The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-12
.HUs1c AND DRAMA.
or GEM THEATRE.

OPENING OF GEM THEATRE.
The inaugural performance at the 0eni
theatre, with the advent Of each summer
is really something more than mere
drapatio entertainpent, for y has been
invested with other features which gives
IL worthy place among the recognized
social functions Of the year. and Justly
20. Recall, II you please, the long series
/ OF successes achieved by the Casco Bay
Steamboat company since way back In
'SS, when IL first opened the doors OF an
amusement resort. No wonder then with
such prestige to build ON that pleasures
able anticipations are aroused and the de-
mand for seats ON the opening evening
exceeds In most instances almost the ca
pacity OF the house.
So was IL last evening and when the
Pilgrim swung out from her dock she
was freighted with rs large, handsome
and representative a body Of theatre-goers
as one would ever care to see. Disem-
barking the large crowd passsd between
lines Of welcoming cottagers on through
the main entrance decorated with dotted
plants, ferns, ETC., and taking their seats
with an air of amiability filled every
available place in this cosy theatre whose
nautical adornment loses not q whit of
attract yeness rs the seasons come and 60.
At the appointed hour Mr.. Frank l..
Callahan appeared with his excellent or
chestrn and at once kindled enthu siasm
by spirited rendition Of the "Gem
March" piece Of much merit, composed
by himself, and dedicated to the manager
OF the theatre, G. W. I. Cooling. The
curtain soon goes up ON the first act Of
Peaceful Valley" q play from the pen
Of Mr.. Kidder Of New York, written es-
pecially for Sol Smith Russell.
The story begins on the Air Top hotel
in the Green Mountain district where
many young college men ara employed as
walters. Hosea Howe is one Of them and
lives In Peaceful Valley, just ut the foot
Of the mountain house. Among the
guests at the hotel is family named
Rand, whose daughter Virginia takes an
interest In Hosea, and learning from him
the story Of the betrayal Of his sister dis
covers that one Of her admirers is the
guilty man. She so informs Hosea who
becomes 90 enraged that he hurls the
scoundrel from the hotel porch down into
the valley. Finishing the first act, the
guests make inquiry as to the disappear.
ance Of Mr.. Andrews and they are In
formed by Hosea that she has just
dropped in on mother" The second act
is in Hosea's home, introducing his
mother who Is the good angel Of Peaceful
| W -. A n oh IN,
health and Miss Virgie Rand offers to Sc
cure employment for Hosea in htr
fathers New York Office, which he readi-
ly accepts. Hosea is anxious to 60 as 1t
win give him an opportunity of search.
ing for his sister, but Mr.. Rand is sus-
picious and refuses to make good his
daughters promise. Hosea, however,
gets to New York by the assistance Of
young friends.
Almost year has elapsed before the
opening Of the third act. Hosea's mother
has been for many years litigant for the
possession Of almost all Of Pleasant VAL
ley and money for the suits was provided
through Hosea's success In New York.
Events then follow on quickly. Hosea's
absent sister Is found by Virgie Rand
and delivered to her mother with the
good news that Hosea will soon return
home. Now occurs scene between Hosea
and Miss Rand in which he declares his
love by asking her in his quaint New
Hampshire fashion II she would receive
"mother as permanent parent" The
mother appears upon the scene and asks
every one to participate in her joy at well
coming homs her son, the winning OF the
lawsuit and the celebration Of her birth
day. Hosea presents his fancee and the
play finishes with this clever epilogue:
If ever you happen down this way ON
business or on pleasure bound one thing
or the other, why take the Peaceful VAL
ley road and just drop in on mother"
Such is the atmosphere Of the play and
its settings are appropriate and hand
some. Right here word Of the warmest
commendation Is due the stage manager,
Mr.. George Osborne, who was ably as
sisted by Mr.. Lawrence Eddinger upon
whose shoulders, in the absence Of Mr..
Eberle fell this arduous task. In such re-
gard nothing was lacking, and the first
act wildly showed Ayrtop House with
the White Mountains in the distance with
splendor Of color effects. The second act
is In Hosea's home on the Perpendicular
Farm" with its antique furniture some
Of which is over hundred years old.
The third act shows the best ROOM at
Mrs. Howe's prettily developed as to de-
tail.
The current Of the action runs smooth