The native American., 1839-03-30

authors.
But whilst thus deem it my duty to speak
disparagngly Of tragic authors and actors, take
great pleasure in bearing testimony to their merits
and excellence in comedy and farce. whether IL
be that the language is of structure peculiarly
adapted to easy and sprightly dialogue, point
wtlcsm and repartee, or that the national charac-
ter is naturally gay, trivial and alive to joke and
merriment, it is not my province to discuss
Whatever be the influential cause, il most certain
that the popular comic authors OF the day throw
off with marvel Gus rapdity productions iull OF
merit, both in plot and style, and that they hnd
audiences slngularly capable OF approaching
fnesse OF thought, aptness OF wit, and force OF
ausion. The authors most la mode IN general
deserve much credit on the score Of fertility and
literary merit and although as matter of course,
this astonishing fertility isefs the cause OF many
useless words being produced in the field OF lltera
ture, of hastiness and carelessness III matter and
manner much TO be regretted yet the play-golng
may be sure o. finding much al all times to beget
smiles and laughter, profit and instruction..
What proves my assertion, that the habits and
character of the French naturally incline them to
light and witty compositions, is the fact, that
where you find dozen comic actors Of most
respectable reputation and merit, you will not
meet with one tragic, who can stand inspection &C.
corling to the laws Of sound sense and good TASTE
And though il be but too true that the vulgar
herd are led astrav by the. horrors of the melo-
drama and the glitter Of the ballet, still it is true
that the best judges, and those whose opinions
and tastes Of any great importance, eschew
all such denominations, and affect those theatres
where they are apt TO find in due proportions
!" useful mirth and salutary wo."
\ peculiar merit in French comedians is the
sustained and equal performance of each and every
actor, according to the nature and demands Of his
or her part There are always male and female
stars, who stand aoof and above the rest; but,
like as it is with us, the reg larity of descent and
dmnu,on in the merit of performance is rightly
graduated and preserved on the decreasing res
probability of the role. The Wallets, soubrettes,
confdans, &c. &c enact their respective parts as
well, and with as much conception of proprety,
as the more prominent and difficult portions are
performed by their superiors in rank and merit.
There is no glazing contrast between the hero and
heroine, and those who compose the secondary
agenlsin the piece; all in proportion to their grade,
succeed in sustaining the interest of the play, and
it is rare to detect any striking difference in the
respective merits Of the performers, other than
should necessarily exist in well regulated COM
|pany.
In word, if were asked to give my opinion
in brief terms, upon the present state of the dra-
i ilid dt diIo, dS1oluiiS " my own HhpiCooioio
and experience, should answer, with proper re-
spect to that of others, in the following manner:
The actual condition of The serious drama is,
on the whole, any thing else than creditable and
worthy Of commentator. A stretching after the
sublime, bordering on the ridiculous--a passion
for bombast and etfect-a want Of probability in
pot-an absence of taste, judgment, and cearness
in composition, an exaggerated style Of acting and
a most lame and foolish aping and appropriating
of English subjects and ideas, are some of the
many faults and abuses of tragedy in France.
In comedy, vaudeville and farce, the Partisan
stage consider as deserving much praise. There
is, in general, natural and sustained interest in
the subectmatter and mode Of treating tan
ease and happiness of style and thought, force
and fidelity of idea and description, and finished,
pleasing style of enacting, which rebound alike to
the credit of,he author and performer, and unite to
delight and instruct the audience before whose
tribunal they placed for judgment.
If you doubt me, reader, come and judge for
yoursef