The Portland daily press., 1900-03-31
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
"CHRIS AND TIE WONDERFUL
LAMP"

LA ME-
"Chris and the Wonderful Lamp was
presented by Jerome Sykes and EdDa
Wallace Hopper at the Jefferson theatre
last night, assisted by n magnificent
company OF clever artists with all the 40
oossorisa Of good music. fine scsnery,
handsome costumes and good specislties
nude tho hit OF the season with the Port
land theatrical patrons. Taking 1t all In
all 1t is one OF the best production Of tbs
Kind this city has witnessed for many
Year,. The audience was very large and
enthusiastic and fully appreciated all OF
the good things they saw and heard.
There lie not dull moment In this three
act extravaganza. Nearly all OF the
things Of this kind start of with rush
In the first act but in the others become
fat and rather tedious Not so with
Chris aud the Wonderful Lamp. 1t grows
better rs it progresses, the fun is con-
tsgious, the merry whirl more entrape-
ing, the SURPRISES come with more rapidly
as the simple plot is unfolded until the
Inst curtain falls upon beautiful scene
and an artistic finale.
The peat Of this production Ii that
there Is NO yulgarity in 1t anywhere. 1t
is refined fun with an accompaniment
of catchy music aEd wonderful scenic
effects. After some Of the attractions
Portland has witnessed In the past few
months this point is well worth dive ling
upon. The story OF the extravAg ANA
solves no social problems. 1t is only
bubble Of mirth from beginning to end
and Is highly satisfactory and refreshing.
John Philip Sousa wrote the music and
it 10 characteristic II 10 In Sousa's
catchy style with tinkling waltzes and
soul stirring marches. Some music Of
Sousa's which IL net altogether fresh is
so worked Into this pot pourri of good
things that it is recognized and welcomed
as familiar strains amidst so much that
Is brand new and strange but by no
means less catchy than Is the cid.
The chorusss are worked up TO q music
al climax with artistic effect. There are
voices In this company which are worth
hearing and which are seldom found In
oomio opera,
The story IL unrAVelled in three acts.
The first scene Is q room Of the home of
the late Prof. CIPHER of Yale. There is
an auction going on and one Chris Wag-
staff, q young man CT the world, por-
trayed by Edna WallRos-Hopper, pur-
chased an old lamp as a memento Of the
late professor which turns out to be the
wonderful lamp of Aladdin. Chris
polishes 1t with his sleeve and instantly
there appears the gent OF the lamp Je-
rome Sykes. q king of comedians. Sykes
has a situation In this. his first appear
anoe. which he makes the most Of. He
is not costumed rs the gsHi Of the old
school but as an up-to-date representa-
tive of that oon venient parsonage with
whom the fairy stories deal Sykes is
big, jolly and born entertaiaer. He
transports Chris whom 1t will be rem en-
bsreo Is Edna Wallace Hopper, a petite
and dainty humorist, to Miss Prim's
academy for young ladies where Chris
has a sweetheart. he and the gent dis
guise themselves as college professors, to
get inside the academy b9t are discovered
to be imposters. Some terrible punish
ment ts threatened them when Chris
runs tne WonuSf4uI lAmpp again nno bne
entire academy is transported to the Isie
of Etherin. Now comes the scenic sur
prisos. A New York Central railroad sta
tlop W. tn train Of palace cars, another
change ana ths Geok of an ocean steam
ship Is shown where the landscape files
past with remarkable realism and then
L herla is reached. During all Of these
scenes tners are charming songs and
choruses, amusing specialties, funny
situations and witty dialogue.
The advent of the moItais In Ethsria
causes the awakening OF Aladdin who
discovers the loss Of his lamp. The scene
of Aladdin's court Is a marvel OF beauty.
The costumes are rich anu worn by scores
of pretty girls they blend harmonioualy
with the magnificent scene. Here 10 all
the grandeur Of the East with Its artistic
possibilities which are made the msst Of.
The fun continues at a reckless pace.
Johnny Page and Nellie Lynch give an
aoFobatie dance which last night won fer
them snoOres by the dozen. Bsrtha