The Portland daily press., 1900-01-29
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
ROBERT MANTELL.


ance, dwells upon the names Of the
principal players. seldom gives much
thought 10 the name Of manager. The
popular custom seems 10 be 10 regard the
manager ~ . sort of necessary evil, q
mere appendage to the rest But how
unjust IL thisi The whole burden Of the
production literally rests upon the man
VIII ose name 10 In small type. The actor
IL an artist. His time 10 taken up solely
BY what happens on the stage His
manager IL the power behind ths throne.
Robert b. Mantell, who will be at the
jefferson next Wednesday and Thursday,
has won Q great success In his new ro-
mantio triumph, "The Dagger and the
Cross" Everyone 10 talking about Man
tell. about the play. about its superb
mounting. Bat only those with intimate
knowledge of things theatrical pause to
note that NJ. W. Hanlsy Ii the manager.
And therein may be read large share
Of the story Of success. Mr.. Hanley, for
thirty years, has been most prominent
as q theatrical manager, one who never
attaches his name 10 any thing that 10 not
the best. And the people az large have
become perhaps more aware Of the facts
of management In his case than In that
Of any other one In like business. To this
might think on casual reflection, the
wonderful success that has attended the
recent tours Of Mr. Aantell.
Mr.. HERNE'S GOOD NATURE.
II L. characteristics Of James A. Herpe
(who win be seen here at the Jefferson
on the night of Friday and Saturday and
Saturday matinee, February End and
Sd IN bis latest play. "Ssg Harbor"),
h ct he never loses the calm squipoise Of
his temper through all the trying and
often highly exasperating incidents and
experiences Of producing and directing
the stage productions un der his manage
menk
1t IL Mr.. Herne's most original and
distinctive characteristic that both during
performances and at rehearsal period he
10 ever the same cool, thoughtful, sslf-
collected gentleman that he appears upon
the street or In the quiet Of his own
beautifully appointed home In New
York city or at Southampton. Long Is
land.
A little incident occurred ono night
during the run of "Sag Hsrbor" at the
Park theatre, illustrative Of this Same
calmness and mastery, while every one
about Is under excitement. In the SEQ
ond act, when the "Syracuse" cham
payne Is brought upon the stage with
which to drink the health OF the be-
trothed couple, Ben Turner and Martha
Reese. q comedy scene snsues wherein
much In made Of drawing the oorks from
the bottles. The cork which is drawn b.
Hosea Stevens, aided by large cork
screw, comes with great difficulty. and q
loud explosion while Mr.. Herne, rs
Capt Dan Marble, has 9 joking line
about pnlling tho cork from his bottle
with his fingers, and at great ease. On
this occasion the cork In Mr.. Herne's
bottle was extremely tight, and absolute
ly refused to come OF course. Mr..
Herne could not speak his line, and
every body, depending absolutely on the
cue. was begin ming to get nervous. a. the
audience Uttered In the discovery that
the obdurats cork was making trouble
with the scene.
Mr.. Hsrne deftly extricatsd himself
and the company from the accidental
exigenoy by SELLING the corkscrew from
Mr.. Forrest Robinson and pulling the
stupid cork from Its socket, changing his
line to read: "B'Goshi thought could
pull the durn thing With my fingers.
Hosea. but guess jess fooled myself
a little this time" This smoothed away
the trepidation of the COMPANY, and,
heartily relieved, they went on with their
scene to an apprsoiativs burst of applause
from the audience.
This seems like q little thing, to be
sure, and 1t was, but smaller things than
this, with vast audience watching eve
~ slightest movement and expression,
are enough to tangle q scene into hope
less snarls. unless met in this way by
GOODNESS and presence Of mind
RICE'S COMEDIANS.
Rice's comedians, who open at the Port
land theatre tonight for weeks
engagement In q repertoire OF standard
plays, are con sidered one Of the best and
strongest companies playing at oneap
prices In America. Rioe's comedians ars
one OF the Oldest repertoire organizations
on the road and they were the first to en-
ter the eastern states. with an entire re-
pertoirs Of plays, that had never bsen
seen ct Cheap prices, and all Of which they
had to pay royalties on and even now.
when the country Is SO full Of repertoire
companies. are lighting to get new pieces.
Thsir repertoire oonsists OF "EAgls's
Nest" "Ths Phoenix" "Dollars and
Ssnoe," "In the Heart of Russia" "a
Fool and His Money" "Ths Counterfeit
ere. I" 'Bs~con Lishss." "His Friends
Wife. "In Honor Bound" "The Sol
dier's Vow," "Driftsd Apart and
othsrs. 1t Is safe TO say q better list Of
plays have never been given here at cheap
prices. Mr.. George Peck. who Ia q man
sssr Of many years standing and knows