The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-08
M'CULLUM'S THEATRE.
Last Night Was Sort of GaIa Occasion ut
the Cape.

1t was a gala night at McCulIum's
theatre last evening and those present
enjoyed many pleasant incidents not
down on the programme. The theatre
was filled in the orchestra and balconies
with brilliant audience representative
OF the most loyal of the McCuIlum pat
rons and as most all OF them would be
unable to attend the closing performance
of the season that is to be celebrated to-
n light it seemed as though it had been
decided to commence the festivities a day
earlier that those present last evening
might have a share in the joys OF this
occasion that is an annual event. Among
the audience were several theatre parties
the largest and most conspicuous being
the Portland Ladies Orchestra that to the
number of thirty occupied seats in the
first two rows directly in front OF the
stage. The young ladies pret5ily attired
in their light and becoming summer
gowns entered the theatre in a body and
marched to their seats to the time Of the
overture rendered by the theatre orchestra
and their handsome appearance drew
forth fiattering round of applause from
the remainder of the audience. When the
curtain rose on the first act Of "Incog"
the first person to appear was Mr.. Nc
CulIum and amidst the enthusiastic aD-
pIause OF the whole house he was handed
magnificent bouquet the largest and
most beautiful that ever went over the
footlights of his theatre. 1t was the COM
pliment paid to the popular manager by
81, 81 ~.
applause that followed it's presentation
lasted several minutes. Soon Genevieve
Reynolds appeared and she was given a
beautiful 1tuquet by party OF friends
and again the house rang with demonstra-
tions Of approval. A special orchestral pro-
gramme had been previously arranged for
the evening consisting of the popular
songs and medIeys OF the day and the
ohoruses OF each one was sung with ex-
the end 'Auld Lang Syne" was rendered
and the refrain was taken up by the
entire audience and one of the most
unusual scenes ever witnessed in a local
theatre was concluded. The pleasure OF
the evening was not confined altogether
to those in front of the curtain, the
members of the company took rather an
unusual part in it with the result that
Manager McCullum was completely
bewildered and never knew where things
were going to end. At the conclusion Of
the second act the curtain was recalled
and only Mr.. McCullum, Mr.. True, Miss
Reynolds and Miss Hall were supposed to
be on the stage. The final scene is a
most ludicrous one ana represents Mr..
McCullum trying to chase Mr.. True from
the stage. Last evening Mr.. True would
not go off and while Mr.. McCuIlum was
wondering what the matter was the other
members Of the company came on the
stage and Mr.. Harry Stanley, on behalf
Of the members presented their popular
manager with a beautiful gold headed
umbrella, suitably inscribed. The affair
was a complete surprise to Mr.. McCuIlum
who was too affected to make any reDIv
and could only bow his acknowIedp-
ments. The incident was greatly enjoved
by the audience who recalled Mr. McCul-s
lum several times. This afternoon and
evening viii witness the last perform
ances of the season. There Will be pleas
ant lines at both performances and
amusement lovers will undoubtedl Y
crowd the theatre to bid farewell to their
favorlte manager and company. Persons
who kwant tickets are advised to obtain
Them In advance at Sawyer store dur
ing the day.