The Portland daily press., 1897-10-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA
WAITE'S OPERA co.


engagement last evening at Portland
theatre to crowded and appreciative
audience, in the beautiful opera of Fra
Diavolo. Between the acts the manager
announced that no popular priced opera
company before the public contains so
many high priced artists, as this troupe
embracing three prima donnas, Miss
Mayne Taylor, for several seasons the
bright particular star of the TivoIi, San
Francisco, Miss Marion Langford, former
~ leading support to Marie Tempest and
Laura Schirmer Mapleson, and Miss
Isabella Irving of this city. High priced
vaudeville performers would also appear
every matinee and evening. The matt
nees, he said, would begin at p. m, and
be as good as the evening performances
but 1T less prices.
Mr.. Waite's company last evening
seemed to be lacking somewhat in chorus
force, but the principals were quite
effective Mr.. Joseph W. Smith was the
bandit chieftain and he sang the music
assigned to him in a manner to draw
forth much applause while he acted the
ford, as Zerlina. showed herself the
possessor of strong soprano, which she
used With much skill, and she was warm
" applauded for her song in the second
act "Haste Tomorrow" Claude Amsden
as Beppo, and John Dewey as Giacomo,
the bandits were very amusing, and Her
man Waldo as Lord Alloash and Wayne
cd oh no
effective. Mr.. Charles N. Holmes was a
pleasing tenor and he was very good as
Lorenzo. The other character were we'll
taken.
The most striking feature of the opera
was the singing of the great sextette at
the end of the second act, which was de-
livered with so much fire and animation
that it was imperatively redemanded.
The curtain was called after each act.
Between the acts number of specialties
are introduced. The Lilly quartette-
Misses Sanford, Powers, Ashton and
Riggs-sing number of character songs
and their act is an excellent one. Mildred
Dempsey dances the Highland fling and
the Sailors hornpipe, skilfully. Musical
Brown is wonder. He plays both
classical and popular music on the har~'
moica and accompanies his selections
with guitar. He gives limitations of a
brass band, "a fife and drum corps an old
time fiddler playing for country dance
and Others equally pleasing. The per-
formance closed with a brilliant march
by the. Roman Guards.
This afternoon "Chimes of Normany"
and tonight "Girofe. Girofia will be
given. Miss Irving will appear tonight.
EFREDERICKHTHE GREAT.
Lewis Morrison will again appear at
The jefferson next Thursday evening,
Oc. 2S. An evening with Lewis Morri-
son always proves an intellectual treat.
Upon this occasion he will present Theo-
dore Kremer's new play, Frederick the
Great, historical comedy drama, and
play which is expected to prove one OF
his gre atest successes. AS Frederick, the
idolized King of the Germans, he has op-
portunities for strong and virile acting.
also for the portraying of grim humor, of
which he will readily avail himself. The
addition of SO great character to his re-
protoire is worthy of note. Mr.. Morri-
sons enupciation is delight, and his
reputation as the best reader on the
American stage should be fully sustained
in this character. The scenes of the play
are located in Berlin at the famous royal
palace. The play alternates comedy and
many stirring scenes. Mr.. Kremer has
also woven an exciting love story into the
play. The characters are all well de-
fined, and.of historical Importance. The
picturesque costumes are historically cor
rect. An entertainment is promised
which cannot fail to add to the great
prestige of the star. Reserved seats will
60 on sale Tuesday morning at nine
O'Clock. Regular prices.
THE SECRET ENEMY.
In speaking of new plays, Messrs. Lie
bier and Miner had this to say Yes, we
are willing to produce good plays by
American authors, but they are more
than hard-to fnd it would be no exag-
geration to say that we have read in the
Ieighborhood of one hundred plays dur
ing the past summer, out of which. we
have selected but two. Our first produc-
tion was 1.-THE Secret Enemy" by Elmer
Grandin and Eva Mountford. Mr.. Gran
din is an American author, and mem
Ter of the American Dramatists' Club; SO
it cannot be said of us that we refuse to
listen to American talent. This play is
romantic in all the name implies; it has
color, atmosphere, and is full of dramatic
force. The fourth act is novelty; being
played entirely by the male characters Of
the cast. and the scene Is as powerful
as similar one in Diplomacy or ''The
Legion of Honor" ''The Secret Enemy
will be presented at The Jefferson
Wednesday evening, Oct. 27. Reserved
seats go on sale this morning at regular
prices.
MILE. RHEA
Mile. Rhea is coming to The Jeffer
son, The retirement of Modjesk;
from the stage leaves Nile
Rhea almost the only successful star NAV