New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-08
MATILDA HERON.


There was good house at Laura Keenes ThesAo
lsst night. II was the first nigh. Of Mine Matilda
Heron's ergsgs nert, and the Inauguration OF new
management at this pleasant place OF entersnneus.
As the public were invited to see Mrs Heron especs
~ it becomes Us to speak of ths feature OF the evea-
rg, ard give TO other matters that position in tho
background in which they were placed Miss HsrsA
reappers, tAen, armed with rev chsracser in Q
new play adapted by herself fom Eugene Sues drama
entitled "MIa,bids." The novel by the Same French
author is undoubtedly familiar to most CT our rcstesv.
Mss Heron has very judicic=sy compresssd the work
into three acts and indeed nt0 three scenes. Lot ne
first dspoee ce the drama. Ths interest /: exetes Il
dee, without being pleasant, end the suerings Of 81
Injured wife are unfortunately themes that excite
oily pity ard pity is not c draua attic feeling Of
value. Pity is a serss'ion entertained by
supe ior oopditio, Of mind or body for an nfe
iior condition of mind or body, add to engages
syn patty and love n spectator lie must IN measurs
lcok W. to the being in whom hs feels an interest.
The very amount Of suffering which the character
bears excites wonder and sympathy IN the audience.
Now wife who has worthless, contemplate hound
for husband a. Mathilde iss, is On object for CON-
passion ard 20 This is the whole story OF the
play. Haihildes husband has commttnd forgery, and
il in the power Of villain who uses his secret to make
that husbsnda pander TO his own we's infamy The
husband leaves Mathilde to the mercy Of the wretch
who erdesvors to accomplish his purposes by voleace.
After absence of year the huSbansreturns sod as
sassinates ais tomencr dyiog himself by the hand a
the man With whose wife no eioped when he deserted
his own.
1t was with tbs painful suhject that Mis- Heron hal
20 deal and in her triumph over its difficulties she ex-
easad avian in
delIeations with which her name Is insepxaby con-
nseted. She possesses in most remarkable degree
shat fascination which snthras the audience while soc 10
On the stsas that magnetic influence drawing to ouc
Socus and graspiDg tsre the breathless attention %
Ale public. We know many actors who can obtain
applause, bnt we know very few who can commsad
ileLce-the silence that gives valae to every eyaoe
uttered, aad indicates the obedience CT the hoet OF
minds to the viii of one miLd. This power
Miss Heron can weld If che likes, and sho
is the only actress speaking the Englsh languages
who Goes pCs,ess it. BIT she does rot always Ike
to be greet she falls wahtonly from tho sublime toto
tie ridiculous, kicking over the pail Of milk. If We
may II aka use Of vulgar proverb and lesviog be-
hind her mingled fsslirg in our brecssi OF pleasure
and dissatisfaction. We believe MisS Heron TO be an
esIrest artist, and woman fall Of dssp sympathy
with tho. grander passions; but she has overstudsd
in the French school. II is good SCHOOL q
acting, but its faults adopted by Miss Her
on with tffeotionats admiration, etsnd out -
bemsses in her style, as ptcu.is:tes, both IN ths
infection of her vcee and the infection OF her figure
1t is in these aeotatons of her French models, that
abe reveals that she "a acting, and Les the vel OF her
art " aich should conceal its machinery. At moments
che f,rgets herself and lets 60 then with eonosa-
tratisn tf passion that series he. audience with
ion paw, she asserts her power, but, alas, onytO
fling il away again. she relapses INTO those trcksof
ant in which, TO speak the truth she does not excel
So great mixture Of excellence aad fault, Of gc,ius
and crud,y. has never before puzzled critic. Thess
is one virtue however absens from her perform
snce. She is never commonplace. Bad good sad IN
different, thsis always startling; she does not allow
Der audierce TO relapse into ind she does d.
sc.pd in their esteem. She KNOCKS them down-snd
4 that bss no other charm at least keeps them aave
or the other pa in the dramn OF Matbde We can
spesk very pleasantly. MLs, Sara Stevens played
q WORTHLESS wife with great artistic fee.iog. Sns
will become a valuable edition to the Amer
can stage She has al that makes. good
actress Mr. Sothern, tie manager by Ia way OF
this enterprise, played With more liz 1ess and
btiahtnes 10 than we though bs could 10 gruty Of.
Perbaps the sight Of goodhouse aAd tire vproalous
srfcess ftbe piece mercsyie.5zed brn. 9e reminded
u of Charles Mathews il s better days. NJ. Hsalsy.
new aspaIt to Neu J0,k repu ation, did net IN
press us iavoraby. Tho past waz q very unpe asast
OF e. end this may have affected him Fad U.s. Let Us
see bin again before veaturrg decision bis inertia
TIE performance . whels Wa exceuent-pe fee. IN
al its Details and sne0sss. Miss Lsron was called
soh twice or three tines but this s 20 usual wish her
hat We forgot to cs=at the ovstoas. Mathl.4s will
have I'm.