The Portland daily press., 1900-09-29
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Way SMITH LEFg HOME.


Mr.. George II. Broadhurst's creations
along the line OF refined farce comedy are
known OF all theatre goers and his evo-
luton OF better things FOR the stage gives
him most enviable place among our
piaywrights. 1t is not strange then that
large and representative audience
greeted at tie jefferson theatre last eve
ming the first presentation in this city
or why Smith Left Home, and lest
we may forget it, the reason was ''be-
cause ne loved MS wife, Around this
central thought a story is built which
deals with John Smith, who has been de-
prived OF his honeymoon by pressure of
business and an inundation of relatives
who make things lively for him. just
as he is ready TO lay aside all care, his
wife's aunt, who has been almost moth
err 10 her, decides to visit them, and as
an added JOY her broUher, who has eloped
with a girl foolish enough to run away
from home to go on the stage, comes to
her for a haven Of refuge. The wife is
disinclined to reveal TO her husband the
presence Of her brother and his BRIDE so
she makes her brother assume the guise
or a music teacher and the bride becomes
the teacher sister.
The complications in the household
are heightened by Mr.. Smith sister,
who fancies she has attracted a German
count; the count in reality loves Mrs.
Smith, though he Imagined 1t is she who
is unmarried. 10 rid himself of unwel-
come visitors, Mr.. Smith determines up
on q conspiracy with the cook who, for
her part OF the contract, is to prepare
such villainously bad dinners, that the
guests will Immediately take up their
traps and go. This Is possible, because
the cook, secretary OF her union, cannot
be discharged without disaster to the
since she would be able to
enlist the sympathies OF the Ice Carriers
the Registered Drug Clerks
and the Cham bermaids' Fed
GRAFTON.
The complications and disturbances
which arise are indeed Iaughable, not up
roariousIy so, however, and one of the
great charms of the play is the smooth
current OF the action and the keen, clev-
or, bright dialogue. The presentation
which the piece received was the most
seen at the Jefferson for many
a day and was IN the hands Of most
excellent company whose work in its en-
tirety might be embraced in one word
OF the warmest commentator.
Douglas FIint's impersonation of John
Smith was finished throughout, Impress
Ing the audience by his buoyant comedy
and gaining the effect demanded In his
several scenes. Eugene Redding and Gus
Mortimer afforded us the best oharac-
terizations of the French General and
German Count ever seen on the onerson
stage. in dialect, in methods and In all
hat enters into the Interpretation OF such
character Frederick made an e1oellenV
Major Dunoombe and Frank Craven 1T
ed the part of the young groom admit
"a bly,.
None but the warmest praise should
h q spoken Of the ladies In the cast 10
most attractive stage presence hose
Hubbard added refined and natural act
NO and her Mrs. John Smith was de-
ightful pieo of work. The vixenlsh
Amt Mary was exactly in the best line
n Nei1ie Maskeu and the tone, movement
nd norsonal pecuIiarities which Lizzie
Nav Ulmer gave TO the exaggerated
,haracter of Lavinia Dolly, the COOK
howed the result of much careful STUDY
Jennie EngIe, Bessie Bruno, Elenor La
sale and ella Aubrey added their lull
hare in the evenings success playing
IN % each other with very clever results
nd made pretty stage pictures
rbe MAY is ann Ounced 70 maulnee anu
ven,ng performances today ana sno"i'
"a most literally patronized'