The Portland daily press., 1898-02-01
MUSIC AND pRAMHs
HEARTsEAsE.

| " Hearteas0 at un6 Jefferson, were WeiI
rewarded for their pains. The play treats
of the romantic time of the eighteenth
century and possesses delightful and
most unusual charm.
The scene is laid in London and the
time somewhere in the sixties of the last
century, judging by the allusion to Lord
North. Lady Neville, the young second
wife of Lord Neville, has become
enamored of Eric Temple, a gentleman
and musician, to the production of whose
opera at Covent Garden, she brings the
support of her powerful patronage. Tn
known to him she pays certain notes OF
his late father which Eric had endorsed.
But Eric is in love with Marguerite, Lady
Neyille's beautiful step-daughter, and
his love is returned He declares to Lady
Neville his love for Marguerite, and
while he skaters that lady's love. Mar
guerite, who overaears him, thinks he is
in love with Lady ~ vile, and IN her
revulsion of feeling, plea2es herself to
her sutton, Sir Godfrey Pomfret. POM
| fret poisons Lord Neville's mind against
| Temple and steals the score of TEN ip'e
| opera. The fact that Lady Neville paIS
his debts is revealed by the vulgar city
Jnerchant who held the notes. andS Templa,
to shield Lady Neville, avows knowledge
| OF the payment as loan. His love lost,
his opera gone, and his honor compro
| missed, Temple has nothing to live for.
| Then Sir Godfrey Pomfret has the opera
produced and poses as its composer. This
| leads to an exciting and realistic scene
| in the foyer of Covent Garden opera
house, leading to the boxes. A brilliant
and distinguished audience is present.
| The strains of music from the orchestra,
the voices Of the singers and the enthu-
siastic applause of the audience is heard
in the lobby. Sir Godfrey is being con-
graduated on every side when Eric wan
ders on the scene, recognizes as he is
sadly conversing with Marguerite, the
music and songs of his own opera, and
denounces Sir Godfrey as a thief. He
goes to the lodgings of his friend Capt.
O Hara, who ia in love with Temples
sister, where ne is followed by challenge
from Polnfret, and the duel is arranged
to take place in the room within an hour.
Marguerite, who had thought him mad,
had afterwards recognized Temples
song of "Heartsease' in the opera and
knew it was his. Lady Neville has already
confessed that it was Marguerite he loved
and that he knew nothing about the debt
payment. Marguerite, convinced of his
innocence and love, follows him to
O'Haras lodgings. The lovers are unit
ed again, but she makes him swear that
he will not fight. 1t is her honor against
his, and he sacrifices his own for hers.
She is concealed behind the curtain as
second, Major Twombley, enters the room.
When Temple refuses to fight Sir Godfrey
heaps insults upon him and finally
strikes him again and again. Stung at
last by the insult, Marguerite appears
and bids Eric flight that man." AS Sir
Geoffrey falls wounded Lord Neville APP
pears He has learned the truth, apollo
gizes. to Temple, sends Sir Godfrey to
the devil and brings the play to happy
ending by giving his daughter to Tenn
pie.
The plot is we'll constructed and it was
beautifully Played Mr. Henry Miller's3
acting as Eric Temple is one of the
most refined and tender representations
we have seen in many day. He re-
minds one at times of James O'Neil, but
he is more natural, more restrained, and
has certain poetic grace all his own.
Nothing could be finer in it's way than
the silent expression of his dazed and
poignant grief when Marguerite has re-
pulsed him. 1t was so eloquent with a
pathos that went.to the heart. Hardly
less satisfactory was Miss Dale as Mar
guerite. Sweetly beautiful in face and
expression, the evinced high merit as an
actress and sustained her part throughout
with grace, dignity and strength. Miss
Hosford as Lady Neville and Miss Lovett
at Temples sister. were also both admira-
BILE in their roles. The other leading
parts were all highly satisfactory; COM
pany so we'll balanced is q not too FIRE
quent treat. The play is beautifully
costumed and altogether 1t Is one OF the
most artistic things yet seen at the Jeffer-
~
fore the curtain, and Mr.. Miller received
four enthusiastic recalls from tho
roughly appreoiative audience.
"Heartsease' will be repeated this eve
ming, and we advise all who enjoy a
clean, refined, yet strong play, and de-
lightfully artistic and conscientious act
ing, to go and see it.
SIDE TRACKED.
Side Tracked. sensational comedy
drama with lot of bright, up-to-date
singing and dancing specialties and med
leys, was the attraction at the Portland
theater last evening and entertained a
large and appreciative audience. Inc
company is strong one and the mem
bers appear perfectly at ease in their re-
spective parts.
The powerful figure in the play is
tramp through whose persistent EFFORTS
a mysterious crime is finally cleared up