The Portland daily press., 1899-06-13
OPENING OF TIE GEM.
Splendid Crowd at
Island Theatre.
New Company Received With Great
est Enthusiasm.
Islands Most Success,
full Opening.
Something About the Play For
This Week.

The island season has commenced and
from this time until the leaves begin to
turn will he in full swing, The Gem thea
tire opened last night and 1t was the most
successful opening. taken all In all that
the island theatre has ever had. The
weather was all that could have been
asked for, the crowd included some Of the
best people In the city while the company
MIR. Barrows has gathered abont him to
summer play house proved delightful
surprise.
The seats for this opening performances
at the Gem were sold weeks In ad-
vance and as many of the patrons of this
theatre as could secure seats In the roomy
play house were present last evening. The
theatre boats were Tiled to OVERLOOKING
when they swung away from Gust ON
House wharf for their first trip TO the
island. The big Pilgrim had all the
passengers she is entitled to carry by law
and those who could not take passage on
other boats, Peaks island was ablaze
with lights and brilliant with red fire
when the Pilgrim made her lanling The
crowd Of early cottagars and island people
who lined the pier and the walk u TO
the theatre was about the same old crowd
aud welcomed with evidences of pleasure
this formal opening of the season. The
lobby of the Gem with its palms and
ported plants, its unique decorations and
It's brilliant electrical effects and the in.
terror of tbs play house with its nautical
embellishments, Its dazzling illumina-
tions and appointments made the same
pleasing impression on those who saw 1t
for the first time last night and those who
patronized 1t SO literally last year.
. The orchestra conducted by Mr.. Frank
L. Callahan began the evenings pro-
gramme by playing as an overture STIR
ring march which was finely executed
and won q round of applause. At the
hour announced the curtain went up on
the first act of the comedy without a ny
annoying delays.
The piece selected by MIR. Barrows for
his initial appearance at the Seem" was
W. II. Cranes success, Brother John"
1t Is one OF those entertaining glimpses
of New England simplicity and the COM
plications which arise from its meeting
with aristocracy at fashionable summer
resort without amy of the exaggerations of
the homely New England character and
free from the horse play which is usually
to be seen In comedies OF this character.
Brother John," is of course. the foun.
tain of all the fun and OF all the pathos
which 10 SO happily intermingled. In
brief the story of the play is Ms follows:
Brother John Hackett has made q for
tune out of hats and fs indeed quite a
crank on the subject. He 10 soft-hearted
old bachelor who Is ruled by the firm
hand of q sister. Becky Hackett, who has
reached that stage in life when the q ge
ceases to be matter of joy to unmarried
females. A younger sister Sophia who
rules Brother John" by her smiles and
tears and who. having obtained
glimpse Of fashionable life In New York
when at school, Is now pining In the
quietness of the New England village
for balls and parties and q younger
brother Bobby who has yet his wild oats
to SOW, completes this interesting family
with whom the story deals Hetty Rolan
and her younger sister Maggie were once
upon time the pstted daughters of a
wealthy New York man who trusted MIR.
Van Sprauge. an intimate friend once
too often. Rolan loaned Van Sprague
money which did not belong to him and
whichV an Sprague failed to repay at the
promised time with the result that MIR.
Rolan died by his own hand. His dauah-
tiers In shame at their fathers act fled
from New York and sought refuge in the
village and became employed in Brother
Johns hat factory. The story opens with
Brother Johns Interesting family plead
ing with him for an ''outing'' at Long
Branch. Influenced by Hetty Rolan,
with whom he.is in love, the good ma.
tursd brother opens his purse and sends
them to Long Branch In the care OF Ed
ward Kidd, youth whose love for the
charming Sophie brings him to the viii
lage where she lives. At Long Branch,
Beck and Sophie take the reins in their
own hands, hire an expensive cottage,
invite Mr.. Van Sprague. his wife and
daughter to remain with them and seek
an entrance into the gay whiri of Long
Branch society. They spend money like
water and are beginning to weary of the
life in which they pay the fiddlers while
the society peopls dance and make game
of the country dupes when Brother John
arrives With him comes Hstty Rolan
and her sister. Bobby has baen led
astrsy. gets into debt, forges his BROTH
er's name TO q check and Is disgraced.
All manner OF interesting complications
follow brother Johns arrival at Long
Branch. Hetty Rolan discovers in Mr..