The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-15

the critics in the different cities whers
she has appeared. Mr.. L. A. Reynolds,
new male member of the company, is
destined to become very popular with
the patrons of this theatre and will make
his first bow before Portland audience,
Monday evening, in light comedy role.
Mr.. Reynolds is handsome and talented
young actor. considered to be one of the
best juvenile men in the profession.
The stage setting of the play Will be
made sfas elaborate as the skill and ex-
perience of Manager MoCullum can make
it, and he promises an interior scene,
next week, that will eclipse any other
he has ever presented. Those who are
familiar with the plot of Niobe are
aware that owing to some workmen. who
are putting electric lights into the home
of Peter Amos Dunn, winding some of
their wires around the feet of the statue
of "Niobe," she comes to life when the
current is turned on. This fact suggest
ed to Manager McCullum theiidea of an
elaborate stage setting with electric
lights in profusion. and ne has had the
scene wired by the electrician of the
theatre Mr. Ralph Kendall, and Mr.. Fox,
the dealer in electrical supplies. has
furnished the most handsome chandeliers
and wall lights that his stock affords.
1t will he brilliant scene and one that
will add charm ana attractiveness to
the play. The cast calls for the services
of almost every member of the company,
and although the burden of the fun
making falls to Miss Leigh and Mr.. Nc
Cullum, all have happy and congenial
roles. Following is the cast of charac-
ters:
Peter Amos Dunn. President of Uni
verse Insurance Co.,
BARLEY McCullum
Cornelius Griffin, his wife's brother,
Stephen Wright
Phineas Innings, his wife's brothers
friend. Thomas NJ. Reynolds
jefferson Tompkins, millionaire
with craze for the antique,
Norman Conniers
Parker Silox, a merchant,
j. r. Armstrong
John. q servant, VIM. II. Garfield
Caroline Dunn, Peters wife.
Mary Davenport
Helen Griffin, his wife's eldest sister,
Genevieve Reynolds
Hattie Griffin, his wife's Youngest
sister. Beatrice Ingram
Beatrice Silox, Dorotny heh1
Madeleine Milton, Bessie Taylor
Niobe, Lhsle Leigh
Reserved seats are on sale for all the
performances this week at Steinert ~
SONS music store, SIT Congress street,
and considerable disappointment will
be avoided by securing seats at the earl1-
est possible moment.
AS YOU LIKE 1T.
This enchanting comedy is perhaps the
most purely ideal of any of Shakespeare
plays, although the plot is borrowed
from the novel or tale of "Rosalynde,
By Thomas Lodge, a contemporary writ.
er. Yet Shakespeare in passing the ma
terials furnished by the novelist through
the alembio of his own imagination, has
created new characters and incidents
and has imbued the whole with higher
cast of thought and feeling than could
be attained by Lodge. tits in fact the
alchemio transmutation of the baser
metal into the pure god which genius
in it's adaptive faculty can alone achieve,
the comtemplative Jacques that prince
of philosophical testers, Touchstone, and
the rusticai Audrey are pure creations Oh
Shakespeare's fancy, worthy of the mas
ter mind that gave them birth.
Mr.. Byron Douglas will try. and with
out show of doubt. succeed in present.
ing on the stage of the Gem just wha5
Shakespeare has portrayed in las You
Like It," typical forest scene. IL Is
said that it is impossible to improve Oh
nature. perhaps not, but there are some
sequestered spots more beautiful 1h,hi
others where all nature seems to s'nlle
and have showered her gifts bountltully'
1t is such scene that the thousands VIM
attend the performance at the Gem pnls
week will see The entire stage represents
scene in the forest of Arden. When
the curtain rises on the first act the auul-
ence will see the perfection to when tlie
stage artist and mechanic have brougnp
the great production of the present uay'
The curtain will not fall again until 1ne
play is done. The stage will be Simply
darkeued between the acts All the music
will be that which was written for 'lie
piece and the songs sung will also 10
those that were composed for the pro-
duction-