The Portland daily press., 1897-11-02
MUSIC AND DRAMA
THE GEISHA.

had SuCn q run d1 LAZY > IN new YORK,
and London, and over which litigation
between MIR. Daily and Sir William ] or
dine-the proprietor of the company that
is playing it in Portland-is now going
on, was presented at The jefferson last
evening to very large, fashionable and
quite enthusiastic audience. The come
dy seems to have been patterned after
Gilbert and Sulliva ms popular operas.
1t seems like combination of "Pina-
fore" and "Mikado," in its general feat
ures, and there are at times snatches of
melody that remind one strongly of airs
from those two operas and Patience, -
that have become household words.
There is not the quickness of action that
tends to keep the hearer on the qui vive,
or quite as m UGH ginger as one would
like. But despite this criticism there are
lots of fun in the piece, it is tuneful, the
company that presents it is most capa-
BILE, and several of them possess great
merit.
The story of the Geisha in brief. is
this 4 A party of English officers have
landed from their ship at Japanese port.
They visit tea garden and become &C.
ouainted with the Geishas, who are girls
hired to sing and dance at tea gardens.
A party of ladies also land from their
Yacht, friends of the officers, and one of
whom is engaged to one of the officers.
The Marquis, who is governor of the
province, is in love with the principal
Geisha and wants to marry her. He sells
off the tea house and girls at auction,
and tries to buy the principal Geisha, but
is foiled by one of the English ladies who
outbids him, but in the sale he does buy
the officers sweetheart who is masquerad-
ing in the character of a Geisha. There
is a French woman who desires to marry
the Marquis, and after many complica-
lions the officer succeeds in regaining his
sweetheart, the principal Geishn is given
to a lover, an officer in the Japanese
army land the French woman marries the
marquis.
Miss Laura Willard as o Mimosa San,
the principal Geisha, is one of the most
delightful actresses that has been seen on
the boards in this city. She is very come
ly, her costumes are rich and becoming,
and she has a superior voice that has
been trained in good school. Her rem
dering Of 1.-THE Amorous Goldfish" and
'sThe Jewel of ASIA were given with
great expression, and a naivete that was
very taking.
Miss Linda de Costa, the Mollie Sey-
mour, sweetheart of Lit. Reginald Fair
fax, fairly bubbles over with life and
spirits. To watcht her face is play in
itself, and her dance in the second act
is marvel of.grace. Miss Kate Gilbert
as Juliette, the French girl, is very much
at home in the part and exceedingly at
tractive. Mr.. Mark Smiths dry humor
and capital makeup as the Marquis, and
the capital representation of Wun-Hi,
the proprietor of the tea house, by Charles
W. Swain, kept the audience in ripple
of laughter. He is typical Chinaman,
who has learned the tricks of the hated
foreigners. Henry Gunson has sweet
tenor voice which he uses with much
effect as 1t. Katana of the japanese
army, and John Park displays good
baritone voice. and he acts the part of
Lieut.. Fairfax with much vim. The 9TH
er characters were well taken. One of
the prettiest features and one that was
encored several times was the charming
scene between Lit. Fairfax and Mollie,
when she is seated in ssthe jinricksha.
The popular numbers, Jacks the Boy"
1.-THE Toy Duet 1.-THE Monkey on
Stick, !" "The Parrot and Canary" were
all encored 81
The comedy was prettily staged and
beautifully costumed. The chorus, espec-
ally the final chorus, was strong and
pleasing, and the orchestra good under
the direction of Mr. William Wither
The closing scene of the first act with
the colored lights, and the delightful
chorus, was particularly effective.
The Geisha will be repeated tonight.
FAY FOSTER EXTRAVAGANZA co.
Thursday OF this week the Fay Foster
Company will begin an engagement of
three nights and matinee ut Portland
Theatre. An entirely new programme
is offered this season, which is said to be
unequalled by any similar attraction be-
musical comedy entitled "Fun on a
Yacht" The olio which follows is one of
uusual excellence, being composed of
such well known people as Foster &
Lewis, Carrie Ezier, Snyder & Buckley,
West & Williams, Alice Warren and 9TH
ers. The entertainment concludes with
a one-act burietta called "Two of a
Kind" which is said to make big hit
everywhere. The show bristles with
comedy, and standing room will no
doubt be the rule during the Fay Foster
engagement. Carl Albert, SO great a
favorite with the Bennett & Moulton
Opera Co., is with the Fay Foster Com
pany. There was an excellent advance
sale yesterday.
THE STAR COURSE.
The celebrated Welsh Prize Singers will
be the attraction for the second entertain
ment in the Star Course to be given at
City Hall tomorrow night, and the seats