The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-01 00:00:00

OPERA 00311 QUE.

Judging by the successful commencement of SaturdaY,
the effort to meet more adequately the demand in Loud°
for French plays will be amply repaid. We have long
been accustomed to the periodical visits, under excel"
lent management, of an able Paris company. But thi°
provision no longer suffices. The events of the wnl
have cast both artistes and play-goers upon our shores'
and it was doubtless owing to this exceptional cause that
London has gained a theatre specially devoted to French
representation. There is, however, no reas ITI to imagine
that when the cause has departed, the effect will n'
longer remain. The Opera Comique need in 4
close when Paris again becomes accessible. The
French residents in London, and the English inhabitants
who appreciate an elegance and refinement of acting
which are not to be found in native players, are surell
sufficient to maintain the new house, without detriment
to M. Raphael Felix. The opening performance W
entirely made up of those characteristic French piece°l
supported by sparkling dialogue, with little scenery anu,
less plot, which contrast so strongly with the sensation,'
productions of the British stage. The puce de resistance'
" Les Pros St. Gervais," is a mere trifle by M. Sardou,
almost misnamed as a comedy. The Prince de Conti, who
is the centre figure of the play, is a young nobleman who
escapes from his tutor and indulges in various pranits
in a country village. He gets sweethearts into
trouble, tights a duel, sings and dances, and finally
punishes severely his drunken tutor, who luckleglY
makes his appearance on the scene, and becomes convicted
of offences which bring him severe penance. Wale;
Dejazet represents the Prince. This accomplished
actress, who is paying us • another visit after a long
interval, maintains many of the great histrionic
qualities which first gained her so high 11
reputation. If once the difficulty of so veteran an actress'
representing so youthful a personage be got over, there
little exception to be taken to Mdlle. Dejazet's pet;
fo_mance. It is marked by all that ease, grace, and
polish, for which this actress has ever been famous. ger
voice, always thin, and now thinner than ever, is used to
the utmost advantage. Her dress is a study. Altogether
the performance as a specimen of art is scarcely to be soy
passed. It is no fault of Mdlle. Dejazet that art in lien
case has the opposition, rather than the support, of nature.
The other characters call for little notice. The play
is so entirely devoted to Mdlle. Dejazet that
little work remains to any other participator. 31'
Legrenay makes an excellent Nicole, the cloth merchant.
and Mdlle. Riel is neat as Friquette. The others do their
small share appropriately. A little one act piece entitled
"Un S oir qu'il neigeait," introduces the entertainment'
It is one of those simple conversations between
husband and wife which are possible only
with the aid of sparkling French dialogue. 14'
Georges and Mdlle. Legrand neatly peform this;
trifle. " Les Forfaits de Pipermans" is an amusing farce.
excellently acted by M. Georges and Mile. Legrand, who
appear again, and by M. Lacombe, who represent
Pipermens. This latter is a domestic who considers hilly
self guilty of poisoning both his master and mistress with
Prussic acid—a frame of mind that leads to the most
ludicrous results. This farce is especially well worth
seeing.
Of the arrangements and decorations of the beautiful
little house in which this performance takes place we have
already spoken. Everything went well, apparently, ?_l‘,'
the opening night, with one trifling exception. apparently,
orchestra led by M. Dejazet, is above the average quail*
Mr. F. H. Fowler, the architect of the new house, 1°
not also the architect of the Queen's and Gaiety Theatre
as stated in our last notice.

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARDS.—It is 1111dOrStOOd
that Mr. P. Le Neva Foster, the Secretary of the Society
of Arts, so long connected with educational matters, has
consented to allow his name to be put forward, on the part
of Wandsworth, as a candidate for a seat at the MetroPe"
litan School Board in the Lambeth district. He will op-
port the establishment and maintenance of any schools
where elementary education is carried out with efficiency
and economy, whether accompanied by religious teaching
or not.
THE DIVORCE AND PROBATE COURT. Tho
number of cases set down for hearing at the next sitting
of the Divorce Court is rather below that of last teritt
The total number of cases for hearing was 131, of whie9
14 are set down for hearing by special juries, and ,
by common juries. In the remaining cases, the parties
prefer that their causes sliould be heard before Loril
Penzance without the assistance of a jury. In the,
Probate Court there are 20 cases to be tried by the cont.'
itself, seven by special jury, and two by common juries.
THE hum' Cnuncif.--The Church Convention,
was engaged on Saturday in considering the questions o!
commutation and compounding, upon which there is grenv
diversity of opinion. A majority of the clergy seems
indisposed to commute unlessthe representative body
allow a liberal scale of composition, and to this there Ist;
strong objection on the part of the laity, on the group
that the terms demanded would nullify the benefits 0'
commutation as regards the funds of the Church, al4
encroach upon its legitimate property. The subject WP
come on for consideration again to-day (Tuesday).