The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA
THETwO ORPHANS.

D,F,nnery,s "Two Orphans, like
"Upcle Toms Cabin, Will probably
endure as long as the stage itself. There
WAS a time. about quarter OF century
AGO. swben the stTwo Orphans was one
of the greatest money makers IN the
Country. Crowded audiences witnessed
the performances at the old Union Square
theatre. New York, for whole season,
travelling companies were organized and
visited all the leading cities, and right
here in Portland at the old Portland
Museum, the stock company ran the piece
for an entire week. The play was always
fortunate in being well cast when pre-
scented here and there are many old
theatre goers, = whose memory retains,
with singular freshness, Frank Curti IS
delightful presentation of Picard, the
valet, in connection with Furbish's Fifth
Avenue theatre company.
During all these years that have passed,
Miss Kate Claxton has been identified
with the role Of the blind girl, Louise.
Her remarkable personation of blind
person gaveiher fame and she has stuck
to the character ever since. When we
wentinto The Jefferson last night we
were astonished because there was not
larger audience of young people. Inc
children of old threatre-goers are almost
always anxious to see the plays and
actors that were famous in the parents
time, and when those plays are melo-
dramas of greater strength than the
majority of the cheap trash seen nova
days, it seemed strange that the mouse
was not crowded. Miss Claxton's Louise
is as strong apparently as it has been IN
the past. Of the support several OF the
actors were of more than usual merit.
OF these we would particularlze Mr.
Henry Stockbridge's Richard, who was
rs volatile as the most powerful French
man could desire Nellie Maskell was
robust. brutal AIme.s Frouchard, and
worthy mother of the bully and coward
JACQUES. Brandon Hurst was very good
Cheyalier de Vaudray. Ethel Brandon
was an acceptable Henriette, and Alice
Potter sang in q manner that earned her
much applause. The drama was very
prettiIy costumed and the stage setting
was effective. The Place de Point Neuf,
the illuminated gardens at Bel Air, the
Place de St. Sulpice and the courtyard of
La Saltpetrieri were all good. The play
will be repeated tonight.
HENRY MILLER IN ssHEARTSEASE. F"
"Heartsease,' the new play in which
Mr.. Henry Miller is to make his first ap-
.pearance in this city as q star under the
direction of Charles Frohman at the
Jefferson next Monday and Tuesday
nights is type of the best plays which
have won exceptional success during the
past few years. 1t has the wholesome
favor and charm of Rosemary, " The
Prisoner of Zenda,' "Under the Red
Robe and plays of a similar quality,
which have obtained such a positive
stamp of public approval. IT tells an in
teresting love story, in which the spirit OF
romantioism, charming sentiment and
stirring incident form the chief element.
"THE HEART. OF MARYLAND.
"The Heart of Maryland" will have it's
Initial representation in this city at TIE
Jefferson, Friday and Satu1 day nights and
special matinee on Saturday. with it's
original cast and scenic illustrations. I'M
der the personal supervision of the au-
thor. The company interpreting the play
includes Mrs. Leslie Carter, James E.
Wilson, Frank Mordaunt. Henry Weaver.
Jr., Walter Belasco, Robert Millward,
Helen Tracy, Angela McCaul and Vir-
ginia Tracy. The play is American in
incident and the individuality of its char
acters and throughout the development of
the story is imbued with glamour of its
sympathetic love episodes. No stronger
play in realism of it's events, the romanti-
ctsm of its atmosphere and beauty of its
diction has found a place upon our stage
in the past decade. It was announced
that the seats were all sold and that
standing room only was available. Such
is not the case as the sale opened yester-
day morning. The announcement was
an error.
SIDE-TRACKED.
nSide-Tracked' the railroad comedy
which will be presented at the Portland
theatre on Monday, January 81, is like
wine, the older it gets the better people
like it. This is it's fourth season of gen
nine success and the best financially it
has ever had, and there is no question
but it deserves it's success as it Is kept up
to-date in every respect.
BLACK AND TAN MINSTRELS.
One of the features of the Portland
Wheel club minstrel show will be billed
as the "Three Polka Dots. Something
of mystery hangs about this announce
uent as the management absolutely
refuse for the present to divulge any
further information regarding the9loentl-