The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-10-30
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE MANOEUVREs or JANE.

III NAN III l. v LenO VI JANE
Those OF our drama-lovers, ana there
are many, who deliQh5 to sit in the at
mosphere Of clean, lively and h1gh-ciass
comedy and studyable pOrtraitures OF
society men and women, interpreted By
artistic talent Of exceeding excellence
surely have a genuine treat for a few days
at the Jefferson theatre where Daniel
trohman metropolitan organization,
last evening, opened It's present en-
gagement.
1T is not strange that the advent Of
such a company made quite "a stir In
our theatre going Giro les, and that society
accumulated its HelcOme By looking its
prettiest, FOR not the least of the attractive
features last evening was the personnel
OF the brilliant AMI fashionable
audience with It's display IT handsome
dresses and becoming millinery which
invested the occasion with many OF the
tokens OF a social function itself
The initial play was that light, bright
and amusing comedy 10 four acts by
Henry Arthur Jones, entitled "Ihe Ma
noeuvres OF Jane Though we'll con-
structed, there IS nothing pretentious
about the story and the more critical
might say that 80 was trita almost to
Stiffness. 1t is not the play, but rather
th5 assemDlage OF we'll sketChed Charac
tiers which is the Distinguishing and d.
Verting feature upon which the success
of the piece depends.
Jane typilies the hoydenish young
woman who resorts to tricks to hoOdwink
the elderly lady 10 whose care she has
been Entrusted BY her rich father. She
is very much IN love with George
LangtOn and after tOying with him tor
awhile is at length placed in a question
abls predicament at a roadside inn and
only escapes the serious consequence of
gossips by the goodness OF the hostess.
In her manOeuvres she.entangles q namby-
pamby young nObleman, Lord Bapchild,
with his female companion, COnstantia
Gage. lie Is not inclined to marry the
young lady, but Is driven to do SO by her
persi stency. Finally with an attempted
elopement. which is folied, with lovers
quarrels as a matter OF course, and some
queer and mildly comic episodes, the
young people are mated just as they had
planned and wished, and doubtless to the
great satisfaction OF the interested spec
tatOrs
There was a daintiness about the set
ting OF the play and every detail Of scenic
environment was carefully attended to,
while the gowns OF the iadie were worn
most becomingly.
The action left nothing to be desired
and was Just what one would have ex-
pected from a company OF such Compel
ency IN which all the players must give a
good account Of themselves, however
subordinate the part.
10 begin, there is Miss Hilda SDOng, OF
magnihcent physique and splendid car
ria9e. Not alone face and form are her
attractions, for she has an atmosphere OF
r5pose, refined WOmanliness ana a men,
tai senpOise which ever pervades her
work. In the role of the designing Con-
ME she was excellent losing not a point
IN the character and was charmingly
elective IN herr account Of the all-niQht
sail and her several scenes with PhiIi-
bert. The oOmedienn9 was most cordially
received, and not less so was Miss Eliza
beth Iyree, a very worthy successor
to Miss Manner1ng in the character of
Jane Nangle. She played the little
madcap to perfection, bringing out all
the whims Of the perVersa hoyden and to
watch her changing moods was truly
delight. Her impersonatYOn was
stamped with grace and charm which
won cor her the heartiest applause. Mr.
Flnnsy did Jan exceedingly clever piece
VI work as the chuckle-heRded, baShful
lord. His was a cOmical bit of acting
and he never lapsed inshis speech, dress
OF manner. William COurtenay gave a
bright delineation OF George Lanpton
being specially good in his love scene
with Miss Iyree, and though young
actor, gives promise Of quite brilliant
future. With his ripe experience it WAS
expected OF course that Charles Walcot
would ut the part of Jervis Punshon
which he did completely, and the same
may be said OF Mrs. Charles Walcot as
an excellent Mr.. Nangle, and with a
quiet dignity Miss Eva Vincent played
the part of Lady Bapch1ld. What might
De called one of the hits of the evening
was the cute work of little Blanche
Kelleher as Miss Beechinor, which was a
source Of no little amusement. Others
In the cast deserve mention for the suo-
oessIul portrayal of suoh parts as fell to
their lot, and in the male cast were
John Findley, William Eville, H. S.
Iaber, Albert Manson. Passing to the
female cast the charming personalities
OF Beatrice Morgan, Ethel Hornick, ALI
son Sk1pworth are to be noted, while the
work Of Minnie Bowen and Mrs Hart
jackson met every requirement of their
roles. The performance was admirable
throughout and friendly audience gave
indications to pleasure which were
frequent and sincere.
- The ManOeuvres Of JaDe'iis admirable
adapted to matinee performance and