The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-13
MUSIC AND DRAMA
THE JEFFERsoN.
tx IN


Portland has never before seen SO OK
ceIIent an actor as Mr.. George w. Wilson
in a repertoire company at popular prices
He is here this week and opened his en-
gagement last evening at the Jefferson
which, considering the very unfavora pie
weather conditions, held large ana ap-
preciative audience.
The play selected for the first proouo.
tior was .sThe Social outia"'
and the story deals with wrongeo man
who has been cast into prison anu -
made, by threats of being recommie'eu,
tbe INSTRUMENT with which the william OF
the piece attempts to secure the hand OF
the heroine who throughout remains true
tn her first love. The dramatic interest
il intense, the appeal to the. sympathy OF
the human heart is powerful, and the
.o,,,adv is as refined as it is successful in
.roving the audience to laughter. No
elaborate scenery is required, parlor
and q kitchen is all that is needed and
these are very appropriately set.
Mr.. Wilson carries off all the comedy
honors, as of course was to be expected,
in his impersonation of Gerald Weston.
In the first act he is typical ragged
tramp. In the second act he is the same
tramp in flashy clothes, making an absurd
attempt to look 'sswell'' Nextlhesappears
in rough clothes and flannel shirt and
at the end is seeD,in handsome white
wig aud elegant morning dress,i becom-
ing once more q gentleman.
Mr. Wilson'S genius shows through the
entire impersonation. At times he would
touch the risibilities of his audience by
his broad humor ana then play on their
emotions by some pathetic action. be
vss intensely dramatic in the first act
when he consents to lend himself to the
uauhiuations of the william and in the
second act he was gentloness itself IN
assuming the role of the father. he was
strong In the third act when, led to des-
peration. he attempts the life OF the con-
summate scoundrel of the play whose
yickedness has not the slightest shadow
Of turning from the rise to the fall OIL the
curtain. But why particuiarize further,
for Mr. Wilson'S exquisite and subtle dis
tipctions of character, his technique and
originality, have placed him among the
great actors of the country, anu this
every play goer fully realizes.
In the cast of characters is Francis, a
disputed possession, represented by Miss
Ella Cameron. The character is beau
tifuI one and typifies women's loyalty to
a wonderful degree. Miss Cameron's
portrayaI. is very satisfactory and she is
entitled to commentator Noble traits
Of man are found in James Blackburn
and Albert Lando's acting of the part is
such as to ingratiate him as hero of the
MAY. The consistent villiany OF Jack
Washington, in love with Francis and
ready to stoop to any subterfuge to en-
compass his ends, is brought wildly be-
fore the audience by the acting of Mr..
Hutchinson while Mr.. Clark as the south
arm banker and Miss Jeannette Howell.
as the bankers wife, do creditahle work.
Allie Gerald does a good bit OF acting
as the faithful Sadie and ali in all the
supporting characters are quite up to the
average.
The warmest kind of praise is due those
who appear in selected specia1ties The
original "Herald Square Quar- oette, .
Buckley, Ovey, Turner and Cunningham,
ksep the audience in roars of laughter
by their character songs and won deserved
RECALLS There were songs and dances by
Mr.. De Wolfe and Miss Allie Gerald and
Miss Louise Horner made decided hit
in songs, buck and wing dancing. The
illustrated pictures. songs and dances are
other features of the speciality end of the
performance which in its variety and ex-
ceilence is rarely equalled.
At the end of the third act Mr.. Wilson
ca me before the footlights and made a
graceful speeoh expressing thanks for
the compliment paid him by SO large an
audience on such an inclement night and
felt that he was honored BY appearing at
the Jefferson, one of the finest theatres
in the country. lie thought the matinee
performance would be especially pleasing
to the ladies, as the costumes to be worn
would be very elaborate. He retired
amid the loudest hand clapping,
At today's matinee ''Our Boys" will
be presented and in the evening 1.-THE
Great Randolph Mystery"
PORTLAND THEATER.
The Metropolitan Stock company COM
menced sweek's engagement at Portland
theatre last evening in a sensational melo
drama entitled The Temptation of Money
and the opening performance was destined
TO be the last. 1t was one of the poorest
programmes eye- given in this city and
as soon as the curtain fell ON the last act
the managers Of the show were notified
by Manager Eastman that no further