The Portland daily press., 1897-09-10
MUSIC AND DRAMA


At the opening of the new house Tues
Gay night it is understood that ex-Gov.
Cleaves will introduce Mr.. Jefferson to
the audience and then Mr.. jefferson will
reply. At what time in the evening this
will take place will depend upon the ar
rangement between Mr. Wilson, who
opens the house with his company, MIR.
Jefferson and Mr.. Fay, the manager.
The sale of seats for the second night of
Half King opened at Cressey, Jones
& Aliens yesterday morning. There was
not any rush, but there was a good de-
mand for seats.
The New York Mail and Express,
speaking of Mr.. Wilson and Company in
'Half King, said;
Half King but very nearly an en-
tire success, was the new production with
which Mr. Francis Wilson opened both
his own season and that of the re-
christened Kniclzerbocker Theatre last
evening 1t might perhaps be Just as
Srue 80 say that it was wholly success.
One OF the reasons, it would appear, why
the opera was a 'go'' lies in the fact that
1t began with rush and whirled itself
SO quickly into approval that it left no
opportunity for the fatal nervousness on
oiio l'ulU VI uiio players WnlC1 uds fulu6u
SO many frst nights That could be
plainly seen. Mr.. Wilson had not been on
the stage five minutes before he lost all
apprehension, if he had had any, and
was speedily at his old tricks of voice,
gesture and gags as if he had been play
ing the part Tor six months. This speedily
became infectious and after that 1t was
generally plain sailing This may seem
rather extravagant praise for an utter bit
of nonsense Ii Ike 'sHalf King but it
is said because people like utter bits of
nonsense, and this is tidbit Of it's kind.
OF Mr.. Wilson's work it only has to be
said that it was the work of Erminie,"
"The Coiah, " and all his other parts, ex-
cept 1.-THE Chieftain. He was irresisti-
bly, funny and positively amusing, except
where the lines positively prevent him
from being so. That was not often. Miss
Lulu CHASER, as Pierrette, won the honors
among the supporting cast
The mis-en-scene is very good. The
second act, showing the interior of
dukes palace, recalls the ball room scene
from 'Erminie," and the Court of Mira
Giles IN the last act was delightful old
nook in the eighteenth century Latin
quarter of Paris.
Sweet Inniscarra.
For three nights and Saturday mati-
nee, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 18th,
Mr.. Chauncey Olcott, with his attractive
company will be seen at the jefferson.
The souvenirs that are on the counters of
Cressy, Jones & Allen, give an excellent
picture of this talented actor and sweet
singer taken with his big ST. Bernard
dog and also with the bright children
that appear in the play. If Mr.. Olcott
and his play come up to the expectations
raised by the papers in other cities where
they have been seen Portland theatre
goers are assured of rich treat.
This is Mr.. Olcott's company: August
Pitou, manager; Eugene Schultz, bust
ness manager; Will j. Tilton, advance
agent; Luke Martin, stage manager; AL
bert Krausse, musical director. Chaun-
cey Olcott, Paul Gilmore, Daniel Gill
fether, j. L. Morgan, Harry Leighton,
Luke Martin, Charles r. Gilbert, J. G.
Hickey. George Deltyn Hope, Edward
Richards, Frank Bonn, William Jones'
Friedrich Lander, William Howe, John
Ross. Rolinda Bainbridge, Mrs. Lizzie
Washburne, Miss Eta Martin Baker, |
Jeanette Terrell, Argyle Gilbert, Imogene
Washburne, and Ada Wander Gilbert.
Riverton Park.
But two days remain in which to see
at Riverton Park the wonderful trained
dogs and the effective doll act in the ven
triloquial part of the entertainment. The
clever bango playing and the musical
tricks on the violin are also notable feat
ures of the show. Every one who has
visited the Park this week doubtless has
conveyed to neighbors the favorable i'm
4Io oto5
and it is likely that the electric cars of
the Portland Railroad Company will be
taxed to their utmost to accommodate
the crowds who will desire to see the in
teresting mosaic of novelties.