The Portland daily press., 1900-10-20
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


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Such pure and wholesome plays as
'The Parish Priest, the maiden effort
of Daniel l.. Hart, with It's abundant
humor and enough genuine pathos should |
always be welcome by the theatre-goers
of this city. 1t was presented at the |
Jefferson theatre last evening and It's
artistic worth was recognized by a very |
demonstrative audience who called the
curtain after every act. There is great
deal OF literary merit in : the dialogue
and through 1t run veins of fine hui
manity.
4 The plot of the play Is simple In the |
extreme and the story Is not religious !
Big-hearted James Welsh, mi ner, has |
gone through years OF toll and self-saori
lice in order to have his brother educated |
as a physician. The brother Edward |
Welsh has since his childhood loved and |
been loved by Helen Durkin, a niece of
Father Whalen DR.. Welsh wins the re-
gard of DIR. Cassidy. wealthy old physi-
clan, who wishes to retire and give his
practice to the younger man. DR.. Cas-
sidy sets his heart upon mating his
daughter with DR.. Welsh, and the young
doctor, deeply grateful for the kindness
OF his senior, puts aside his love for
Helen and becomes engaged to Agnes
Cassidy. The news of this false dealing
with Helen enrages James Welsh and
cuts the kindly old priest to the heart.
The two compel DR.. Welsh to confess his
duplic1ty to Helen, and this scene which
closes the second act is the strongest of
the play. In the third act Father Whalen
contrives to bring DR.. Welsh and Helen
together again and accomplishes a recon
ciliation between Agnes and her former
tlance, Frank Dougher.
The characters like the story are those
OF life and are pictured truly as we-alI
know them by a we'll balanced company
included In whose cast were two ladies
who have already achieved popularity
with Portland audiences at our summer
resorts. We refer to Miss Myrtle May
and Miss Lucille Spinney.
The production was in every respect
adequate and satisfactory and the scenery
was appropriate and pleasing to the eye.
The first and second acts were on the
lawn of DR.. Cassidy's home with the lit
tie churc in the distance effectively
lighted while the final act was In the
house OF the priest with windows Of fit
ting designs and through the door floats
the voices of the choir and the music OF
the organ.
Daniel Sully's impersonation of Father
WhaIen was most artistic. He was the
real priest in appearance and his humor
was delightful. There was a quiet and
subdued air in spsech and action yet
deep feeling was revealed. Though quiet
he was most effective and sympathetic
and made the transitions from gay to
grave very skillfully. Second only to
the star was the applause that went to
Mr.. John d. Griffin. in the role of
Michael sullivan, who presented the
humble Irishman as true to nature as he
was amusing Joseph l.. Tracey gave
us a vigorous portrayal of James Welsh
and Mr.. Ralph Bell was very acceptable
DR.. Cassidy. Mr.. Mace Greenleaf's s
methods as DR.. Welsh were in accord
with the requirements OF the part and
Mr.. S. Edwin Corle played the character
OF Frank Dougher. .conscientiousIy. Miss
Lucille Spinney as the cynical, hard
hearted and at the end repentant Agnes
Cassidy had an unsympathetic and
difficult role. She acted, however, with
grace and commendab1 sincerity. Miss
Myrtle May is as attractive as ever in
appearance and made an excellent Helen
Durkin. Her quieter scenes were most
agreeably acted and in those passages
that required spirit and power she was
no less admirable. There was delight
full vivacity to Miss Mildred Lawrence's s
action as Katherine Corrigan while her
brogue was truely ingratiating.
Lovers OF pure, refined drama should
not miss seeing "The Parish Priest''
which will be repeated today, afternoon
and evening.
1--WE UNS OF TENNESSEE.
One of the strongest and most success
ful plays in the repertoire of ths Morri-
son comedy Company is the beautiful
military spectacle, I'VE Uns of Tennes-
$50, which Will be pres ented at Port
land theatre next week.
1t was one of the last and declared by
the press in every city in which it was