The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-13
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The jefferson:


The public is awaiting with feverish
interest the opening of The jefferson,
which will take place tomorrow evening.
The house is in apple pie order and, on
Saturday evening was lighted up, while
MIR. Crafts, the expert electrician, tested
the lights. The tests were highly success
full. The members of the building. com-
mittee were present and expressed their
great satisfaction at the perfection of de-
tails.
! On the opening night Mr.. Jefferson will
occupy the box with President Wright.
and after he has delivered his address,
will enjoy the performance of Mr.. Wilson
and company
There are still some very good seats to
be obtained at Cressey, Jones and Allen S
for the opening night. The sale OF seats
for the second performance has been very
gratifying but there are still excellent
places to be had.
Speaking of Mr.. Wilson and his play,
Half King" the New York Advertiser
said: 'In Half King, which was pro-
duced at the Knickerbocker theatre last
night, Francis Wilson has a light opera
that will prove q worthy successor to
Erminie.' The book is bright, the plot
clever and concise and the music is dis :,
tinctly melodioussand catchy. sHalfA a
King scored an emphatic hit, and was
excellently acted and fairly well sung.
There was number of lyrics that will be
sung and whistled within week, and
that is considered the most crucial test
of light operas success. The scenery
and the costumes were gorgeous VIII lie
the chorus, which included number of
pretty girls, sang well and with COM
mendable spirit. a
Sweet Inniscarra.
Chauncey Depew was called 'speach''
by one of the New York boys, but all the
girls call Chauncey Olcott peach, for
his personality is delightful, his voice
sweet and sympathetic, and handled as
no other stage singer can, and his com
pany is exceedingly well selected. The
play is brim full of interest. Be sure and
remember his dates. Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.
The price of seats are the regular prices
of the theatre, twenty-five cents to one
dollar. The advance sale will open at thea
box office Tuesday morning at Ga. m. III
The Reed Birds.
There are few, if any, entertainments
SO universally popular as the performance
given by an attraction which will be at
Riverton Park on the week commenc ing
today. The proprietors of this
organization, which is called
the Reed Birds, have by a shrewd stroke
of management com bined the best features
of two most generally patronized forms of
amusement, MINISTRIES and vaudeville,
and the result is unique and highly
atistic display of allied talent. The in
telligent amusement seekergwill readily see
the advantages in obtaining the pick of
the profession and uniting them in one
performance of unusual strength, and as
the A m erican public is never slow to ap-
preciate good thing, the success of
the Reed Birds has been of the sensation
al order. few of the many features
Offered are funny minstrel comedians, &C.
centric comediennes, vocal soloists,
quartettes, and sextettes, banjoists, bone
players, comic singers and dancers, laugh
able conversational nonsense, and
general assortment of bright and up to
date merriment.
Notes.
A dispatch to the New York World
from London says Mascagni, the brilliant
composer of the opera "Cavalleria
Rusticana," has attempted to commit
suicide at Bologna, Italy, by taking
poison. The attempt is said to have
failed, but Mascagnis mind is unhinged,
it is asserted, and he must be placed
under control. Another despatch denies
the statement that Mascagni's mind is
11nhinred