The Portland daily press., 1899-04-25
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
mr.. SMOOTH.

plications and a vein OF genuine fun run
ming through the play and its story intro
duces as the central figure Joe Patten,
alias Mr.. Smooth. who easily foists him
self into the family of a retired banker
and mssqusrades as the son of the bank
er's former partner. lie is looked upon
by the banker with the greatest favor as
q suitable husband for spinster sister,
and the scheme bids fair to run smoothly
but for the arrival Of the real Cornelius
Smooth. The latter's. appearance is the
as the plot develops To carry out his
joke Mr.. smooth represents his cousin
Cornelius to be lunatio and ON his re-
appearance In the second act causes him
to he arrested by detective. AS the
action progresses Mr.. Smooth falls in love
with the bankers daughter, and at the
same time the bankers son falls in love
with Chicago girl, cousin of Mr..
Smooth, and through the latter's influ-
ence money Is obtained from the old gen.
tleman to start the young lovers in bust
ness 10 the third act everything is
cleared up. Cornelius Smooth returns
from Europe with fortune which is to
be equally divided between himself, his
cousin, the assumed Mr.. Smooth, and
the Chicago girl. Explanations follow
and the curtain falls on the happily
welded couples, with the spinster daugh-
ter still remaining in single blessedness
and under the fostering care OF the at
one time over-anxious father.
The play Is well staged throughout and
the balcony set 10 the second act is no.
tably good. There is snap to the action
and vet an evenness which is very pleas
ing especially so as 1t is in no instance
marred by that tendency to noise and ex-
aggeration, so frequent nowadays In
farce-comedies.
Mr.. Collier finds in the role of MIR.
Smooth part suited to his capacity for
dry humor and he tells his love to Rose
in the second act in very adroit and
effective manner. Mr.. Ward impersonated
the rich old banker with dignity and yet
injected lot of fun into the character.
Mr. Parsons was an acceptable Cornelius
Smooth. John Hyams and Thomas
Evans were good and there was uni
form excellence about the female cast
filled by Miss Collier, Miss Granger. Miss
May and Miss Louise Allen Collier They
dressed their characters very beautifully.
Myrtle May was remembered as very
popular member of the Gem theat.e last
come on her re appearance and floral tok
ems were passed To her over the footlignts.
The curtain was called at the end of the
second act and the large audience present
received MI. smooth with enthusiasm
and punctuated the performance with
ripples of laughter.
The play will be repeated at the Jeffel
son tonight.
HOYT'S A TEXAS STEER.
Charles II. Hoyt has made many dollars
with his flyer in Texas products his
"A Texas Steer" having cleared eighty
thousand dollars in Que season. This
play will be presented at the jefferson
theatre Thursday matinee and night with
n cast containing "a number of celebrities.
Will Bray made such hit as the Min
lister to Dahomey' when A Texas Steer
was originally presented that he has
PLAYED nothing but the sympathetic and
Putnam, whose name is familiar will
be the principal female character
"Bossy."
WASHBURN'S MINTSRELS.
Commencing with special Fast Day
matinee Thursday afternoon Washburn's
Minstrels VIII begin three days engage
ment at Portland theatre, performance
to be given every afternoon and evening.
Washburn's minstrsls this season en-
brace fifty persons and the entertainment
provided is said to possess both novelty
and merit. Among the principal come
dians is the veteran minstrel Low Bene-
dict whose stories and songs have. delight
ed theatre-goers for years. A thoroughly
first class performance in every respect
may be anticipated when this engagement
commences. Special scenery and light
effects are features of the brilliant first
part and "A novelty is introduced in the
concluding portion of the performance
it being ii one act opera written wholly
for male voices Reserved seats for this
engagement 60 on sale his morning.
SIDE TRACKED.
40. Soamman's "Side Tracked" com
pany opened three days engagement
at the Portland theatre last evening and
played to very large audience who were
more than pleased Mt the production.
The piece is farce comedy with sensa.
tional episodes enough to fill an ordinary
drama. The company is one Of moro than
Al excellence, every member contri-
buting something to the general success,
and all being Of n meritorlous order.
All the specialties are original and up
to date, cropping out at every opening.
Miss Lorraine rendered fine selection
of ballads and responded to hearty en-
cores. The Patriotic Trio, in the pietur-
esque national colors of the United States,
appreciation and Misses Mayiield Roberts
ana Barnes are three AS oomely opponents
of song and dance as can be found in
one company. Gertrude Barnes Is u par.
bright and winsome little wom-
an. Misses Perry and Wyland do clever
singing and dancing sister turn. The
is wall taken care of by Billy
Bowers, II guileless German ably second
ed by William Healy, the policeman of
the play; also, r. Il. Vance who as the
old judge causes no end of fun and the
tramp Mr., O'Connor who in his charac-
ter is immensely interesting.
The railroad scene is a thrilling feature
of the play. The piece is funny through
out ana the company all give evidence
that they can sing, dance and act well
and keep their auditors in constant good
humor through very enjoyable perform
o nee.
The first matinee performance will be
given today and the play will be repeat
ed tonight.
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY.
1.-The Senior Dranatics' at the Port
land High School have become fixture
in the established order of things, and
the entertainments uFpSpntad Inv tha cls -