The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-18
MUSIC AND DRAMA
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.
Fedora and La Tosca have at times
been offered to Portland audience pu'
Sardou's masterpiece of tragedy WIN i's
gorgeous stage pictures, received AUS nis'
presentation in the city last evening '''
the jefferson, by Melbourne MacDo"eAi'
supported by that talented young ac1ress'
blanche walsh in a revival of Fanny
Davenport's production.
To describe the scenes OF pano'ainio
design accompanying the acOion u INC
play is only within the gifts OF bne "o.u
nainter himself. The splendors pegln III
the opening act when the bark oil venus
enters the "Silver Cydnus, WIN lVs
silken sails fairly ablaze with gold ana
it's oars moving in harmony Win inc
voluntuous music of the flute, plpe ana
oithern. A lofty canopy OF oloIh Oh so'u
was above, beneath which rechneo 1ne
dark-eyed "Queer of Egypt, robed IN
mantle gIittering with diamonds 1t was
something more than stage setting IL
was glorious pageant The eyes are
filed with the beauty of the picture. Inc
aars are pierced with the soft, sensUous
music.
This is but one of succession OF daz-
zling scenes, followed by the Palace OF
Rameses, the Terrace Ct Memphis, the
Palace of Actium, eliminating IN bhe
grand storm scene in the fifth act arounu
the Temple of Isis. Here Cleopatra, beset
by murderers and rebellious tribes, IN
af all
In answer to her prayer at nfsI AZ"
rumble of thunder is heard which AFTER
Mates with distant flashes of lightning
Ever and anon, to the repeated invocation
from the Nile enchante comes the thuh-
der louder and louder anu between us
mails il heard the weird music of the at
tending priests
So soon as the audience had recovered
from the wondrous spell wrought by
this magnificent stage effect it broke into
the widest enthusiasm and the hand
clapping was continued for several MN
utes. during which the curtain was called
four distinct times and MIR. MacDowel
and Miss Walsh bowed their acknowledge
ments. The applause was indeed merltea.
for in truth, this realistic scene Is pro-
nounoed one of the finest to be seen on
the American stage.
These splendid stage pictures close with
the sombre scene in the last act when
every eye is strained as this WONDERFUL
play. depicting one of the world s great
est romances, closes in the ante chamber
of Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria. An
tony has been routed. Octavius Caesar
is victor Antony staggers on Is stabbed
and dies in the arms of his queen. And
with the asp wriggling ON Cleopatra
bosom and with Marc Antony's name
on her lips, she expires just before the
fall Of the final curtain.
Miss Blanch Walsh's Cleopatra Is a
truly finished and artistic portrayal. Not
stately in appearance like Fanny Daven'
port. nor perhaps SO queenlike In pres
ence, her somewhat slender form and beau
tiful eyes stand her in good stead as she
invests the character with the w1les
destinations and other attributes which
make up the Egyptian sorceress. Hers
are the insinuating and subtle ways o.
Sardou's Cleopatra, not the poetica
sensuality of Shakespeare.
Effective, indeed, was she in the hrs
&C 7hen first she draws within her ne
IT, flexible Antony, and memorable
scene is where she plies with question:
her slave. orouohing at her feet at thu
Terrace of Memphis She can reach AZ
emotional height and what scorn wal
depicted on her face when concealed
she hears of the attachment of Antony tt
Octavia Her death scene was impress
sive and a fitting climax to as artistic {
piece of acting as has been seen on the
Portland boards.
Mr.. Melbourne MacDowelPs Marc
Antony has already taken it's place among
the notable successes of the American
stage and last evening he was as com
raanding as ever in stage presence render
ing his lines with ease and with an enun'
ciation clear and distinct which brought
out all the meaning.
The auxiliary parts were all we'll taken
and round after round of applause was
the mark of appreciation which came
from large and responsive audience.
The production will be repeated at the
Jefferson tonight ard tomorrow night.