The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-04 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

An English version of the sparkling comedy of Alex-
andre Dumas' Les Demoiselles de St. Cyr, condensed
from five acts into three (and acting all the closer and
better for the condensation), was produced here last
night, under the title of Runaway flusbands, and met
with the most complete and deserved success. The
scene of the first act is laid at St. Cyr, the charity-school
for young noblewomen, founded by that strange coin-
pound of asceticism and intrigue, Madame de Main-
tenon. The Duke of Anjou (Mr. llo.ve) has succeeded
to the crown of Spain, and before his departure for Madrid
he goes every day to St. Cyr, to receive lessons on the
art of government from Madame de Maintenon, who,
because she had governed the household of poor old
Scarron the poet, imagined that she could govern king-
doms. In these visits he is accompanied by the Viscount
St. Herem (Mr. Wallack), one of the most accomplished
of courtiers, who amuses himself with making love to
Mademoiselle de Merian (Miss Reynolds), one of the
pupils of the establishment, while his patron is listening
to the dull lectures of its foundress. The young lady,
however, has with her always a companion—
a Mademoiselle Bonrose (Mrs. Fitzwilliam), and
to get rid of her presence he introduces to her a certain
foolish end very green young gentleman, M. Dubouloy,
who, albeit about so be married to a lady of title (for
the qualification of title is dc rigcur with his father) con-
sents to make love to Bonrose, in order to acquire the
character of being a "fast man" of that period. Their
billings and cooings are, however, interrupted by the arrival
of the officers of justice, who convey the two gentlemen
to the Bastille. The second act passes in Paris. The two
gentlemen have been discharged from the Bastille
and have returned to their respective hotels,
but it is as married men. A marriage with
the respective Demoiselles de St. Cyr, who have
been compromised by their attentions being the
sole condition on which they can obtain not liberty
merely, but food. The Duke of Anjou is about to de-
part to Spain. The two runaway husbands accompany him
to Madrid, leaving their wives in Paris. The scene in the
third act takes place in Madrid. Two French ladies arrive
and create a great sensation. The King is decidedly
smitten by the charms of one of the French beauties, in
whom St. Herem recognises his wife. He is informed
that through the interests of Madame Maintenon a di-
vorce has been obtained from Rome, and that he is free.
He becomes maddened ; he kneels to his wife Tor for-
giveness, and, of course, a reconciliation takes place.
Her companion is the wife of Dubouloy, who also receives
her, seeing that she has prccured a patent of nobility and
thus complied with his father's condition de rigeur.
Wallack, as the gay and gallant Cavalier, was every-
thing that could be desired ; Elliston, himself, could
not have looked, dressed, or acted the chttracter
better. He was, admirably supported by Miss Reynolds,
who showed herself a most accomplished artiste by her
manner of acting Charlotte de Merian. She never once
, suffered herself to transgress beyond the bounds of
high comedy, although an actress of less po-
lished taste would no doubt have been tempted
to spoil the character by melodramatising it.
Buckstone and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, as Dubouloy and his
spouse, were excessively quaint and amusing. The
piece was admirably mounted. All the performers were
called for at the conclusion, and Buckstone, the adapter,
announced the comedy for repetition amidst the unani-
mous applause of a crowded house.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
A new comic drama was performed at this agreeable
dof my Wife, one,
place of amusement last evening, with very well deserved
success. The title is The Husband
drama, nor yet of the original French p
nonyme, under which
namely, Le Mari . . .
eatio plotn ii sn
hie some-
whath
by the way, which does not sug,gesththieecesubtrjoecmt ofwhtichhe
it was borrowed,
name it obtained considerab!epop?larity, some time since
s tli fihc
the King of Spain (Mr. Selby), the officers pf his court,
at thecoVnufutledv
,illetuTrnhiesagtreuaptnn.Paatmisy.
Don Fernanda d'Olive. (Mr. C. liliathews), Don Philip
d'Estrada (Mr. F. Matthews), and Don Juan de Perales
(Mr. Harley), alternately purticipaV. Harley's charac-
though liodifficulties th aat recondite
withhisustil
classa
charac-
ter was very well adapted to him, and he bustled and
strutted throbuegphieleties,
imaginary
success. T
for - producing which this theatre is celebrated, was
nevertheless very pleasing; and it
was very well adapted
to the Englishlanguage and the stage cenventionakties
by the translator, Senor de Morena, a Portuguese gen-
tleman, who, like a former distirguishei foreigner of the
vtu e nation, now 1 o more, namely, Don TeleSforo de
T; ueba, owes his education and his cultisated tastes to
this ccuntry, and w Ito Lids fair to achieve, as his prede-
cessor did, the re putation of being one Qf it, lito-
rary ernanients. I'label 6's succ.,astul and iv:tignlficent
burlesque icier-eases in attraction eve Iy evening of its
r presentation. The chivalric achievements of The
Seven Champions of Clo4tendont—seven pearls of Na-
ture's perless hat.diwoik—continue to command the
bands, we had almost said hearts, of the sterner part of
the audience, who keow no bounds to their applause.
A.. a scenic display nothing we have everseen can at'afl
be compared to the fairy lake, in w hich the adventure of
the fair and breve St. Andrew occurs, it is one-of the
--........
meat tplenclid scenes imaginable. The house was filled
to repletion.

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