The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-04
Burton's THEATRE Fascination

Drought together in this city assembled Friday
night at Burtons theatre witness the presentation
OF the long promised play OF Fascination" II Was an
assemblage composed for the part OF the boob;
writer's journalists artists and that abound in
this metropolis. and whose judg ment OF q play was
TO be dreaded as well as courted,
"Fescoation" is founded upon . noa oelsts by Octave
Fewillet, and originally published tsuills!on in
Paris The plot smpe, and describes the experience
of C.spar Fabian Mr Fisher), ardent and suscept
BILE young poet and com poier who commenced e rs al
herd boy but whose musical genius discovered by
Chevaler Svio Topaz, (Mr, Burton) ambassador to
Spain and ardent patron OF lie has the poor boy
educated by the Maestro Rosarus, (Mr Moore), with
whose daughter Madeline MISS Sarah Stevens Fabian
falls in love, or imagines he docs, which sometimes
amounts to tho thing. The first act opens
just ~ be Is about producing an opera, upon
the success Of which he stakes his chance OF
winning the consent Of Rosarius to we'd Madeline. OF
course he dvulges the secret OF his Intentions to his
patron the Chevalier who very properly horded aud
fears he will grow fat and happy, and not write any
more music he tries to disgust him with the prospect
OF bepg the father .of large family without success
and last resource, pques his vanity and ambition by
mysteously hnt.ng at the interest be had excited In
the scupiuresque shoulders OF lady OF rank the Pra
cess Romanell, (Mrs BMrow,) with the natural sus
sceptbty OF the artist and poet to the influence OF the
cited and he falls easy prey to the arts aud
fascinatops of the Princess, who Is pqued into
eronde passion for the young composer by the
diplomacy Of the Chevaer, and does him the honor to
make him her sixteenth lover. Enchanted and bewil.
dered by bor beauty and fire, (she is perfec! Mount
Vesuvus) Fabian forges honor virtue and his love for
Madeline and elopes with the enchanress The end OF
two years. which passes between the third aud
fourth acts, finds him as miserable as the Chevaer
writing His wild love for the Princess devours
him he vibras between his love and jealousy, for the
Princess, very naturally getting tired OF man who
smokes all day and no longer writes operas, has
commenced a Irritation with q tenor, named
Benedetto, and Fabian is already obliged to play
second fiddle In thtr duets AT this critical juncture
the Chevalier (who has been absent during the two
years) arrives astoniShed that Fabian has not written
to him for year. and that he has not produced another
opera He overhears scene bet ween the Princess and
his prose which informs him to the true state Of the
case and worked up into an enthusiasm of remorse,
pity and indignation, he discoses to Fabian the true
character OF his lady love, with the important informs
ton that be himself her fourth lovers fact he will
prove by her letters, which he will bring in twenty mi
nutes During the time he is absent the Princess .im
proves the opportunity" tries infallble dodge aud
succeeds In getting Fabian on bis knees again be
fore the Chevaler returns. Having satisfied her PRIDE
abe eopes with tho handsome tenor Benedet,o-a fact
which 10 discovered when Fabian In the point OF
bidding her farewell, being melted to h OF virtuous
by narrative from the Chevaer OF the llness
and picus constancy Of bis betrohed wife Madeline In
stead however Of administering patent medicine to
the young lady, and marrying them OF sassacoy the
author sends mad poet oil goose chase after his
fale mistress, accompanied by the Chevaer who sticks
to him like tick. In wild pass in the Appennes .
midnight nhey meet Raarus and his daughter Madeline
Who trying reach home before the young lady de.
in his frenzy Fabian mistakes her for the Princess and
before the Chevser who has rushs 81 lust LewrUnx
time for light rcturns, he has plunged dagger into
her heart He awak from his madness 70 tho deed
has performed and also witness the happiness OF the Prir
and her lover who glide by In m open boat sing
,pg merry barcaroieand what particularly provok
ing one that Fabsn had composed himself The accumula
ton OF leaves nothing for the bewldered artist
to do bat 10 die he conveniently bursts blood yesse
and expires, when the curtain falls.
From this resume will be thu. Fascination To-
Of the most Frenchy OF tho many French plays that
have recently been produced In this city and Tor ,s
morality outTravatae Traviata and Camille ,s tho
whole. a rather nice, vrtuous young woman compared
with Beatrice, who s represented having had st least
sixteen favored lovers and when last seen looked IN good
enough condition to have ueb that number before
ends her Tns moral too, is unusual one,
the vrtuous made 10 suffer, and the wicked come
Gu, hrst best The earlier portion OF the piece would
each taking patent cough mixture TO thom o their
cossumptive ter denc,ss and settle down happily 10
cottage by the lake u Como (uid6 Dulwcr) aud toere
cuaya,e rural felicity, music, poetry and smiiar vani
ties but by kne them on 10 this summary manner, the
au,hor has made grave mistake In artistic pont OF
view, was painfully realized by the more critical por
ton OF tho audience
SAIL the play, or tragedy rather seounds with powerfu'
scenes and telling situations The third act In which Bss
Vaccinations on the oung artist Ia one of the
most effective We have ever Witnessed sad contains mat
enough for 4 whole volume OF romance and po, Try
Her toying with feelings OF the love sick Fabian In the
fourth act spendd!y potayed and would OF ieef have
author Also merit. tho praise OF producing dialogue,
smooth, brilliant flowing ami full OF exquisite passagen,
PersTsymg al ,ns "m, p,o1e smo,on "S assIs
srt.ips spired ohsdren There . scout OF orange
.r,ves and ,iso, o. sunny s mes ana osps an,s
have been written bg some one aralisr with Italian and
French lie and scenery.
.Fssonanon" Intensely interesting play. and wall
doubt create Jsrore especially q the parsons would
In fhe second acs ard curious cfeoi produced
hat merits . notice. II represents the interior OF
opera and ooss quite a. upGpfortabe a. these sores
usuay sre. Au. overture, vkch and duet are per
discovsred applaodips lnsshng, osIps, throwing
bouquets snd The Ike TIE effect is pretty natural and
quits new.
The music which gotten up expressly for tho play,
The acting tbroughou, WAS superb. Mrs Barrow .
sperdis acting is scsn upo, Sev York boards Every
poat Of the character OF the bold beauruI boitching
Alss Beatrice brought out. The lady like ease and
obsndeW 10 he earlier and the passicaste esxpcsness
and In The latter scenes were ALIKE usexceponaole
= shs ooSauy M. Bur,on's Topaz was sbai would be
supposed out Of his line, but his rendition OF the
pAr viN add new Leaf TO his many Ian.
res. II would be impossible " name an actor
that could perform ~ we'll Mr.. Fisher vas vefT
sneesve but his tailor did him great n Justice. Ho~
could lover arNst drese Mr. Fisner did In se
Miss Sarah Sevens, nav lace ., this house,
performed Madeline neatly and naturally but spoke IN
tones low 10 be heard BY Me distant auditors
she has pretty oo, and quiet bu, effective Of
acting.
The scenery worthy Of all praise, and s rarely
new play veN gotten up In ih accessories rthis s
Tho Bay Naples IN the hrs ACT gem. the seemed
iu ef glowing Italian susght and the rich backS Srouud
OF golden oloud and green hill made eioctve pic
The distant moont garden soene the third aci,
was . study for artist The Pas OF Agusdolcl by
mcopBght the last act wAs however, the chef d@sgre,
m dcearHed the NArm Appliance a recelxed.