The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-09
MUSIC AND DRAMR
SUNSHINE OF PARADISE ALLEY.

The first visit to the Jefferson of 1.-The
Sunshine of Paradise Alley" Denman
Thompson and Geo. W. Ryer's contrast
picture to 1.-THE Old Homestead" Will
occur tonight and Saturday matinee anu
night. The play has already heo '"o
successful seasons, SO something Interest,"
ing may surely be looked for. Inc au'
thors' following in Portland is very large,
and their productions have never iheh
with anything but the greatest success III
this city. Bringing as they 90 this Time
a new production, the exact opposite OF
"Tbe Old Homestead, inasmuch as
where the old treats of country life, the
new piece portrays a particular type of
CITY life. customs and manners, andS hav-
ing provided themselves with most ex-
ceIlent company of actors and singers, it
is hard to see anything but success in the
horizon Of this engagement. Denman
Thompson and George W. Ryer, the au-
thors, insist that their work shall be
called an entertainment, not play,
comedy or drama. and that it is an en-
tertainment in exactly the same way that
"The Old Homestead is one. But it is
understood that the second act comes dan
gerously near to being play with plot,
but a careful investigation is said to have
proved that there was not substantial evil
dence enough upon which to convict the
authors. The first act presents life on
the East Side docks-the roof gardens OF
the poor folks-and the scene is lively
with incidents and music. The third and
fourth acts are laid respectively in Para
disc Alley and in Bronx Park.
THE BOSTON COMIC OPERA SEA
SON.
The season will open at the Gem Mon
day evening with Gilbert and Sullivan's
always pleasing comic opera, Pirates OF
Tuesday afternoon and evening. ''The
Chimes Of Normandy" will be given
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and
evenings, "Billee Taylor" Friday and
Saturday afternoons and evenings.
The Boston Comic Opera company have
been playing a most successful engage
ment of six weeks at Whalom park, near
Fitchburg, Mass. Thousands of people
have been to hear them and the Fitch
burg papers and the public seem to be
of one Iuind in regard TO the ability of tho
company. The Fitchburg paper says:
"The largest audience of the week saw
the Pirates of Penzanoe at Whalom last
evening. Miss Margaret Raphael, who
appears as Mabel, is a favorite in this
part as well as Yun1 Yum in tho Mikado.
Last evening she was presented with
large bouquet of flowers. Manager Rob-
inson is to be congratulated on having
such an aggregation of players with him,
and they will long be remembered By the
people of Fitchburg."
RIVERTON PARK.
Two gentlemen, strangers in this part
of the country happened to be on Maine
Central train with the writer thu other
day. AS the train slowed up at West
brook Junction one of the men called at
tention of his com panion to a Riverton
Park car that happened to BIZ passing at
that time, and they spoke Of the park
with much admiration. They had just
come from the far-faIned Poland Springs,
and had been delighted with the sur
roundings there, but one of the men en-
phatically declared that he woulda rather
revisit Riverton than any of the other
places they had seen during their yaca.
tion trip. That is the way visitors gen.
orally feel. They are ready. to acknowl-
edge that the park is itself most beau
II hon co
strongly attached to their own homes
they have to add that there is nothing at
home like it. The Fadettes have created
a most favorable impression upon the Wis
itors and this vaudeville companies have
been SO universally good that the park
has achieved a inestTe1iviable reputation.
! This week q, fine vaudeville company
has eea at the park and as the week
draws to close those who have not had
TIE pleasure ofseeing the entertainment
are warned to take advantage OF the re-
manning opportunities. The trained pony
Is alone worth the price of admission.
Too much cannot be said in favor of the
woman's orchestra which will he with
US but one week more this season. Their
concerts have given us new ideas as to
what music should be-. and as to what
women can perform. Their closing week
ought to be one of constantly increasing
patronage and their final concert will be
triumphal close of a most successful
season.
THU GEM.
Only few more chances remain to see
that beautiful play of young Mrs.
Winthrop" The society people are turn
ing out in great numbers to see that
wonderful emotional pay. Every body
says that it is the best play yet given at
the Gem, and this is saying a great deal
when we consider the plays that have
been presented thsre this season-Dip!o-
macy. Aristocracy, The Butterflies and
others, that have achieved a world wide
rep uta ton as the best society plays of the
present day.
CONCERT AT THE SHERWOOD. =
The large dining hall of The Sherwood