The Portland daily press., 1898-12-30
AT KoTzscHMAR HALL.
The Charming Entertainment Given
Tn ere Last Evening.

messed the charmingly unique entertain
ment of amateur vaudeville given at
Kotzschmar hall, last evening, in aid OF
the sufferers by the wreck OF the steamer
Portland Audience and artists were IN
perfect sympathy, and thus many nice
shade Of meaning in the text OF the
SKETCHES and many neat local aliusloh
that might pass unreoognizeo py tne
stranger. appealed to those who sat In
the seats and smiled with those who
sauntered on the stage. Yet the pro-
gramme was cunningly contriyed and
of large interest even to those entirely
unfamiliar with the actors.
When the curtain rose the guitar and
mandolin club was discovered on the
stage, where it gave what the bill appro-
priately called medley rhythmic delight,
rayishing harmony, enchanting con-
sonance mellifluous pink-a-panking and
duloet twsedle-dee-ing. 1t was all that
and something more. for the excellent
music, admirably rendered, provoked
demand for a recall to which Lieut..
Clifford and his trained cohort graceful
ly responded.
The second number, ''quibs. quirks
and repartee, done by Messrs. Malcolm
and Charles Barrowes "while you wait,
was an excellent bit of fooling, set off
with merry song and jests really new.
The sspersonal ads, g read from suppo-
sititious New York paper, but bearing
decided local flavor, evidently tickled the
audience, and were rewarded with both
encore and bouquet.
OF the Modern Sir Launfal,' whose
moral is the moral of Lowell's early
poem, it is difficult to speak in measured
terms. The miniature comedy has a
Gallo vivacity and grace, and perfec-
ton in plot that recall Eugene Scribe
himself. 1t is as dainty parlor drama
AS was ever conceived, constructed on
slender but perfect lines and carrying
most charming motif. The tenderness
and grace with which the author, Florence
Brooks Whitehouse. portrayed her own de-
lightful creation, the material representa-
tion of the woman of her happy dream,
and the admirably forcible and intelli-
gent support given by Mr.. Whitehouse'
made the representation OF this vaude-
vile (using the word in It's genuine
French sense), thing to be remembered
and desired again and again. Witty as
the dialogue was, and tender too IN the
sentimental passages, it gave way to the
music, in which the rich and thoroughly
cult waited voices of Mr.. and Mrs. White
house were displayed to complete advan-
tase. Rarely is SO little thing found
both SO perfect in construction and rich
in representation.
The musical number by the Misses
Noyes and Knight was one of the most
pleasing features of the attractive and
unioue programme. To lift variety song
and aance to the height of art, to retain
its archness and merriment hile dis
daining, without seeming to make an
effort. the gaucheries usually thought to
be inseperable therefrom, is difficult
thing to do; but it was done to perfection
and suggested Marie Antoinette and her
brilliant companions playing the milk
maids at Trianon. The darkey at the re-
call, seated between the two graces, was
a novel tri umph in the way of encore
The sketch, "a Modern Proposal, :"
turns for plot upon well-worn scheme,
but was done SO well by Miss Florence
Carpenter and Mr.. Louise Dutton, that it
had much of the merit of novelty. This
was doubtless largely due to the dramatic
ability of the parsonators. The char
acter of Eleanor Vandyke'' can easily
1 lone hu Miss Car,
penter with artistic restraint; and her
mobile face and well-Inanaged voice made
it a lively and natural portraiture Mr..
Dutton's part is difficult. but he played
it admirably, and brought the audience
into sympathy with the simple, honest,
big hearted gentleman he portrayed When
he was accepted by the heroine everybody
applauded her good sense.
When MIR. Malcolm Barrows appeared
in the gloom (the lights being lowered),
and sang the ballad ST Love Her just the
Same while the darkey slides moved
across the screen, the house gave itself up
to unrestrainea merriment. 1t was as
neat q bit of burlesque as is often seen,
and the importunate audience compelled
MIR. Barrows to repeat il.
The charming and unique entertain
ment closed with Mr.. Leroy Nights
'sskittish skit,'' Cyrano De Golfiac,
burlesoue that might make Monsieur De
Rostand open his eyes, as it certainly did
open in laughter the lips of delighted
audience, particularly those in the hall
familiar with the lingo and the intricacies
of the ancient and honorable game OF
golf. This new tale of the Nose and the
hero who wore it flor the occasion only,
is replete with unctuous humor. But it
has a merit more than that 1t glitters
with those epigrams and facilities of
language of which Mr.. Hight is SO pro.
life. 1t is an entertainment in itself well
deserving the devotion of an evening S
leisure.
When the curtain fell upon the Golfiacs
the audience dispersed we'll pleased. Its
members will doubtless reassembIs to-
night, with many more, to witness the re-