The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-05 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS.

A fashionable audience was pi:esent last night at the
St. James's Theatre, to witness the representation
of MM. Scribe and Legourv6's historical comedy, Les
Cones de la lle'ite de Nava. ..e. The fame achieved b,
Mdlle. Madene Brohan in the arduous role of Mar-
gueritte, sister to the chivzt!tous Francis 1., on the pro-
duction of the play at the Lteatre Fran:aiB, increased
the desire to "assist" at its first performance in England.
The piece, so far as regards the unities, would satisfy
the most exigent Arstotelian critic. Its time and
action are, a clay and night ; and the scene, the garden
of the King of Spain, Charles V., arMadrid. The period
is that when the r -Ante and diplomatic Charles, after
the defeat of his " brother of Rance " at Pavia, holds
the gallant Francis _in captivity. The glorious pri-
soner, who has " lost all, save honour," heart-struck
at the woes of his country, whose humiliation he
identifies with his own refuses sustenance. At this
juncture his brilliant sister, Margueritte, afterwards
Queen of Navarre, arrives at Madrid. She carries
with her the wise and the frivolous. Isabelle of Por-
tugal, the betrothed of Charles, is at the Court, as is
El6onore, the sister of the cunning and implacable
Emperor. There is also present Henri d'Albret,
Comte de Navarre, who, after beimg reported dead of
wounds received at Pavia, arrives to ;hare the capativity
of the brave French Monarch. Frotn, these materials,
including Count Gnattinar'sa, the Minister of Charles
V., 'an imbroglio of truly sparkling intrigue is woven,
and finaliy disentangled. Charles; in the first scene, ap-
points Guattinara to be his minister • he has been
ambassador at the Corn t of Emanuel, of Portugal, and
loves Isabelle, who loves him. - Margueritte, who is
admired, by Charles -;Or her intelligence and genius, is
loved by and lave: Henri of Navarre, while Eldonore,
the sister of Charles, has a Lec7et passion for the cap-
tive. Francois. There is some excellent comedy in a
subordinate character, Balzeca, a jealous Court cou-
rier, whose wife, Sanchette, is attached to the cause-of
Francois. 61-nattinara, having taken up the King's
hat by mistake, effects an exchange in the apartments
of Sanchette, which makes her jealous husband suspect
Charles himself of being his rival in his wife's favours.
Margueritte's plots to efec:, the escape of her beloved
brother are the bas's o her - tales " to amuse the Em-
peror. The acting of Lafo it, as the captive king, where
Margueritte, by engaging his affections, and drinking the
health of his mother, and of those- to whom he is most
attached, induces him almost urconsciously to take
wine and fruits, was wonder'ul. Nor did Mdlle. Brohan
in the least fail in her playing up to that accomplished
artist. A round of applausa, and a call, followed the
scene. The interview of the cold-blooded Charles (M. St.
Marie),with the bold and candid Francois, was of the best
order of histrionism. His refusal to escape, disguised a 9
a monk, and his noble burst of indignation and patriotiim
at the humiliating proposition of Charles, were electric.
At the fall of the curtain, a general call produced the
reappearance of Madlle. Brohan and M. Lafont, who
were warmly applauded. M. Langeval played Guatti-
mra carefully, a character filled by Regnier in Paris.
Tourillon was the Babieca, vice M. Got. Madlle. Btr-
tin has a pretty Isabelle de Portugal, and Madlle. Edith
was an efficient El6onore. The house was fully attended
in all parts.