The Portland daily press., 1897-08-28
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Portland TIL eatre.

Portland TIL eatre.
Portland theatre was opened last eve
ming for the dramatic season of 1S97-9S
with the Brothers Byrne in the "New
Eight Bells" pantomimic acrobatic
production that has been here in nearly
the same form before. There was large
audience in attendance and the applause
and laughter was incessant. The plot OF
the piece is familiar to our theatre goers.
The Brothers Byrne are, of course, the
life of the play. The great feature of the
piece is the steamer scene in which the
action of the waves and the rolling of the
vessel, are admirably counterfeited. The
Byrnes are very agile, skilful acrobats,
and they also include in their company a
number of capital gymnasts and tum.
blers. Griffin and McAvoy introduced
some very clever dancing in the second
act. and in the third act there were some
very strong acrobatic specialties by the
troupe and excellent dancing and bal
ancing by the Coulson sisters. The stat
uary poses also raised great enthusiasm.
The piece will be repeated tonight.
The old familiar faces will be seen
again in the different departments as of
yore. Mr.. Sullivan, the treasurer, cour-
teous as ever, will be found IN the box
office. Mr.. Lorenzo Wallace and Mr..
Maurice Woodbury., while not in the front
of the house, will see that the plays are
well staged, and the properties accurate.
Messrs. W. G. Osgood and f. "A Darling
x,i1l fol fio1y ND T
Barnabee and his efficient corps of ush-
ers will see that you are properly seated.
Mr.. George W. Ham will have charge
Of the house,as janitor.
One change will be noticed and 1t is a
marked one. Mr.. Charles Grimmer who,
for SO many years has waved the baton
over the theatre orchestras of Portland,
retires, and Mr.. Thomas, for number
of seasons a member of Mr.. Grimmer's
band, succeeds to the position. Mr..
Grimmer, as.Portland we'll knows, is a
most accomplished musician. During the
Shaw and Ellis, the Wyer, the Frank
Curtis, the Fanny Marsh, the Newell and
the Lothrop arrangements, and with Mr..
Tukesbury since he has leased the present
Portland theatre, period Of about 81
years, Mr.. Grimmer has been the must
cal leader. As a composer !. he has set to
music and arranged the parts for all the
amateur plays that have attained distinc-
ton here, and theatre-goers will hear of his
withdrawal with regret. But if there is
to be a change we know of no one more
popular or better adapted for the position
than Mr.. Thomas
The programme last night were very
neat, published by Mcdonald Brothers.
Bobby Richardson played violin with
the orchestra.
Maine Musical Festival.
Mrs. W. r. Chapman, wife of the
musical director Of the Maine Musical
Festival, and Mr.. Homer n Chase were
in town yesterday and met Mayor Randall
and Architect Tompson. They talked
over the arrangement of seats, and of
the temporary stage and gallery, and Mr.
Tompson will present a plan for their
consideration.
Mrs. Chapman says there is great en-
thusiasm all over the state in the Festi-
walls, and that the number of well known
Maine singers who wish to sing on Maine
day, at their own expense, is legion. The
programmes will soon be given to the
public
Mrs. Chapman and Mr. Chase had
meeting with General Manager Evans of
the Maine Central to arrange for trains to
the festival.
Today is the last opportunity to hear
the Brigham concert orchestra at River
ton park. The attendance yesterday was
up to the average and the audiences of
the day were delighted with the work
done by the orchestra.
The solo parts by Madame Barutio and
the character vocalist sketch by La
Petite Blanche are also interesting
features of the programme. With fair
weather the attendance today will doubt
less reach the usual Saturday average.
McCuIlum's Theatre.
| There are only two more performances
to be given OF that delightful three-act
comedy 'Incog'' at the Peaks island
theatre. If you want to enjoy two hours
of good, wholesome, hearty laughter,
don't fail to see this wonderfully anus
| ing play.
Mark Milford's three-act farce comedy
"Turned Up" is the only play Mr.. Nc
Cullum can think of that sis strong
enough to follow "Incog," and SO
Turned Up has been selected to finish
the summer season at the Peaks island
| theatre next week This hilarious come
dy was produced here last summer and
made the most pronounced hit of the sea-
son. 1t is ''all wool and yard wide' SO
far as its mirth- provoking qualities are
concerned. 1t is sure to receive warm
welcome and will make a brilliant fin
ish for this unusually successfully season.
This will be the cast of Turned Up:''
General Baltic, Mormon d. Conniers
Captain Midway, L. B.. Bridgeland