The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-13
MUSIC AND DRAME.
THE LAST STROKE.

The Jefferson put on its war paint laso
night. Artillery guarded the main en-
trance. Tho picture of the Maine or1peu
with the national colors ornamenteo the
front of the box office, and monument
fesbooned with the Star Spangleo banner
bearing an anchor IN the uela' sUoou Al
the lobby. Inside, red, whlte anu piue
electric lights ornamented the fronts ol
the boxes the doorways are draped with
flags and the marble pillows wreathed
with them When the curtain went up on
the first act to the accompaniment OF
tho national airs, the Stars and Stripes
went up with it, and the big audience
oheered and applauded in great shape
The reason for all this vas the presenta-
+ion of Morris's melodrama 1.-The Last
Stroke relating to the effort to Tree
Cuba, most of the scenes being laid ON
the lever faithful island.
The story, while dealing with the
present Cuban rebellion, has for it's ma
terial basis love affair in which Valdez.
a Spanish spy, carries off the woman he
loves, Lucille Vance, alter her husband
has been wounded. This is the main
thread of the plot, with the struggle OF
Cuba as collateral. The wife shakes OFF
her abductor, and believing her hus-
band dead, enters the order OF sisters OF
mercy. The husband RECEIVERS, believes
his wife to be dead, and goes to CUBA
two years later to join the insurgents
The scene changes from Tampa Bay to
Cuba, and the story of love and revenge
is resumed under stirring auspices
Valdez turns up as all officer in the IN
surgent army though still in the pay OF
the Spaniards. He weayes his meshes
through three exciting acts until he
himself is entangled in the web and pun
ished.
Such in brief is the plot, and through
the play are introduced stirring refer
epces to the United States powers that
bring down the house, as when Consul
Blake makes the remark consul would
not be likely to make, but which, just
at this moment, brought forth shouts of
appreciation, and still another, where
would we have been today if we had used
diplomacy instead of powder at Bunker
hill?''
Mr.. George Friend took the part of
Richard Vance with much vigor, while
Miss Agnes Ardeck was especially strong
as Sister Loyalo, the wife of Vance.
Edgar Forrest was capital Valdez, the
spy, and Albert Sookett q capital Padre
Navarro, while the comedy element was
we'll represented by Otis Turner as DIR.
Blake, the consul; by Edwin Phillips as
Lieut.. Drum; Robert Van Dnsen AS Ser
geant O Grady. and Minnie Victorson as
Margery Blake. The other characters
were we'll taken. The curtain was called
several times after each act. The scenery
was very good, the scene in the first act
where Vance is chained to the house
which is set on fire. was intensely realis-
tic. All through the evening the orchestra
played Southern airs, besides the Gu
ban fla Territorial" end 'sLa Baman-
nssas.
There will be great bargain matinee
today at which the ladies will receive
souvenir spoons, and final performance
at night.
PULSE OF NEW YORK.
1.-THE farcical Pulse of New York" nm
old favorite with theatre goers. is the next
attraction at Portland theatre, and will
be given tonight. Unlike plays of its
class. it does not wear out; shows d .Jn-
enjoyable each year. The play, though
thrice popular. is now in the zenith of its
success, and is everywhere favored with
large patronage, which is proof positive
that it is just the sort of performance
the public desires. The company, a large
and strictly first class ensemble of artists,
is headed by Stella Mayhem and VIM. A.
Lang, late principal comedian with Han
lon's "Superba. A special feature is
made of the vaudeville portion of the
play, and twelve high class specialties
are introduced during the second act.
"The Pulse of New York; is just the sort
of performance the people enjoy, and
that's why they attend it.
NOTES.
It is now asserted that Bartley Mccall
lum has signed contracts to manage the
new theatre, now erecting at Cape Eliza
beth, the coming summer.
There is report current, but it cannot
be authenticated here, that The Jefferson
will be run during the summer and that
a fine stock company is now being en-
gagged for that purpose.
NEW MEDICAL DISCOVERY.