The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
A Black Sheep.

Black Shsep,'i comes to the Portland
theatre next Tuesday afternoon and
evening In "a Black Sheep Mr.. Hoyt
depicts the downfall of n young man !,
through the sudden Inheritance of for
tune. from the proud position Of the
toughest man in Tom bstone, Arirz., to
that of New York anglo-maniac, who
marries a burlesque actress. The auth
or disclaims any particular purpose in
writing this skit; but playwright Hoyt
is known as business playwright. He
writes farce comedies to please the mass
es. aud draw money to the box office.
In this respect he is truly successful, for
Notwithstanding the extreme heat IN
Chicsgo during the engagement of IA
Blnck Sheep" for over 100 performances,
the receipts are said to have been the
largest in the history of the Grand Opera
house. 1t is claimed that those who
saw "A Black Sheep" when here last
season will hardly recognize it as played,
for Mr.. Hoyt has changed it SO much by
adding new lines, scenes and new "stage
business" The specialties are new and
novel as well as the music, dances. etc.
The cast which will present GA Black
Sheep" here is the one which was es-
pecially selected to present this play last
season at Hoyt's theatre, New York,
where 1t had an enormously successful
run of $50 nights, and is headed by Otis.
Harlan.
cacred Concert
Chandlsr's band gave their second
sacred concert at Portland theatre last
evening. 1t Yves about rs bad an eve-
ming as could have been imagined for q
concert, but those who brayed the ele-
ments were well repaid. The programme
was we'll arranged and the various num-
bers were executed with much taste.
MIR. Welch's violin solos showed that
he has a capital methods nice touch and
a breadth that entities him to great
praise. Messrs. Gately and Brooks sang
to great acceptance.
The Old Homestead.
The familiar play of Denman Thomp-
sons returns to the Portland Theatre OH
Friday and Saturday evenings next, May
7-s, and a Saturday smatinee. There
seems to be an indefnable charm about
this sweet and simple story which age
cannot wither. The gambols of the
country folk. the squabble Of the two
"old boys" the country dance to the
fiddlsr's music, the quaint sayings, the
blazing logs on the hearth, and tn
strings of dried apples on the chimney
above them, the old we'll, with its wind
lass and breaking chain, the rustic porch
of the farmhouse opposite, half buried by
INTERVIEWING roaes and the fields of grain
stretching away in the distance to the
hills, and the songs of the farm hands.
all make picture SD true to life, SO re-
poseful and SO refreshing that it fingers
long in the memory. 4. j. Jose and the
double quartette ara still a prominent
feature. and new selections have been
added to their repertoire. The company
is an excellent one, and comprises many
of the members of the original company.
with Archie Boyd in the character of
Joshua Whitcomb.'
Trilby.
Out of Du Maurier'B rose-colored and
romantic dreams of the Latin Quarter,
Paul NJ Potter has evoked the real sub
stance of a drama All demonstrations
of famous novels are dangerous and ex-
perimental, but of Mr.. Potter's work 1t
can be said that it is really remarkable.
The different characteras as conveyed by
Du Maurier to the minds of his readers
are brought to life as wildly as though
they walked from the pages of the book
undone, nothing let to the Imagination,
there are moments of pathos and out
bursts Of humor running through the
drama just as in the book. A. NJ. Pal
mer's company under the direction of
VIM. A. Brady will present the piece
here tomorrow, May 4th, matinee and
evening at Portland Theatre.
The Watkins-nIills Recital.
Portland has lately had its Calve, it's
Sousa, and will soon have its Watkins
Mills-certainly q remarkable trio, and
it is to be hoped that the latter may re.
ceive the same fiattering reception &C.
corded the first two great artists.
There is little necessity to enter into
any prolonged eulogy on the artistic mer-
its of England's leading baritone; for
those who have heard him in his previous
appearance here are unanimous in praise
of him, as an artist and singer.
Among his latter successes may be
mentioned his appearance at the Handel
and Haydn sooiety's Raster concert at
Boston this year, where he gained per-
feet ovation.
Mr.. Watkins Mills has delightfully."-
genial and fine stage presence, and has
versatility that makes him equally at
home in orntorio, opera or ballad. \
On the occasion Of his recital at
Kotzsohmar Hall next Friday MIR. Mills
will be assisted by Mr.. Harvey Murray as
accompanist and on this occasion he will
add two piano solos to the programme.
Portland people will anticipate Mr.. Muir
rays performance with great pleasure.
Notes.