The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
DANGERS OF A GREAT CITY.

1t is many year since the Portland
theatre has held SO large audiences as as
ssmbled there yesterday to welcome Alma
Chester. who L. supported by q company
of more than average excellence. Last
evening from footlights to the remotest
corner Of the gallery there was throng
OF patrons occupying every seat, fringsd
by a sea OF faces which mode the very
walls look black. To somew hat accom-
modass the rush, the orchestra was tucked
away to one side. and the space thus made
vacant was filled with extra chairs.
Miss Chester made her initial tow to
q Portland audisncs In that strong sensa-
tional melodrama, entitled Changers OF
Great City," and though she came well
hernldsd, every expectation was realized.
The play abounds In strsng situations
relieved with refreshing comedy mo-
ments, and affords opportunities Tor the
individual members OF ths cast to show
to good advantage.
First and foremost as deserving OF
warm praise Ia Alma Chester herJsif.
| A stranger albeit, she soon Installed her
self as popular favorite. Her charm OF
personality ssrTed her In good stead; her
en- otional wcrS was tine and In her dis.
guises as the Bowery tough girl and tn,
sister Of charity lent on saving hsr broth
er, her versatility was obvious. The hero
Of the evening, J. Irving White, justly
SHARED honors with the heroine and his
methods ara plessing-decidedly so.
VIII J. kennedy and Harry E. Mckee
afforded a lot of happy moments and
kept the er,wd In ths best Of humcr.
| They bers = considerable burien of the
catchy specialties and In monologues
and songs made good evsry time. Jennie
Kendrlok gave an excellent character
study oil the lodging house keeper and
Lula Espey was satisfaotcrJ. No meio-
drama would be complete without vein
OF viilainy, and franklin Hall, as Ar
thur Melton and Howsrl Champion in
the d usl rJis Of Mark Lanysris and Ter
ry the tough, satisfied ever requirement
along this line. The Other pSrts wsrs
In competent hands and all In all the
cast is we'll balanced one.
Mlss Woke r3 In finely illusirl songs,
was heartily applauded and every one
should see sigror Macoeo and his marvel
Gus talking and performing dog Chicago.
This act Is one OF the test ever seen hers
and is alone worth the Irlce Of adnis-
sion.
The Signor says dogs have reasoning
powers not less than instincts. and he
came not FL from Proving 1t conclusive
ly last evening.
nla, t,ta yanE her Mt
ulSr prices. changing the play at each
performance. "The Gold Digger" is the
play fer the afternoon performance and
sHerminte'' or "rhe Cross OF Gold,"
made famous by Redmond and Barry,
for tonight.
HOT OLD TIME.
There was carnival Of fun, genuine
wholssa and inviRorating at the Jstfer-
son Christmas sftsrnoon and evening
when 1.-THE Rays" success "A Hot Old
Time" was presented with the 1.-TWO
Dromios. az central figures.
lThese farcioal Individuals are Irishmen
one OF whom IL first received as guest
In the belief that he is member of
parliament, and later when the impos-
turs Is discovered a.tired as Q servant; che
other Is q young oollegian who initiates
the Irishman for the purpose. by passing
under his guiss, of keeping near the girl
te has sscretly married against the cold
gentlsman's" will The complications
continue through three acts when all is
cleared up happily by soaring the father
into giving raise In wages to one and
his daughter to the other. With all 10
a considerable intsrmingling Of straight
variety.
The farcical element in the combination
is of the intrinsic merry-making kind
and We warmly commend the celebrity
of the actin. 1t was rapid enough
to dispei troublesome thoughts az TO
the probability or the improbability OF the
fitustion and kept the audience on the
alert from start TO faish. Mr.. Griffin
and Mies Burnett as tho henpscked hus-
band>and the muscular wife contributed
"a fair share to the fun. while Dan Grady
and Frank wesson In the role OF the
1.-TWO dromios'' kept the auditors In q
state of uproarous laughter BY their an.