The Portland daily press., 1899-10-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


tainei a large and delighted sudienos
who Witnessed the production OF a farce
IN three acts by Alexander Bison, en-
titled, ION and on" This is French
farce, built to create laughter, and IL
thoroughly fulfilIs its mission. The
story can be briefly told. A husband
woos another1wife before he has divorced
No. and that he may be abs to divide
bill time between thr old and new, he
pretends TO be an inspector Of sleeping
cars. TO carry out the deception he Dor
rows another mans name ghe real In
spector OF course soon puts In an appear
ance and then complications begin.
A heap OF fun results from ths use Of a
photograph and there is faroical adap.
tion of the ghost scene from Macbeth.
The latter scene is ons Of the hest features
Of the play.
1t goes for the saying that when such
talented comedians as MIR. Holland and
MIR. Williams are In the cast that the
burden of the performance will fall to
them 1t was so last evening and while
on the stage they kept the audience In a
state of constant merriment.
Maggie Holloway Fisher made n most
decided hit by her somewhat extravagaDt
burlesque of the spiritualistic mother.in-
law. Samuel Heed was good and Ralph
DeImore was clustering matchmaking
wine seller, and May Lambert gave
clever bit OF unique character work.
Miss Esther Iittell, Of exceeding beau
ty and more than common talent, per-
sonated the character OF Madeleine God
frey, and James Kearney and Anita
Rothe were excellent.
The tone of the play Is not high,
for it rs an Angllcized version of
French favce, and we say and believe the
large and very enthusiastic body of audi
tors agree that it was significantly DECOR
tus to pass IS unobject,onable.
PORTLAND THEATRE.
The Morrison Comedy company COM
menoed their weeks engagement at Port
land theatre last night to packed house
many standing and a large number Of
ladies being turned away because they
coula not get desirable seats. This
Danger Signal YVES the play selected for
the opening night and while 1t dragged
a little owing to the large amount OF
scenery IL pleased the large audience
which at times was very demonstrative.
Mas Gerald won the sympathy and APP
plause of the audiences by her clever work
and she is one of the most versstile little
women ever seen in this city with rep
ertoire company. Mr.. Eugene Pow ers
made IA capital Ned Farley and he was
warmly reoei we'd. The entire company
was above the average popular price COM
pany, iaok Of space forbidding specIa
mention of each member of the cast. The
sperialties between the acts were very
good being very pleasing. The large
amount of scenery carried by this com
pany is pleasing feature, the special
scenery of last night adding much inter
est to the many olimaxes.
Z. The Morrison Comedy company is sure
ly deserving of big weeks business and
If the performances the balance of the
week are as good as that of last night the
entire company will become very popular
with the patrons of Portland theatre.
This afternoon for the first time at
popular prices the beautiful drama Blow
for Blow will be produced and tonight
the ever popular Fogg's Ferry viii be
the bill and thore will surely he two
large houses.
THE CHRISTIAN.
No attraction that has visited Portland
in long time has aroused the same de-
gree of interest that is being manifested
IA the forthcoming engagement here Of
IA sh Gaines great play, 1.-THE Christian"
which the Jefferson thestre management
scared after persistent efforts and at I'M
usual xpeuse for the special perform
anees beginning Tuesday, Oct. 3rds in
GLIDING a matinee WEDNESDAY, Oct 4th.
The organization numbers over 80 peo-
pls and has Tor It's principals in the roles
of "Glory Quayle'' and "John Storm"
two stars of established metropolitan
standing, EfHe Ellsler and j. III. Colville,
both of whom have made pronounced
- hits. There is no doubt but that stand.
ing room only win he displayed during
the too brief run of the play here. The
motto chosen for "Ihe Christian" 1t is
claimed by the author, Is from "a sonnet
of Rosetti ON his own drawings of Mary
MagdAlen at the door Of Simon. the
Pharises In the drawing Mary has left
q festal procession, and is seen tearing
wreath of roses from her hair and as.
oending by sudden impulse, the steps
Of the house wherein she SEES the face Of
Christ. Her lover has followed her and
is trying to draw her back. Though 1t
is not intended that there should be any
other parallel with the subjects of the
drawing, 1t is hoped that the touching
and BEAUTIFUL lines Of the poem express
the motive of the play-the spiritual
conflict in the heart Of true woman
who stands between her good angel and
her bad angel. between tho beauty and
brightness of the world and the stern.
ness OF seh-sacrifioe. between the chanIet
of flowers and the crown of thorns when
the chaplet of flowers looks fairest. And
this is In some sort the story of humani-
ty, the human comedy, the warfare