; A. G. Robinson, man
dolin and guitar, and A. A. Babb, banjo
and mandolin. Tickets will be on sale
October / at Hawes's music store, Con-
gress street.
snr Notes.
"a Breezy Day" will be seen at Port
land theatre Sept. Goth.
YIN. S. u, Trolley Ride.