The Portland daily press., 1899-12-09
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
LA BELLS RUssE.

LA BELLS RUSSO.
The stage is Indebted 30 David BslAsco
for a num bar Of its meet brilliant literary
gems. In fact the intsllectuaiitv which
concelved the stories of May Blossom,
The Wife; Men and Women, The heart Of
MARYLAND and Zsza, and last nights play
at the jefferson, La Belle kusss could
scarcsly have fallen 10 medlocrity. As
long ago as 1881 ravid BelsscS wrote La
Belle Russe and the play resolved whnt
was In that day ths test prod action that
this country ard Europe afforded. Wal
looks was the theatre AID that great
act ,r and mana ger imported comtauy OF
EngIish actors gave TO La Belle Russo an
impetus that has lasted fo- many years
Such mt title as aoss Coehlsn, Osnonde
Searle, Gerald Eyer. John Gilbert,
Madame ponisi, William Wright and
Elsie Leslie, then child Originated the
principle roles, and MIR. Frank L. Good
win who st that time produced
the play with Mr.. waliook, is the
protector of the present enterprise. The
last presentation of La Belle Russo In
Per land was ziven by Jeffreys Lewis and
J.Newton Gotthold. and last nights per-
flrmance of the play would stand CON-
psrisun with that of its predecessors.
X ose Stnhi made her initial bow to n
Portland audience ard her splendid ar
ticulation, reserved force and general fit-
ness for the role, the bsa5tifui adventur-
ass, won for her instant recognition.
Without overattlng Miss Stahl held her
audience only as Rose Coghlan or
Gensvieye Ward could. and William
Bonein's, Captain Dudley Brand was no
mean second. MIR. Bonelli's acting
throughout was manly, spirited and
highly artistic. He brings to q leading
role all the requirements Of the up to date
actor, and holds the mirror up TO nature
in most truthful manner. Thomas
Tuttsrs Monroe Quiltou proved the
comedy of the play, which relieved what
might otherwise have been an unconfort-
able intensity. Elisa Hudson lent grace
and dignity to the part Of Lady Calthorpe
that was most be,oming and played the
trying role most satisfactorily. John
Nice, Jr., was potent factor In the all
round clever performance and as Sir
Philip Calthorpe divided the honors with
Mus Stahl and Mr.. Bonelli. Ihis after
noon La Belle Russo will be given at the
Jefferson when every seat in the house
may be had for 20 cents.s Tonight's per-
rormnncs will conclude the engagem .nt.
THE GRAND OPERA.
According to all reports the Boston sea-
son of the Maurice Gau Opera company,
now in progress at the boston theatre, is
proving one of the most successful ever
known In the history or the theatre, and
Mr.. Grau announces for the grand fare
we'll performance there next week,
Rossini's delightful "Barbsr of Seville"
NJ. Salignac, and an excellent cast. On
the Thursday evening previous, December
14th, as q German opera is to be given
there, the management Of the Jefferson
theatre have arranged for the company to
visit Portland and present the same ex-
quislte work "Barber of Seville," which
js TO close the brilliant Boston season,
thus assuring the music lovers of this
section q performance Of the creates;
merit. Mime. Sembrich is so we'll known
here, because of her SUCCESS at our last
festival that her appearance here in opera,
should be an occasion of the greatest In
terest, and the role she assumes is one
that gives her unequalled opportunity for
the display of her charming acting and
pIefeot vocaiization, and as the misshiev-
GUS fun loving Barrier, Sig. Campanani,
has won marked favor in every city Of
this country.
1t Is difficult to see how more attrac-
tivs offering could be made for opera and
theatre goers and the remarkably large
advance sale is evidence that the enter
prise of he management, in bringing