The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-23 00:00:00

DRAMA.

DRIJRY-LANE.
On Saturday last, the troupe of the Gatt6 pro-
duced, for the Bret time before ea English audience, a
grand " patriotic Crams," called Les CONDI**, which they
bad played before their Parisian patrons for we cannot tell
how many hundred nights daring the season of 1853-4. Les
Cossgties is a piece of the Adelphi type, but in length it far
meals the three acts which the immemorial custom of the
stage in this country hu prescribed as the proper limits of •
melodrama ; for although the play was commenced at eight
o'clock, the last act had to be materially retrenched—ice
this cue without at all improving it—in order to prevent
the performance from encroaching upon Sunday morning.
The scene is laid at Troyes, in the February of 1814, at
which time the town is supposed to have been occupied by
the Cossacks, and the story turns on the lawless intrigues of
the Count Mansaroff, the Russian commandant, to obtain
the hand of Louise Blanchard, the daughter of a French
officer, who had fallen in the campaign of 1812. Madame
Blanchard had undertaken, with her daughter, • journey
into Russia, in the hope of finding some traces of
her husband ; and had been rescued from the vio-
lence of the natives by the intervention of Man-
saroff, whom she had been led by various acts
of hypocritical kindness to regard as her benefactor.
In the confusion, however, the poor lady had lost her
daughter, and had been persuaded that she was dead ; but
the truth was that she had fallen into the bands of the
Count, and he had propo►ed to make her his wife. With
this view he placed Madame Blanchard in the charge of
Olga, ono of his slaves, whose unremitting aVentions to her
new mistress soon won her heart. Sincerely pitying the
misfortunes of the b ed widow, she nevertheless re-
tained sentiments of romantic fidelity to her muter ; and
when he ordered her to procure from her mistress a letter of
event to the marriage of Louise,she set about the task with
unquestioning promptitude. Amongst her other calamities
Madame Blanchard had lost her sight from a violent illness,
by which she had been attacked in Russia; and so, when
requested to act as her amanuensis, Olga wrote such a letter
as would suit the deaigos of the Count, and obtained to it
the signature of the widow. Of course Louise has no
great liking for the match,and the piece does nit progress far
before a real lover makes his appearance. This is the com-
panion of bar childhood—Maurice, a French officer, who,
with a number of his men, has entered the town in order
to take advantage of any accident that might seem to favour
the cause of the Emperor. The principal of these are Ser-
geant Curium sod Private Panel, both of whom have

an equal genius for disguise and for getting into scrapes.
Indeed,the drolleries of these two worthies act to a great ex-
tent as a sort of lubricating medium, by the aid of which
'the piece may roll its bugs length along without weariness
to the spectator. To narrate all the incidents of the drama
would take far too much time, and it must, therefore, cut-
fiew to say that Maurice, Durivean and Panel having got up
an almost successful emeute in a café-spectacle, arc taken
prisoners. The usual alternative is offered by Manzareff to
his recalcitrant bride, her hand or her lover's life—sad the
former is accepted. Madame Blanchard, now become aware
of her daughter's existence, has an interview with her in
the presence of the Count, and, on learning that she has
chosen him for her husband, disowns her with a heart
broken with grief, but, nevertheless, full of the most exalted
patriotism. la short, uni I misery frowns upon all the
interesting personages of the drama; and at this juncture
Olga centre forward to set matters right. First of all,
having made it clear that she is in love with Maurice
herself, she offers her services to save him, and ex-
plains the sacrifice which Louise has made en his
account. lie immediately prays her assistance on behalf
of the youvg lady, and, though with no very good grace
certainly, she promises that it shall not be wanting. Oar
hero, in return, bestows upon the Cossack maiden an em-
brace, and tnis has a surprising effect upon her real ; for
poor Olga now "goes in" for universal happiness in a
IQ that would hays satisfied Jeremy Bentham to his
heart's cottent. In a very little time she has brought the
mother and daughter together, and an affecting scene ensues,
in which they are all reconciled. But alas ! their joy is of
short duration. Minsaroff interrupts the tete-a-icte, seises
the two young women, and sends off Louise to his estate in
Russia, and Oiga to the knout. Here our friend Durivean
comes in and informs Madame Blanchard that, by the agency
of Olga, he avid his faithful companion Panel bad wowed
the night before they were to haws been shot, but that
Maurice had been p ted from following their example.
If, however, be could only ascertain where the place of
execution was to be, he might yet save his commandant.
Here again Olga brings the necessary information. Almost
[ expiring under the cruel but "paternal" discipline to
which she tad been subjected, she had beard her muster
give his orders upon the subject. The name of the town
recalls to the elootie mimid of the sergeant the story of the
woolen horse ' - and the wooden horse suggests to him the
' expedient of disguising himself in the voluminous trousers
of the Dons. This brings us to the last scene. It is a glade
in the wood of Creney,wliere, although an attack on the town
is actually being made by the Emperor in person, bienzaroff
beds time to "do justice" upon the unlucky Maurice. lie
duly insults his victim, and his victim retorts with suitable
spirit—he orders the firing party to take up their ground—
he pronounces the fatal wordy, "Make ready! present!"
—when, In! the soldiers suddenly wheel round upon him,
and level biro by a well-directed volley. The party consists
of our old friends the sergeant and Panel, together with
some of their comrades. Madame Blanchard and her
daughter now bring in the dying Olga, who performs the
part usually allotted to the "heavy lathers" of the British
drama—joins the hands of the lovers and expires. Finally,
there is a grand tableau representing the triumphant entry
of the Emperor and the utter discomfiture of the Cossack
interest. _
__ . . .. . .

The part of Maurice was played with great power end
ability by M. Gouget; but the real heroes of the evening
were Messrs. P. !denier and Alexandre, who personated the
two old soldier,. Duriveau, with his philosophy, and the
air of dignity with which he sustained his assumed relation-
ship of Mentor over his more simple companion, wee ex-
ceedingly amusing. Madame Lambquin tilled the vile of
Madame Blanchard with touching pathos; and Mdlle.
Leontine, as a eantiniere who exercised no inconsiderable
influence over the fortunes of the piece, was sprightly and
entertaining. Perhaps, however, the most interesting
female character was that of Olga (Mdlle. Augu.ta), who,
with very little to say, monopolised a large Mime of atten-
tion.

The drama was exceedirgly well received, and in the
café scone, the excitement of the house rose to a very high
pitch. At its close the curtain, in obedience to the loud
call of the audience, was drawn up, and the company sang
the National Anthem and. Yana:it pour la Syne," amidst
loud acclamations.