New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-17
MISS MATILDA HERON IN MEDEA.

Wsllacks last right was crowded to its utmost ca
pacty to witness the first appearance of Miss Matilda
Heron in the play of Medea, which she has translated
from the French of Legouve. This piece was written
for Mad lie Rachel but she declined to perform in it.
In dramatic interest il ia not of the first class the sec
ond act is wesk. II is remarkable for brevity not
hardly exceeding an hour and half three quarters
in duration.
The plot is, briefly Jason, the hero of the Argo-
nautic Expedition wins the love of Medea, daughter
of the king of Cochis. For his love, she consents to
mbrue her hands the blood of her family, and flies
her country. She becomes the mother of two children.
Jason being parted from her. she, wanderer with her
children, seeks him. The first act opens with scene
precedent TO the Intended nuptias of the false Jason
with the daughter of the King of Corinth. Orphcus
warns the King and Jason against such an unjust act
Medea having landed by chance, In the course OF her
wsnderDgs at CJrnth, discovers the perdy of Jason
But, after different phases of poverty, bitterness
sorrow and Devotion and finding that Jason is brutaly
false and that her little children, neither the one no
the other will leave their newly father their in
tended step mother and their fine estate and that the
marriage is going or she receives to kill her offspring,
and their sacrifice by her terrible hand concludes the
piece. The play differs in many points from Eunpides
weI-known tragedy. The modern Medea is calm at
her fret appearance-sbe has not yet heard of the
pe1fidy of Jason. The original heroine, however enters
alive with fury-and indeed, the ancient type Of Medea
is not suited TO century The modern play rests on
the humanities, without supernatural mnistration
The audience last night was alive with enthusiasm
Mss Heron had tremendously eager reception, and
was called before the curtain between each act, and
at the last act twice. She skilfuy alfred much
Intellectual consideration being shown in the semi
oriental or Colchian nature of her costume. Miss
Heron has the advantare Of fine shoulders, bust
and arms; and she can attitudze without practical
pegaton to her conceptions. She is bold and novel
in her gestures. She has evidently studied Partisan
models but has depended on herself for the concep-
ton of this character. Her conception is beautiful
but the execution was unequal. The terrible Is lees
suited to her than the tender-the devotionsl-the
feminine We confess, however, to differ with some
of the audience and some of the critics present. who
pronounced her superior in last nights performance to
Camille There is one ,cene where Medea implores
her children to come TO her-they remain inert-and
here we think the feminine intenses which 80 struck
US on fret seeing Mis- Heron most came forth.
There were some passages of concentrated hate,
which were very fine.
But, after all the criticism the success Of piece
rests with the public and it is but fair to state thst on
no occasion has Miss Heron called forth equal APP
plause with that she excited last night.
The play was well cast Mrs. Allen did Creuss
very sweety. Mr.. Sothern, as Jason appeared to
particular advantage. Orpheus played with pro.
pbetic dignity by Mr.. II. B. Phillips; Mr.. Lee did the
King satisfactorily; and the two little girls Misses
Bishop and Sylvester, were very important items in
the success Of the piece.
In regard to mounting, a clsssic spirit presided
The interior OF Pompeian edit ,e was literally copied
and so antiquity stood before US. The costumes were
new, good and appropriate.
Miss Heron may be congratulated upon her spirited
translation She writes well with occasional lapses
and hiss an innate sentiment Of idiomstic force
due the drama The translation is not metrical, but
60 rice ear has guided the sentences that many of
the audience probably thought it wss in verse. The
spirit is very lyrical.