The Portland daily press., 1898-02-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA
HUMANITY.

drama and is Mr. Vane's strongest play.
The story deals with the war CT England
AGAINST Dutch Beers in South Africa.
The play opens in Cranbourne hall, Eng
land, the home of Lieut.. Bevis Gran
bourne. Leziba Penn, the daughter of
Matthew Penn, the Quaker gardener, has
been wronged in London by Major
Fordyce Dangerteld, "a war correspondent.
Dangerfeld follows his victim from
place to place, seeking to plunge her
still deeper into misery. WARTS declared,
Lieut.. Cranbourne leaves with his COM
mand, followed by Leziba Penn and her
sister, Kesiah, who, together with Alma
Dunbar, the lieutenant's fiancee, enlists
in the hospital service. Dangerfield fol-
lows the party and is later discovered to
be spy. He is compelled to leave the
Dunbar house, which has been beselged,
and furnishes the. Beers with information
which enables them to take the Dunbar
house, which has been transformed into
a fort. Lieut. Gran bourne in the mean
time attempts to pass the Boer lines 20
deliver important dispatches to General
WoIseley, and is captured, but not until
he has sent @ wounded drummer boy
through the lines. Cranbourne is i'm
prisoned in the Dunbar fortress and after
trial by court martial, is sentenced to be
shot; on the day set for the execution,
Gen. Wolseley arrives and attacks the
fortress. The women OF the nospltai
corps are compelled to assist the beers IN
defending the place by loading the rliles.
Cranbourne is dashed to post below
waiting for the time to arrive when he
will be shot. The women are being hand
ed the rifles, load them, turn on the de-
taohJnent of Beers and fire. killing all
but Dangerfield, who PUSHES down stairs
determined that Cranbourne shall meet
the death penalty. He draws his revolt
YER and fires, but every chamber is empty.
Ssizing q huge bomb, he places 1t in
hox close to Cranbourne's head and lights
it. The lieutenant's fiancee, Alma Dun
bal. arrives in time to grab the bomb ana
hurl it out Of the window Cranbourne
is released just as the English troops
rush in to seize the place. The party
shortly returns to England and matters
are set to rights, Dangerdeld's crime
meeting with just punishment.
Humanity drew good, but not
crowded audience last night. But 1t is
rarely that an audience is SO thoroughly
absorbed in a melodrama. The scene OF
the play is fresh in the minds Of all from
the late Jameson raids, and the intro
duction of the fox hounds and the race
horses arouses genuine enthusiasm. Ibis
season two changes are made in the cast.
Mr.. Ross O'Neil takes the part Mr.
Joseph Grismer assumed when the play
was last produced here, and Miss Alice
Irving that of Miss Phoebe Davis. Mr.
O'NeiI as Lieut.. Cranbourne, was most
acceptable. J. Palmer Collins, as MAJOR
Dangerf1eld, gave the true flavor to his
part Miss Irving was most entic1ng IN
her Characterization of the part OF the
heroine. Mrs. Mary McElbreth as Lady
Cransbourne, acquitted herself COM
mendably. In the cast were Annie
Ward, Raymond Whitaker, Clarence
Ferguson, A. J..Williams, Gus Mortimer
and J. Hughes The piece was finely
staged and costumed. There will be
matinee this afternoon that should crowd
the house. and another performance to-
night. or,,ep
The entertainment given in the Star
course by the Fisk Jubilee Singers last
eveninr received with great applause,
and MANY encores. The Fisk Jubilee
Singers have alwayssbeen favorites mere.
The singers who appeared last night,
were: Miss Mayme P. Galloway and
Mrs. J. N.fCaldwell, sopranos; Miss Liz
zie Friason, contralto; Mr.. Charles W.
Payne. senor; Mr.. Charles 81. Downs
and Mr.. J. N. Caldwell BASES; Mr.
Charles S. Byron, accompanied. The
voices were strong and sweet. blending
together with excellent effect in the con-
csrted music. The solo singing also. came
in for full share of appreciation. Mr..
Caldwell, the basso, afforded great delight
with his phenomenally rich and sonorous
voice. and Miss Galloway's fine soprano
gave uumistakable evidence of cultiva-
tion. The tenor was less successful. In
fact. his voice ia more baritone than
tenor. and his selections contained some
notes much too high for comfort.
DIR. BOWKER'S LECTURES.
The first lecture in DR.. Bowker's
coursa that OH 1.-The Transyaal, will be
given at The Jefferson Monday night,
and the tickets are now on sale. In the
preparation of this unique subject an en-
barrassment of riches was encountered,
and while the new republic receives its
share of attention, full consideration is
given to the other wonders of South Afrl-
ca. like the gold lands Of johannesburg
the diamond fields of Kimberley, whence
came the fabulous riches of Cecil Rhodes
and Barney Rarnato, and the glorious
scenery of Natal, the finest OF all Afrl-
can colonies. Briton, Boer, ka1br, ana
Zulu are presented in striking CONTRAST,
and comprehensive review is given Oh
this remark able land over which the iec-
turer travelled extensively.
BLACK AND TAN MINSTRELS.