The Portland daily press., 1897-01-02
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Spectator.

Ah0 NpoCuAttots
Mr.. Tukesbury, the manager of Port
land theatre, has been providing the pub
lie lately numb of excellent attrao-
lions, several of them of the highest Or
der of merit, and this quietly and with
out any flourish of trumpets. Now II
this Same public wishes to give Port
land reputation as patrons of the
drama. and make it certain that the new
theatre will lie q success they must show
more appreciation of Mr.. Tukesbury'
efforts than they have been doing. 1t
ia lust such plays as "The Spectator, "
and lust such clever actors as Mr.. Thorn
as O, Seabrook and company, that will
be relied on to make the new house
popuIar. The audience last night was
of fair proportions but it should have
filled eysry seat in the house. 1t is
pleasure to be able to say that the au-
diepce was exceedingly enthusiastic, thet
it appreciated fully the bright lines that
fell from the lips of the star, and that
it called the curtain most vigorously af-
ter each net.
The play Of "The Spectator, as may
be well imagined from the name. has for
the scene of its action Chicago, and for
it's motive the grain market. John
Fullerton is q bull. and his son Robert,
and 20 years previous was worsted in
deal by John Fullerton, a fact he never
forgot. Robert is in love with Kate
Duncan Henry Duncan's daughter. Her
father forbids the match. In second
furry in the grain market, Duncan
thinks he has Fullerton downed, but
there is, at the crisis, news of war be-
tween England and Russia, that sends
wheat up, and under the skilful mani
pulation Of Robert Fullerton, the tables
are turned and the would be successful
operator, Duncan, is ruined instead of
his adversary. There is a minor comedy
in which Lillian and Marion Fullerton,
daughters of John are the principals and
Marion who is sought in mar
riage by French counts her cousin
Charlie, a young dude who apes the
extreme English fop, and Sir Frederick
Leicester. an English army officer. or
course, in the end, Robert and Kate's
dream Of love and happiness materializes
and the curtain falls on old Fullerton
and a happy young couple.
The strong resemblance in the scene
in the Office of John Fullerton g. Son in
the second act. is a forcible reminder of
q similar scene in 'sThe Henrietta" but
that does not impair the merits of this
comedy.
Mr.. Thomas @. Seabrooke would new
er be recognized in "The Speoulator'
as the same actor who was seen in the
burlesque 1.-THE Isle of Champagne.
His John Fullerton is finished por-
traiture. 1t abounds in fine strokes
and in broad sweeping lines as we'll. He
is always natural, never furced. The
courage of the old man il dominating
key note throughout the whole perform
ancs, and there is touch of real pathos
displayed by him in the scene where
his son tells him of his love for Kate
and that whichever way the battle be-
tween the speculators Elay go, that he
must be miserable, and again when he
begs CT Duncan not to make him
bankrupt. Mr.. Seabrooke also intro
duces scene of the funniest description
where he gives the three suitors to Mari
on's hand chase alb out the rooms in
their pursuit Of him.
Mr.. Seabrooke's support possesses one
great merit They appear to lie the la
dies and gentlemen they are supposed
to represent. Mr.. A. III. Stuart was an
excellent personator of Henry Duncan,
and Mr.. Horace Mitchell gave an admi-
ruble representation of Robert Fuller
ton. Roy Fairohild was most anus
ing Charlie Florence, the dude nephew,
Fred W. Peters looked the Count de
Vernean as we'll as acted the part in
character, well contrasted by Mr.. q.
W. McDonald's Sir Frederick. Miss Lor-
raine Dorceux was pretty and pleasing
Katie: Florence Bingham stylish Mrs.
Florence, and Laura Almoirno and
Jeanette Lownie respectively, pleased as
Lillian and Marion.
Be sure to go to the matinee or eve-
ming performance tonight.