The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-01
MUSIC AND DRAMA
SOL SMITH RUSSELL.

SOL DIM n hOC0ELlL
There is an old saying that the actor If
forgotten sooner than almost any othei
profession, that his work is more ephem
eraI Whether that saying is true OF
not there is one thing certain ana tha'
is that as the years pass by audiences
change, new generations I'LL the orohoo-
ira and balcony chairs with the e4cep'ion
of the habitues, and that the ACTOR VIM
fails to keep up an acquaintance "ipn
a town needs fresh introduction Whsn'
he does appear. Now this homliy mas .
meaning here. Years ago Soi oini'h
Russell, an impersonator, on 0he iyceuiu
stage. was favorite in Portland. VINO
can forget his representation OF tne poy
who tells of 'roast goose with sage anu
inounsPp Later he left the lyceum Ior
thu theatre stage, and since then he mas
hecome one of the most popular and de-
Ughtful eccentric comedians In the coun-
try. 1t is a decade ago since russell
charmed a packed audience in Portland
theatre in his quaint, pathetic characteri-
cation in "a Poor Relation" SO that his
appearance as nUnole Dick" in Martha
Morton's play of that name last night,
brought him before the Portland II eatrl-
cal public almost as a new STARE here
was a large, a brilliant and SYMPATHETIC
audience that greeted him on the soeca-
sion, but not the packed house that ne Is
accustomed to elsewhere.
"Uncle Dick" tells the story OF the man
who. in his youth gave up the glrl ne
loved to seek his fortune in South africa.
he succeeds, but conceals the fact from
his relatives; and the first scene is devoted
to his return home, where he mas the
widow of his brother and her children
anxious to sacrifice family traditions
home, love, business, the goodwill OF
their friends and neighbors-in fact every
thing-that they may satisfy their am
bition, cultivate the supposed ia Tents
which each has and thus obtain wealth.
Not only does this mad desire for money
seem prevalent among Uncle Dick s Iela-
tives, but it spreads among their irlenus
in the little village.
When Uncle Dick learns that each one
has an ambition, he promises to do all
his power to crafty it, and the nrst TWO
acts of the play are devoted to his learn
ing of these ambitions, his replacing the
sources OF their happiness by money. and
depicting tbs momentary pleasure OF
fame's aspirants with their wealth. The
last act brings realization to each one
that love of things other than money Is
the true source of happiness.
This was the cast of the play:
Richard Thomas Sherman, Uncle Dick,
Sol Smith Russell
Prot. Jacob Wells, Alfred HUDSON
Elliot Hamilton, Nm. Farnum
Mr.. Halsey. MN. Bernard
lawrence Sherman, Lionel Barry ignore
Jerry, jacques Martin
Gloria Sherman. Florence Rockwell
Elizabeth Wells, Ethel winthrop
Mrs. John Sherman,
Fanny Addison Pitt
Faith Wells. Lila Conyere
Jenny, Alice ihlli
Miss Morton's play is not we'll devel-
oped. 1t seems to need something, what,
we cannot tell on one hearing. 1t has
many bright lines, and few good stu
ations. But it possesses one g eat fault;
it is somewhat monotonous. Mr.. Russell
gives it all the life it possesses, although
he is supported by a company that en-
braces several excellent people who do all
they can with their respective parts. There
is Fanny Addison Pitt, finished actress
of the English stage, who makes very
strong Mrs. John Sherman. Mr.. Farnum
does very neat oft of work as the artist,
and the scene between him and Gloria,
where he tells her she is not an artist,
was effective. A capital character bit was
that of Mr.. Martin, the old foundry
workman, crippled in saving his EN-.
oyer's life and MIR. Bernard as Mr..
Halsey, the promoter. and Mr.. Alfred
Hudson as the professor, were both capt.
tai
But it is Sol Smith Russell that especi-
ally attracts and interests. He is SO
quaint, SO natural, SO human. His pa