New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-27
Mr.. BOKEP'S FRANCE SEA DA PTMINI"
At THE BROADWAY.

! The Broadway Theater WA last night filled witt
one OF the beat ie1cee Of the season, TO vitnes
the fret performance Of Mr.. Boxers new tragedy o
/ F,oacfScq dd Rmfri, 6 notice II which wss plt-
! lisbed IN Yesterdays TRHUyE. The principal char
scter. were Io1coro Mr.. Davenport, and PG''0
/ Mr.. Ian efsan., SOD, OF N1'1feVl Mr. Whiting
lord Of Rmini; Fro' Mad. Ponisi, daughter OF
Guido Mr. CanolI. lord Of Ravens; snd PeDs Mr..
Fiber Malats sta lester TIE curtain upon a
hail in The ducal palace Of RayeDna. with Guido aud
the Cardinal Vecctno, snd their attendants. Tle
former declares his intention Of espou.ng his dsu ghter
10 Lauciotto Of Rinin in order 10 put end TO the
feud between iAe Guephs and the Ghibellioes, The
latter b. wing Jared the worst il tler bs ties. The
briJspcy OF the first scene, ana the historical sccu
rscy # the costues and pro ertes showed that the
play had been ccIscientiously pat Jon TIE stage,
ard prepared the audience TO give it kindly receo-
ton The scene then shifted 10 Rmini, and the blue
and orange colors Of the Guelpbs were substituted
for the red and white of the GoibeIines. The gray
old Maiatesta communicates the proposed allsnce
10 LsDcOtto who ST fret refuses, but Is at last over
come BY the persuasion Of his father and the entreates
Of his brother PaOi0, and yields. Mr.. Davenport
Looked the character Of Lapciotto admirably, aud but
for an occasional want Of familiarity with the an-
euage did Justice to the authors conception. The
morbid sensitiveness and self depreciation OF the
hupohback-bs passionate pride and keen sense OF
his lurking mistrDst and burning susceptibility
to Iiocule or mjury-whch form the metaphy seal
groundwork of the trsgic story, were all faithfully
repIeseIted. The first act cOses with Paoos departure
for Ravenr 70 bring Francisco 70 i!niDi Lanclotto
refusing 70 exhibit his misshapen body to the ndicue
of bis enemies, the Ghibel ines
The second act opens with Paolos arrival at Il A.
i xr-h.
Lanclotto. loves him at ST sight. This mistake is
by old Guido whose interest requires the
marriage to be consummeied. TIE attachment is re-
ciprocal. and Paolo struggling bet yeen bis love TO
Francesca and his duty to his brother Lsncotto, who
is ove rcome by gloomy pfesentment OF evil stiL
sbrinbs from the marriage and even after trancesc1s
arrival in Rmlni, and the friendly meeting OF the
ords Of the rival house, offers u release her from the
epeapemeLt and vet grant Ravenna the peace which
the uuptisls were intended to insure. Guido mis-
trusts his declaration and obliges bis daughter to
consent, apparently with her own ifee Will PePe'
the court lester character which was capital
" rendered By Mr. Fisher, plays the most i'm
portant subordinate part Having been struck
by both the brothers he revenge, and his covert
aunts increase the mistrust and melancholy Of Lam
cioto The interest Of the tragedy /. cumulative, out
lies in the passions which it illustrates, rather than IN
the plot, which beside being exceedingly simple, is
for the most part known TO the audience The house,
which had listened with marked attention, showed
decided enthusiasm at the close of the third act when
Mr. Davenport was called upon the stage. The prin-
cipal incident in the fourth act was the mairsge OF
Francesca and Lanci,tto, after which Mr. Davenport
was again summoned before the curtain. The play
terminates with the death Of the lovers-a dtnoue
uent perhaps too deeply tragic to stir the popular sym
pathy Familiar as is the story, its iatefu end SUI
retains something Of that shock of horror which
made the iron Dante swoon.
The scepeIy was very good, and the costumes as
we have said, unusually accurate. Mr.. Davenport
and Madame Ponis called out sgain at the close
after which there were loud cries for Boxer" Inc
author at last made his appearance in one OF the pros
ceuium boxes and made his bow to the audience
The play may be considered entirely successful will
be repested tonight, and viii probably be kept upon
The stage for some time. Mr. Boxer has shown much
bodness in dealing with 80 familiar theme, and has
every reason TO bo satisfied With hs su""A-s We
shnli .ndoavor to give hereafter more critical exam
nation Of bis performance.