The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-22
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
MoCULLUM's THEATRr.

MtCULLOMfS 1HhAIhE.
"Michael Strogoff" was presented at
McCnllum's theatre last night In man
ner that elected the highest praise from
largo and fashionable and representa-
tive frst night audience. The perform
nnce was unquestionably the best one Of
the ssason given on a first night and
every act and scene was rewarded with
enthusiastic curtain calls. Prolonged
and hearty applause frequently inter
rupted the action, inspired by the brilliant
delivery of some stirring spesch or the
culminatlon OF thrilling incident. The
sc9nery was magnificent. ESPECIALLY
elaborate was the secopd uct and the first
scenes of the fourth and fifth acts, while
the one representing the battlefield and
the burning village of Kolyvan, was beau
tiful In conception and inspiring In It's
grandeur. The costumes were elegant
and In good taste and in entire harmony
with the other features Of the production.
The stage settings were made with dis.
patch and the short waits between the
acts enhanced the pleasure of the enter
tainment. The play was especially we'll
cast and each member of the company
gave concise, intelligent and in all re-
spects thoroughly praiseworthy per-
formance. Robert Wayne assumed the
5itle role and was an ideal Strogoff In
every aspect Of the exnctIng character.
In the blind scenes he was particular
effective and scored an emphatic hit in
the duel scena of the last act Stephen
Wright Is entitled to the greatest credit
for the splendid way in which be impsr-
sonated the disgraoed Russian officer,
Ivan Oagare. He was always effective
and gave most finished and we'll stud
led portrayal Of the character. Lee Ster-
rett, new member OF the company ap-
peared to good advantage at General
Kerizon, and Robert GailIard was good
as the Governor of Moscow. Joseph CAL
lahan gave a nicely drawn character
sketch as the inn keeper, and George
Montssrrat led the requirements of the
Tartar Sergeant BARLEY McCullum was
happily cast an Cornelius O'Brien, and
with Thomas Reynolds as Philip Phil
pot, created good deal of fun as the
rival correspondents Harry Allen was
good as the Passport agent, and the 9TH
er male characters were in good hands.
Lisle Leigh made great success in the
role of Sangare.a gypsy girl, and Beatrice
Ingram was conscientious and pleasing
Nadia Fedor. Genevieve Reynolds as
Mario Strogoff, was one of the artistic
and effective portrayals OF the evening,
and frequently ELECTED enthusiastic APP
plause. 1t is production that will COM
wit fho houk
lum has ever given and will undoubted-
ly attract the large audiences that are
deserved. Performances will be given
every afternoon and evening during the
week.
RIvERToN PARK.
There was the usual large audience
present ut Riverton park yesterday after
noon when Miss Mich OILS indicated by the
wave of her baton that the first number
OF the Fadette'a concert would COM
mence. that later was to be followed by
the xaudevillesshow of the Boston Come
dy company. Both divisions of the enter
tainment proved to be very meritorious.
The concert given by the Fadettes was
one Of the best that has ever been given
at the theatre. Two numbers. the SEX
tette from Lucia" and selections from
''Fhe Wizard of the Nile" won deserved
encores and the entirs programme ELECTED
the most emphatic applause. The
Bouffous. three.in number. opened the en-
tertainment given by the boston Comedy
company with clever pantomine act.
replete. with laughable incidents and
Ind .,rf,. Al.
the trick house was well managed an1
elicited generous applause. Following
came the Pas Ma La Trio, Raymond,
West and Little Sunshine, in black face
sketch that proved the great feature of
the bill, and one that Is alone worth GO
ing to Riverton this week especially to
enjoy. Raymond and West do first class
sketch and cake walk and introduce little
Sunshine bright little colored girl
about seven years old, in the singing
portion of the act. One of them sings a
verse of the coon song. you'll get all
that's coming to you," and when the
chorus is reached 1t is sung by Sunshine
from out front among the audience. The
little girl is certainly a born artist, and
by far the eleyerest child that has ever
appeared at Riverton. Adolph Adams,
"the man of many faces, I" gave number
of representations of famous men and
was remarkably successful in duplicating
the features. and expressions of Admiral
Dewey, DR.. Parkhurst, George Washing
ton, Napoleon, Bismarck and Emperor
William the First. His act ELECTED fire.
quent and merited applause. Pete Grien,
clever dancer and monologue artist,
made a hit, especially with his dancing
and another turn by the Bouffous in
which was demonstrated that they were
Observation-Disclosures IlIIs