The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-24
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Sporting Duchess.

audience July the equal in point OF
numbers of that assembled on the open
ing night, and lacking but little OF the
brilliancy of the same occasion. The city
had been fully informed in advance of the
celebrity of the play OF 1.-the Sporting
Duchess "a melo-draIna that possesses
for one of its authors one of the greatest
stager of r~plays the world has ever seen,
the late Sir Augustus Harris-and had
heard of its superb spectacular effects,
and was crazy to see it. The audience
was not disappointed. AS spectacle
alone a magnificent series of stage pictures
was presented for the space of three hours.
Added to these triumphs of the scene
painters art, were beautiful costumes,
acting by artists whose names rank
among the best known in the profession,
and several of whom have stood at the
head in their art for years.
The play as can we'll be imagined from
its name is 'horsey," and the story is
one Of passion; passion SO uncomfortable
in one scene that the situation becomes
extremely risque. But as this sort of
thing seems ''to go' with fashionable
audiences, like "The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray," and "Sowing the Wind"
ct id omne genus, and the more fashion
able society gets of it the more they rush
to see it, it is not to be wondered at that
everyb body went 10 see what London and
New York has stamped with approval.
In brief tho story of the play is that the
Earl Of Desborough has, before marriage,
had an affair with Vivian Darville, al
ventures, who comes to his seat at Brack-
enhurst hall, intending a visit. Major
Moetyn of the ADD Hussars, thorough
villain, is determined to possess the
Countess of Desporough. The Earl orders
Vivian to leave his house, and she goes
determined on revenge. Vivian and the
Major put their heads together and, by
means of some letters innocent in them
selves, but SO handled as to make them
very compromising, succeeded in causing
the Countess to leave her house accom-
panied by the Major. She is followed by
her husband and discovered by him in
the company of the Major at the hotel in
Peterboro, and as a result divorce suit
domestic troubles. The Major knows this
and has determined to possess Clipstone,
the Earl S great race horse. The entire
stud is sold at auction and just as the
Major thinks he is confident of securing
the horse the Sporting Duchess of Milford
steps forward and outbids him. The
Major has disgraced q young girl, Mary
Aylmer, daughter of veteran trainer,
and she finally admits that the Major was
her betrayer. The conclusion of the
whole matter is that the villain comes to
grief as all villains should, that things
are Strengthened out and all's well that
ends we'll.
Miss Rose Coughlan, as the Spol ting
Duchess has lost none of the old power
that used to sway her audiences at
Walack' S at will. She had character
in the duchess that was fitted to her / ike
o glove. 1t is impossible in short notice |
to describe all the points she made. She |
costumed the part elegantly and made |
seven changes during the play. Mr.. j.
H. Stoddart, the veteran comedian, was |
a study for most actors in his finished
presentation of tho old trainer Joe
Aylmer, and his description of the race
in the first act, the scene with the Major
in the third act elected the hearty ap-
plause they deserved. Louis Massen as
the Earl. Jeffreys Lewis as the Countess,
and Harry Lacy as the Major, gave the
great scene in the second act with fervor
and power that held the great audience
breathless. All the other characters were
well taken by people especially selected
for the various parts.
The hunt ball scene, and the "downs"
at Milton, were most elaborate and
in the downs scene, the pony carriages,
and the warming up race, and finally the
great Derby at the close, where
Clipstone wins, brought forth most en-
thusiastic applause.
The play will be produced tonight,
Saturday night and matinee, and those
who fail to see it we'll miss one of the
greatest dramatic treats of the season.
During the evening Mr.. Fred Harlow
played a trombone solo admirably and
received an encore.
Shore Acres.
But few plays written for the Ameri-
can stage have attracted such wide spread
attention as James A. Herne's homely
picture of farm lite on the New England
coast There is something extremely re-
freshing in the title, 'Shore Acres
1t smells of the sea. The story Mr.. Herne
tells is a powerful one not SO much in
what is expressed but in what is left to
the Imagination. The author in Shore
Acres shows the beauties Of realism.
Other writers have shown its darker side,
Mr.. Herne the other His play has
been commended for the good it has done
and clergymen have publicly commended
it. 1t does not, however, deal with reli-
gion and it's characters are simple. every
day people, who know little of the world
strifes and struggles. In their own rock
bound village they are living quiet I'M
pretentious lives and teaching through
Mr.. Herne's genius lesson of love and