The Portland daily press., 1900-05-25
A CHARMING PRODUCTION.
Miss Annie Russell at the Jefferson I'm
oMiss Hobbs"


A delightful presentation of q clever
and sparkling comedy, before represen-
tative and unusually demonstrative audi
ence, by one of the strongest dramatic
companies in the country.
That is brief summing up Of last
evenings attraction at the JEFF erson
theatre. Miss Annie Russell and her
support in miss Hobbs" was the richest
treat, in its line, presented ON a Portland
stage this season, and that is saying a
great deal, considering the number OF
really fine companies that have favored
us w thin the last few months.
1t was not only large and distin-
guished audience, but warmly enthusi-
astic one, and in the matter of dress out
ranked many former occasion.
In Miss Hobbs Mr.. jerome K.
Jerome, the celebrated author and play
wright, has naturally and dalntil y inter
woven a story Of true love, whose setting
is of rare brilliancy. Miss Hobbs, as she
first appears, is an extreme type OF the
new woman, well bred and scholarly,
but fully possessed of the notion that all
men are worthy of dlstrust and hate.
Her sole aim appears to be to surround
herself with beautiful young women
whom she endeavors to Undue with her
radical views.
Into her summer home accidentally
comes wolf Kingsearl," handsome,
joyial, tender hearted, honorable young
man, who resolves to make a study of
her peculiar type, falls in love with her
at first sight, and leads her merry lark
in which she Is brought face TO face with
the practical side of life and learns that
there are men in the world who are not
the horrid creatures she had taught her
self to believe that all representatives Of
the male sex are.
Miss Russells rare charm of manner
and her innate sense of what Is right
and opposite in dramatic art leads her
unerringly to the mark and she meets
every exigency of the part. She suggests
as much by the mere effect of personality
as by the dialogue through which the
dramatist has enabled her to unfold the
character.
Her art Is so true and genuine and all
her work so void of the appearance Of
effort that her acting is a constant de-
light, enchanting the hearts and ympa-
thies of her audience. Every movement
she makes about the stage, every CULVER
of the mouth or the eyelids, every intona-
ton of the voice expresses the meaning of
the moment. Miss Russell has won for
herself place so sure in the affections Of
our theatre going folks, that 1t would be
unnecessary to recount further the salient
points Of her performance.
Mr.. Charles Richman's impersonation
of the character, Wolff Kingsearp' was
in full keeping with the art examplifed
by Miss Russell. The part is one which
calls for constant vivacity and good
humor, and it fitted him to niceity.
There was nothing unnatural, not sug-
gestion Of anything that could be termed
overdone.
Mr.. Campbell Gollan, a member OF
Days theatre company, and Miss Mar
garet Gordon.took the parts Of Mr. and
Mrs. Perciyal Kingsearl, which called
| for clever acting, and they were fully
equal TO every call. The audience wa
especially appreciative Of the work OF
Mrs. G. H. Gilbert, an old time favortte,
whose impersonatiOn of the kindly and
shrewd old maid aunt added so many
bright points to the story.
Miss Mabel Morrison, as Miss Far
ley" and Mr.. William II. LEVERS al
George Jessop' had prominent part
in the play, and performed it Wtistically
Miss: Elizabeth Rathburn, Mr. Francis
Sedwiok and Mr.. Harry Ross had minei
places in the cast and did their part
ven.