The Portland daily press., 1897-10-28
MuslC AND DRAMH.
THE SECRET ENEMY.


A romantic play, SO called. under the
name of ''The Secret Enemy" was pre-
sented at The jefferson last evening by
Mr.. Elmer Grandin, Miss Eva Mountford
and company. before a rather light au-
dience. This is the cast:
P PGa1s f Beauoha,rd, Mr. Elmer Grandin
Maurice de Franco, Mr.. Thomas McGrath
Count de Treville, Mr.. James " Bankson
Paul Bazin, Mr.. Edwin r. Phillips
Victor Lecroix, Mr.. A. R. Richardson
Monsieur Gilbert, Mr.. S. Lee Daniel
Officer of the Guard, Mr.. George Macintosh
Luoette Lecroix, Miss Mary Asquith
Madam La Roche. Miss Ada Morton
Alline Regay, Miss Eta Norma
Mainline, Miss Lillian Bowen
Marcelle Beauchard, Miss Eva Mountford
The story of the play in brief IS as
follows: The Countess de Villiers dying,
has made q will Objectionable to Maurice
de Franco 1.-THE Secret Enemy, who, with
two others, plot to steal it. The nurse IS
drugged, the will seized, but the coun-
tess witnesses the theft and to silence
her murder is done. Maroelle, Eva Mount
ford) the daughter of Pierre Beauchard,
who is concerned in the plot to secure
the will. is accused of the crime and to
awe her father she is silent as to what
he has seen and escapes during the
hight. Her hat being found on the river
hank, she Is believed to have committed
suicide. but in reality she fees the coun-
try and eventually, under an assumed
name, Arienne become the wife of a
handsome young artist named Louis
Romano, (Elmer Grandin), and matters
I become complicated, but eventually
everyth is righted, the guilty ones are
brought to justice and all ends we'll.
The scene of the lay is laid in modern
France and advantage is taken of that
fact to give considerable scenic display.
especially in the studio scene in the Sec
ond act, the retreat of Pierre Beauohard
in the fourth act, and the italian chateau
in the first act. But the plot is exceed
inely involved, the diction is stilted,
and the dialogue is to great degree I'M
necessary and uninteresting. The char
acter of Marcelle has too little force. She
is too agonizing. The play is sort of
mixture of emotional drama, melo drama
and romantic play.
Mr.. Grandin and Miss Mountford are
good actors. Mr.. Grandin did very
clever bit in the White Squadron, when
that play was presented here several sea-
sons ago. His voice is deep and mellow
and as father of Marcelle, especially In
the fourth act, he was very strong, his
clear and distinct enunciation adding
much to the force of the scene. AS Louis
domaine, the jealous artist, he was digni-
fed and in marked contrast to the father
of Marcelle. Miss Ada Morton is to be
commended for capital bit of charac-
ter work in the PRESERVATION of the nurse,
Nine. LeRoche. Mr.. Thomas McGrath
was very fair william as Maurice, Mr..
Bankson was good as the Count, and the
other characters were fairly taken. The
curtain was called after each act and at
the end of the fourth act the enthusiasm
was SO marked that Mr.. Grandin Miss
Mountford, Messrs. McGrath. Bankson
and Richardson, were called before the
curtain.
During the evening The Jefferson or
chestra under the direction of Mr.. Frank
L. Callahan, rendered with much taste
she following selections:
Overture-Le Macon, Auber
Sslection-Chimes Of Normandy,
Concert Waltz-Ma Belle Adoree, Roy
Gavotte-The Bells, Watson
Exit March-American Cavalry, Hoist
PORTLAND THEATRE.
At the Portland theatre Girofa- Girofa
was successfully repeated at the matinee
yesterday and in the evening large au-
dience was treated to. an excellent bill,
The Two Vagabonds.
The opera is well remembered for its
bright, tuneful airs. its swinging ensem-
bles and.the good bits of nonsense scat
tered through it. 1t wears we'll because
of it's inherently good qualities. It was
we'll staged, the chorus was effective and
the costumes pretty.
Marion Langdon made charming
rendition of the Lullaby" and her duet
with Leon, well personated by Mr.. Smith,
beginning "There is sweet remem-
brance." The chorus song was another
clever number as we'll as Icons whats
in my heart, )" in the second. act.
Miss Sanford was jaunty and winning
as the Captain and deserving of very
favorable mention. Amsden and Waldo
had good scope for the display of comic
aIities and kept the audience in rounds
of laughter. Miss Breach was quantity
costuned and acted the Princess anus
ingiy, WHILE Miss Dewey was satisfactory
as Alfalfa, and Miss Sargent persona
ton of Fanchion WAS coy and attractive.
The work of Mr.. Holmes and Mr..
Dewey was meritorious, and Mr.. De-
Lacey's Giogt was.quite funny.
The presentation was one of the best
yet given and scored a decided hit. 1t
was received with enthusiasm and de-
ssrvedly SO.
The Bohemian Girl is billed for today's
matinee with Boccaccio for the evening
attraction.