New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-15
RACHEL As VIRGINIE.

fuRuie, 10 un5 UbEtCy OF thet uJc " A"i4-iSNi
tour The pot, We Feed ha'dly say, If founded on
he beautiful story so patbfti'aily placed on LIVys
pictured usee The tale ~ he told il has found such
lrequer sborati N is made 80 familiar BY the gor-
geous ballad o. Macsulsy, aad hes buit such homo
young beats 10 il simple FINN, tins. 1t wee idle
10 repeat it. Mynsieur Ls'Our de 5idccly In
proved IN cors uctiOn on the play of ,ir Sheridan
KnOwics who hsd adopted 'he came theme herring
much more severe to Livys story, and emitting the
absurd mad scere a. the cose, which Is 30 gross
disfpurt uaent % Mr. Kbowiess drama
While however, It il written rigid y according 10
the elias c form aud ec.bodies Substantially and CO..
recty all the incidents and events it Is evident that
H. LatOur, however cuuuiDg cons rector OF plays,
is not student OF Niebubr. He trea's history win
the usual supeIcilous contempt OF mort Fr-Dchmen,
and has made many playful alterations N the date OF
events-as, for IstsLce. introducing the agrarian
law many years prior 10 its introduction. The play
would however pass sufficiently pleasant were 1t not
Cor the monotonOus Alexandrian meeslTe, Cropping
oeaselessy the same sound at the clcse Of ev@y ne
apo thus exciting the sweet but sleepdlsposlns
influence as the fail of waters or the bom Of bees
The first act opens with the preparations for the
marriage Of VirgIe and Icius AID the scene s laid
at the home Of NiTgine. The purity and calm which
eiored over Roman houstb bold OF the good old tines
are exhibited in these with much sweetness and
truth Fausts a priestess Of Vesta, aud sister oil
Icihus Ia character added 10 the original story en-
.sxs and the dialogue between her Gnd Der future Sis
term law turns upon the approaching ceremony, the
character Of Icilus and the political course OF the
decemvirs VirgDe thinks she is herself the object of
hate 10 Appus. The next scene ia which the father
appears is eloquent and touching; but everything stl
breatheg of peace Fsbius, the patron OF the family Of
II /,
here lie an occasion for developing the growing son
mept Of hatred between the orders. Fabus, however,
lie frerd Of the right, and a supporter fjusce. lie
looks upon the deoemvirs as common enemies Of all
and places his hopes Ofsecung better state Of things
only in concord
Now the preparations for the marriage are COM
plete. VreiIie appears ansyed in bridal costume;
but Appius Claudus himself comes il to announce
that they must away to the wars tho Sabines are
marching upon the Roman territory. He taunts them
with being absent from the army when the country is
in danger They promise to leave Rome for the camp
the following day. In the next Claudius details
his plans 10 Ma1imus who the plsy takes the place
of the Marcus Claudi1s in tie hstoTyl and orders
him to hasten to the army and explain to his colleagues
why Iciius is TO be slain: he is COT spiraior, aud ID
preparing to restore the tbunes Of the people, Tho
deceuvir has contrved with the aid of some of the
pnests to interrupt the marriage by an EVIL omen
Tbev therefore retire from the temple-the wedding
rite being unperfomed and Niginius takes leave OF
his household praying the gOds that others may snare
in the spos and the glory of victory and the ffulA OF
ysr but asks for himself only the happiness of seeing
his daughter again.
As Rachel enters, in the same classic Roman robe
in which a. Camille she achieved her virgin triumph
in An eiica il was impossible not TO feel the impress
sion strengthened that however soft, impufive
italian like Ristor may equal or surpass Rachel in
parts in which the tender and pathetic predominate-
in what in fact is termed hisronicslly the romantic
school-no one can, or perhaps ever will, approach
her in the classic school, in which the highest art aud
intellect are exercised in clothing the figures OF the
past in statuesque grace and beauty and then touch
ing them with fire. Nothing can be more severely
chaste and beautiful than the forms with whi,h she
peoples what would otherwise be the du, silent halls
Of French tragedy. List night each new sensation
or surprise thrilled her into attitude, which
seemed 20 perfect as to have sprung fom the glowing
braia ard been chiseed by the cunning hand OF some
old master Her conception OF the charsc or of Vr-
ginie ives full of poetic beauty. 1t bad less of the
Yielding eirish weakness usually given to the charac
ter BY Miss Helen Fauct and other accom- 'she1
English actresses, but without losing womsn's
of the Romsh maiden, which we consider tie truer
personation of the two Thus instead of the utthinS
ing playulness usually exhibited in thu early scenes
she wore around her certain shadow Of predestns-
ton of her coming doom.
In the second act they gone 70 wsr. Rich pres
ents are brought To the house OF Nrgnius foIu the
deoeInvir Nirgnie returns from the Foruu in ter
.or having been addressed by base wOman, IN the
interest Of Appus; the dcscmvir himself enters and
deolar,s his passion makes every or he thoks most
tempting, and finding that she listens with horror,
ends with Offering her marisge. She reects him with
seorp He now informs her thst Ieius has 6sen slain,
having fallen in bsttle bat al this moment Fadsta
returns having received the news Of lchass death al
the hands OF nscreapis suborped by Appins hm-ef
In this oct there was beautiful .Orrow scene like
that of Camille on hearing of The death OF her lover.
They were almost twin pictures in ,hsir coor'ng sns
effect, and at the close Mdle Rachel received on
,husiastic cal before the curtain.
Act third opens at the house of Claudils. Maximus
enters to announce that all his preparations sre made
and that failure is impossible Bot he begins to
be frightened st the possible consequences OF the
crime and demonstrates, but u purpose. with his
infamous employer lie departs. Tue soiioquy o.
Appius is interrupted by the cry Of the arrest. Viz
sine is brought in, terrified. Appius declares TO
Der his f1ed re.oatioa and reneNs his odiOus pro
pOsa The friends and the slaves Of Virgiue come
in ard threaten Cl.uclus At the close. F45ius gives
yirgnio Dagger with significant hint of the use
abe is to put i, to. The beautiful agony OF look and
attitude of Rachel as, hall alarmed With womans
terror half reused with Romans courage, she breaks
n.o tse chamber, was exquisite stsdy.
ire fourth act opens at the house Of Vhgine.
Aoa. IL frofni