The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-01


like crying, and again how you could
weep when you were so amused Let
us hope Mr.. Russell will not absent him
self so long again and that when he does
come he will give US ono of the plays
that he has made so much fame with else
where.
The audience was quito enthusiastic.
They called the curtain after each act
and at the close Of the third had Mr.. Rus.
sell out. He made very graceful little
speech thanking them in the name of the
actors and author. He spoke in high
terms of the beautiful theatre, the most
beautiful and comfortable that he had
played in, a great contrast from the
.tOld Drury' where in former years he
had always met his Portland admirers.
He congratulated them in the name Of
the theatre, for it was that of the dean of
the profession, and he concluded by again
thanking them for their kind reception
PORTLAND THEATRE.
The Miles Ideal Stock Company began
their annual engagement at the Portland
theatre last evening, and the familiar
faces of last season met with cordial
welcome from an audience which filled
the house. "A few changes have been
made since the last appearance of this
excellent repertoire company. J: Miss Mill
dred 9Hy land takes the place of June
swift and Culhane and ST. Felix are in
the parts which fell to Tucker and Will
liams
The play of the evening was entitled
can American Hero" and it's story
deals with villainy of the deepest aye,
including murder, attempted abduction
and poisoning and nearly everything in
the calendar OF crimes, good part OF
which is thwarted through the hero OF
the play and at the end the guilty is
punished and virtue receives it's reward.
The different parts were well taken and
Mr.. Miles's impersonation of Col. Folk
showed hts versatility at characterize
tion as lover, tramp, Jew and sailor.
The requirements were many and diverse,
but be successfully met them all. About
the coolest villain seen.on the stage for
many day was Mr.. Butler. MIR Had
field was an excellent banker and Mr..
Culhane as Brian O'Malley gave hear
ty, natural portrayal. s'ss
Miss Essington in the leading female
role acted with grace and there was
piquant manner IN: Miss Hyland who
was pugilistically inclined and insisted
on "raising her dukess' at the slightest
urovocation. Miss Lathrop gave a
q uiet piece of acting and all the auxili-
airy parts were in capable hands.
There was an evenness abot ne per-
Torrance which was pleasing and gave
satisfaction to the auditors who were
generous with their marks of appreci-
alton.
Several catchy specialties were intro.
duced between the acts by Culhane,
CIementine St. Felix, Master Paul Brady
and Trixie Leigh in dancing and illus
trated songs were notable features.
The work of the orchestra last evening
was exceedingly good and very delight
full programme was given
At today's matinee ga Heart of Gold''s
will be presented and tonight the great
New York success entitled 'The Diamond
MY SGery.
JOE OFT.
Joe OFT, whose fun making originality
will be pleasantly remembered in con-
nection with Lydia Thomson, Kate
CastIeton, William Mestayer and others
of equal prominence, and whose laugh.
able efforts as the star in s'The Star
Gazer," has stood out AS a perfect gem for
seye raj season, will be seen at the Jeffer-
son Tuesday and Wednesday of next
week, in farce comedy which is said to
be the very quintescence of what the
public Graves for, an evening OF reol,
wholesome pleasure Looking Tor
Trouble" is the title of the play.
MAY IRWIN.
There are few il any stars who hold a
higher rface in the esteem of local play
xoers than iss May Irwin, who will be
seen here tonight and Wednesday. The
stage has hundreds of clever women, but
it holds but one Nav Irwin. She is the
most cm phatic execution to that time
worn aphorism Women have no sense of
hnmor, This season she has new pl y
6 nt;tled "Kate Kip" A better idea of 1t
may possibly be Cleaned by reviewing
the principal characters than giving the
story of the play, which is rarely good
read ing. For instance. here is q foreign
huy or for ketcham and Dewham s empo
rum, New York. She is on her way East
from Japan. Her name is Kate Kip,
which of course is tn role in which Miss
Irwin will appear. Another character is
that of Tom kin, her brother, LAWYER of
a small town called New Rome. There
Is the Hon. Wilhelm Coogan, of the State
Senate who is the first politician on rec
,rd to co ntrol both the Irish and German
cote. AS every one may guess, this part
W i'll he in the hands of Mr.. Joseph
sparks There is a poverty stricken an
archist of the Franco .Italian breed, who.
stran ge to say is adorned with maroon
and hair; he sneaks with an i'm
possible accent and rapid delivery, to
whic h he keeps time with his feet. and
which, of course, is Mr.. Ignatio Marti-
netti in disou Sc Besides these, there are
n number Of sui ordinate characters,
which will be played by young ladies
who have been selected both for their |
beauty and their vocal attachments. AS
Is the case invariably with the ladies IN
Miss Twins comrany, their costumes are
promised tn be reliable fAshion plates of
the prevailing nc des
EVILS AUCTION.
Goo-0e - MeIvi1Ie tha ceIatreted