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

FRENCH PLAYS.

A fashionable audience was present last night at the
St. James's Theatre, to witness the representation
of MM. Scribe and Legourves historical comedy, Les
Contes de la Reine de Navarre. The fame achieved by
Mdlle. Madeline Brohan in the arduous rale of Mar-
gueritte, sister to the chivalrous Francis 1., on the pro-
duction of the play at. the The'citre Francais, increased
the desire to " assist " at its first performance in England.
The piece, so far as regards the unities, would satisfy
the most exigent Aristotelian critic. Its time and
action are, a day and night ; and the scene, the garden
of the King of Spain, Charles V., at Madrid. The period
is that when the astute and diplomatic Charles, after
the defeat of his " brother of France " 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 being reported dead of
wounds received at Pavia, arrives to share the capativity
of the brave French Monarch. From these materials,
including Count Guattinaria, the Minister of Charles
V., an imbroglio of truly sparkling intrigue is woven,
and finally disentangled. Charles, in the first scene, ap-
points Guattinara to be his minister • he has been
ambassador at the Court of Emanuel, of Portugal, and
loves Isabelle, who loves him. Margueritte, who is
admired by Charles for her intelligence and genius, is
loved by and loves Henri of Navarre, while El6onore,
the sister of Charles, has a secret passion for the cap-
tive Francois. There is some excellent comedy in a
subordinate character, Babieca, a jealous Court cou-
rier, whose wife, Sanchette, is attached to the cause of
Francois. Guattinara,. 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 effect the escape of her beloved
brother are the basis of her " tales " to amuse the Em-
peror. The acting of Lafont, 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 unconsciously to take
wine and fruits, was -wonderful. Nor did Mdlle. Brohan
in the least fail in her playing up to that accomplished
artist. A round of applause, 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 as
a monk, and his noble burst of indignation and patriotism
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. Lafdaty who
were warmly applauded. M. Langeval played G-uatti-
nara carefully, a character filled by Regnier in Paris..
Tourillon was the Babieca, vice M. Got. Madlle. Ber-
tin has a pretty Isabelle de Portugal, and Madlle. Edith
was an efficient Eldonore. The house was fully attended
in all parts.