The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-27 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S.

The announcement of a new adaptation from the
French of Casimir Dciaeigne is sot calculated to stir the
heart like a trumpet. Astound all the modern French
playwright—the pets of pedantic playgosts—the chosen
ones of the Theatre Francais and other cbarityechoels of the
French classical drama, the author of Louis the A:kraal& is
one of the most corns* ambitious, sod lifeless. Like the
pot-house (needs of Tony Luta phis, be hates scything th►t is
low, and always likes to play with kings, to move is the
very highest society, and to dabble in historical subjects. If
' good plays mild be "hedged" and manufactured in mumume
and great libraries, without any observation of life or M-
I *Modica knowledge of human nature; if men and women
could be made interesting who speak like polite•letter
writers ; and if popular sympathy could be enlisted on be-
half of mere clothes-pegs who represent the court trappings of
three hundred yearn ago, then Casimir Delavigne would be
a great dramatist. As it 1,, he is chiefly known as theautbor
of a play—Louis the //kerma—that is always a great
favourite with "Man," and helps to perpetuate the worst
vier of the starring system, because it was written to suit
the talents and peculiarities of one actor.
The scholastic traising which Mdlle. Stella Colas received
in her own country for her art would naturally lead her to
respect the productions of the so-called modern clerical
school ; and we can, therefore, hardly feel surprised that
she selected one of Casimir Delavigne's plays in which to
make her appearance in a new character before the British
public. Her choice fell twos Dos Jean d'A urriche—a work
in which she has performed the chief female part at the
Theatre Francais ; and an English Yanks of this piece, pre-
pared by Mr. John Ozenford, under the title of Tier Moser
tery of Si. Just, was successfully produced on Saturday
sight at the Prineeea's Theatre. This is the second time
Doe Juan d'AlaricAr has been done into English, for nearly
.10 yearn ago an adaptation was performed at Covent-garden,
with Miss Hales Fauna, then *ow to the London public,
in the character now played by Millie. Stella Colas. Mr.
John Ozseford has reduced the original tee acts to three,
chiefly by cutting down the dialogue in those parts where
the heroine is not upon the stage; and he has altered the tar.
mination of the drama in such a way as to make it end
happily, if not powerfully, in the English fashion.
Every part in this pieee—large or small— was well acted.
Mdlle. Stella Colas, admirably made up as a brunette, and
with as azeelleot pronunciation, gave the utmost amorist
of intellectual expression to all the phases of Florieda's
character, and almost succeeded in making the audience
forget her want of a commanding sgure. By also taking
the part of Peblo—a boy-novice—in the second act, she
showed her powers in the lightest comedy, and was
delightfully playful sad spoutiumous, though a little too
feminine. The aceuery was Tay effective, and the
artist, Mr. F. Lloyds, was called on at the close of the se-
°clod act to be applauded for his taste and skill. Millie.
Stella Colas was warmly received by a most crowded midi-
OW, who evidently appreciated the beet points in her act-
ing ; mid the pion, with all its faults, ought to dispel any
lingerieg belief that the young French actress is only a
clever parrot trained to gabble through a Mails part.