The Portland daily press., 1900-10-08

PugiIist Jeffries Makes His Appearance
as an Actor.

ga Man From the West" was presented
at the Jefferson Saturday evening before
one of the largest houses that this theatre
has ever held. Nearly every seat on the
floor was taken, the second balcony was
well filled and couple OF the boxes were
occupied. In the upper gallery the rec
ord for attendance was broken. The
seating capacity of this section is such
as to accommodate 474 persons but Satur-
day night there were fully 600 enthusiasts
on hand long before the curtain arose to
introduce to the sport-Ioving community
of Portland the worlds champion pugIl-
ist, James j. Jetfries. The best Of order
was maintained in the Immense audience
although the enthusiasm at times was at
considerable height, especially in the
stirring clinaxes when the champion APP
peared in the nick OF time to save the day
ana rescue the good and the brave.
The play is of course got up to set forth
the abilities of the famous pugilist, but
is really a most clever melo-drama and
contains some very good people. Partic.
ularly worthy OF note is the hAs team of
some of the greatest performances in this
line that has ever been seen in Portland
and aroused the warmest praise from the
audience.
Champion Jeffries assumes the role of
big, good natured sheriff out in the
wild country Of Montana. He is given
many lively situations, in the piece and
acquits himself with credit in ALL He
makes his entry in bold style by coming
onto the stage on..horssback. The audience
was not at all slow in recognizing him
and jumping from the steed he was greet
ed by round after round of applause.
More than once he steps into a breach
ana prevents trouble by emphaticalIy
asserting that he is always ready to
fight anybody who can show any sand.''
incidental to the third act 1.-The big UNI
gave a fine exhibition of punching the
bag and sparring. This was the star Tea-
ture OF the performance and was hugely
appreciated by the crowd OF enthusiasts.
At the end of this act after the cham
pion has knocked out two or three.
would-be desperadoes there was more
hearty applause and the actor-pugilist, In
response to the demands Of the audi
ence, appeared before the curtain and re-
ceived an ovation.
"THE VILLAGE POSTMASTER"
"The Village Postmaster. - the bsauti-
full gem of the playwright's art, viii be
the attraction at the Jefferson on Wednes-
day and Thursday and Thursday matinee,
and we can assure our theatre patrons of
q rare dramatic treat. The play opens
in village store and post office, which
changes to the village green on general
training day,a Gay when all the law abid-
ing citizens were compelled to- turn out to
drill. This constituted the militia OF the
villages when Franklin Pierce was presi-
dent, back in the ffties. The village band
appears and enlivens g festivities,
speech making, dance by the village
girls and general publication which ends
with sudden shower of rain, driving all
to shelter. The rain is real and the
act ends with some very amusing situa-
tions.
THE ROWE-KING STOCK co.
The Rowe-King Stock company, which
has delighted large audiences at Portland
theatre for the past two nights, will con-
tinue their performances for the next four
days, beginning with a special matinee
Monday afternoon, when they viii pre-
sent the strong play, "a Free Born
American - This company is one of the
strongest on the road ard play only the
largest and best cities in the east and
their repertoire contains some of the lat
Q st and most successful meIo- dramas and
comedy dramas that have been produced
in New York the las5 few years. The
company is headed by Miss Grace g.
Hamilton, supported by superb compa-
ny OF capable players, including Leonard
Rowe, Harry King and many others.
SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS.
The famous San Francisco Minstrels,
with % artists in the cast, come to Port
land theatre next Friday and Saturday
evenings and Saturday matinee. Every
thing is new and up to date and first
class performacue is promised. The min
strels gave two performances in Bangor
the past week and were greeted with
crowded houses and was pronounced by
the Bangor papers to be as good as any OF
it's kind that has been there for long
time. Everything was fresh and clean
while the jokes were bright and witty
and the costuming was excellent.
A WORK OLE ART.