The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE JEFFERSoNS.

Il
Last evening will be noted one in the
dI ,natic records of Portland because on
that occasion the four sons of Mr.. Joseph
Jefferson appeared at the theatre, named
in honor of their father. and IN play
that the father has made famous through
or. the length and breadth of the land.
The nlay itself does not require the
highest talent on the part OF the paruicl-
pants to make a pleasing entertainment.
Washington Irving genius invested the
story with a romanticism that MADE
thousands familiar with it, but 1t re-
ouired the peculiar genius OF Joseph
jefferson to make the fictitious creation
of the author thing of flesh and blood.
Many have essayed the part of Rip
since MT. Jefferson made it, famous,
with greater or less success, and now
the son Thomas, who has been familiar
lied with the character his father played
for many years, takes up the part as
his father leaves it.
Mr.. Thomas Jefferson is evidently
very close observer. At any rate he has
studied his father so carefully, and his
voice So closely resembles his fathers
that there are periods in the play when
one could almost fancy that he was lis
tening to Joseph Jefferson himself. But
there are scenes that, well done as they
were, could not and did not, affect the
audience as when presented by the great
comedian. Those who remember the
close Of the second act when Joseph
Jefferson personated Rip, and Gretchen
drove him on into the storm, will never
forget those eyes, or the pathos of the
voice, as the yagaboud bids farewell to
his wife while the lightning Eliminates
his form and features. That one scepe
held his audiences spell bound, while
tears poured down the faces of men and
women. 1t was one of the greatest
temperance object lessons in existence.
And again in the scene where be return
home after his long sleep and he finds
Meenie and Hendrick grown to manhood
and womanhood, and the village of Fall
ing Water completely change, there was
an Undesirable pathos and hqnor COM
bined that only genius can display.
But Mr.. Thomas Jefferson while he
couldn't invest Rip with all that beauty
of characterization that pertained to the
fathers portraiture still was very taking
In the part, and he was called before the
curtain after each act. He was particu-
larly happy in the scene with Hendrick
Hudson and his men in the third act.
Mr.. Joseph Jefferson, Jr., made very
good Derrick Van Beekman, MIR. William
jefferson was an excellent Cookies, and
LIr. G. B. Jefferson in the last act as
sulned the role of Hendriok successfully.
Miss Edna Cary was quite strong as
Gretchen, although her snrewishness was
little forced at times Mr.. Odlin
pleased as Nick Vedder The parts of
the children Hendrick and Meenie were
admirably assumed by Walter Walsh and
Virgie Glindon, and in the last act
blanche Bender took the part of Meenle
and Bill e Gli.un of Hatcher.
The audience testified to their appre
citation by calling Mr.. Thomas Jefferson
before the curtain twice and calling the
curtain after each act.
PORTLAND THEATRE.
The manager of the Portland theatre
made this merry yesterday by stationing
a band in front of the theatre entrance
which played lively airs rs the crowds
.ssed in to listen to the Christmas offer
ing, which was Mckee Rankins' comedy
drama entitled ga Country Merchant
Tits play, brimful of familiar scenes
o New England life, was very appropri-
ately set, and its story, dealing with love,
villainy, broken engagements and broken
hearts, was we'll told, terminating
in the triumphant yipdication
of the abused lover with the sun bursting
over all. All of this served as
good background for Charles Cowles's
impersonation of that genuine old time
master at Manter Corners. He looks the
character and acts it with true likeness
to nature He is droll, quite at home
in the scenes requiring pathos an d
altogether gives a good representation.
His old-fashioned song and dance caught
the crowd and was vigorously encored.
The auxiliary parts were, generally
speaking, we'll taken. Miss Baorde's
Patience was good, and Phyllis found
a fit imperson alton in Miss Dorothy
Alden. Of course there had to be a viliaH
and that thankless part fell to Mr.. DAILY.
Tim Coughlin was the Pat O'Keefe Of
the piece, and his hearty rendition of
"Songs of the Emerald Isle,'' struck
warm sympathetic chords among his
hearers Miss jeanette Berry seemed to
appreciate just what the salient char
acteristics Of a town gossip were. and
Mr.. O'Neil met the requirements of the
hero.
Marie Jansen as little Matte, was cap
tiyating in her negro melodies and "The
Three Rubes. ~ A Country Merchant