The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA
King Cophetua.

1t is a sterotpyed saying that those VINO
are present at the second performances
of play or opera would hardly recoa
pize he production of the night preVl-
GUS but it is nevertheless apt TO be true
and certainly such WIS the case in fegaIu
to the second performances OF Cophsou''
last night. There was the confluence snae
comes to amateurs from famliiarity Win
audience and surroundings, principles
gave freer rein to their action, anu the
chorus s'took notice. ," he result was
shown In the awakened enthusiasm of
an audiencs that occupied every scat
down stairs and in tbs balconies, ana
that epcored almost every Numher.
Miss Carpenter, Mrs. Talbot, the Misses
Knight and Noyes, MessTs Barrows, Tai
bot, Rounds. Hight. Warren IN Allen,
were in excellent form and the musical
numbers received greatly improved
treatment The chorus is to be praised
for excellent work, and to Mr.. Barrows
who drilled them 50 thoroughly. equal
praise is due.
There was lots of fun last night, es-
pecially when tie gentlemen who took
:
part in the Boston Cadets burlesque of
"Simple Simon,'' introduced their acts.
Mr.. Malcolm Bnrrows one of the gentle
MEN, is a brother OF Mr.. Charles D. Bar
rows, the King q, phi etua of the opera.
The singing and dancing of the gentle
men was an immense addition to the
evenings enjoyment. Their singing
and dancing, their witty hits, and es !.
pecia1ly Mr.. Barrows's take off of the
young lady's singing, was most artistic.i
They received the heartiast applause
for their effort and will be heard again
tonight.
Between the acts, Mr.. William Bradley
mot Boothhy, as printed yesterday
auctioned the posters and realized a
handsome sum.
Remember that tonight will be the last
opportunity afforded to see the opera.
Tickets at Crcssey, Jones & Aliens.
Milk White Flag.
All the hilarity and jnvini ceremonies
which the first presentation here of any
thing new from the pen of that clever
and most popular playwright, MIR.
Charles Hoyt, invariably causes. will
come into evidence at Portland Theatre
March LIST ami End, when his most suc-
cessful, funniest and most pretentious
work entitled "a Milk Viii tie Flag,
with its great cast, elaborate scenery
and gorgeous costumes, will be given its
initial performance in this city. GA
Milk White Flag is a keen satire upon
our militia, and the subject affords great
scope for creating laughter as well as
costuming and stage effects. The mill
tary band which is carried by this COM
pany is under the direction of Will Dus-
tin, and all the music. of which there
is an abundance, is the work Of Prof.
Stahl, author of tie operas "Lion
Tanner, - ssSea King, "Said Pasha,
etc.
The Man in the Iron Mask.
e 1t will be regretted by the ultra-liter
airy people of Portland if they are not
well represented at.the Portland theatre
Friaayraudn Saturday evenings, March
9TH and 9th, to witness Mr.. Donald Rob
eItson;s and Miss Brandon Douglass's
presentation Of ""rhe Man in the Iron
Mask 1t is known that masked and
unknown prisoner was in 1862 imprisoned
in the Chateau of Pignorell, afterwards
removed to the Isle of Sainte Marguerite,
and in 1888 was transferred to the Bastile.
where he, died November 10, 1903. He is
said to have feen a young man of noble
bearings, high rank, fond Of music and
was always treated with great distino-
ton. Various conjecturea have been
formed concerning this mysterious pris
oner, the singular fact of whose incar
ceration began to be vaguely printed a
little before the Eighteenth Century,
ana excited immense curiosity after
VoItaire had availed himself of it, in
his "Sicler de Louis XIV" wherein he
exhibited it in the NEST touching and
tragic light.
What interest SO powerful. had the
govern ment of Louis XIV for concealing
this mysterious visage from every hui
man eye? Many explanations, more or
less plansibls, more or less ohimerical,
have been attempted, but the "Masque
de fer as he is known in history, still
remains unidentified.
Mr. Robertson and Miss Douglass
should feel very happy in selecting the
life and fate Of 1.-THE Man in the Iron
Mask as the ground work of roman
tic drama. The supporting company is
said to be very powerful one
Lincoln Club.
The Lincoln club will give reception
ffl the candidate for M avcr Charles FL