New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-24
VOLUME XIII.

YOAU lVE Ia ALI.
ST. Andoche, he will comply fully and without hes
iatOn to any request she may make Of him. Di
diers hiding place is revealed, and he is carried
home in triumph and joy.
Landry appears at the festival, and is about lead
ing the charming young Madelon out to the first
dance, when great merriment breaks out in the
crowd 1T the appearance Of Fanchon, dressed out
in the finest oatre and ridiculous fashion. Sne ap
| proaches Landry directly and reminding him Of
his promise, claims his hand for seven Of the most
| prominent dances of the festival. All the village
maidens and bcauX gatherround and jeer ather; but
Landry, even against the reproacbes and sarcasms
Of the fair Madelon, keeps his promise, and leads
Fanchon out to the dance. The dance over, Ian
dry is provoked at Ills iilluck, and, approaching
Madelon, is repulsed by her in very angry man
ner.
Whilst in this state Of mind, Fanchon comes run
mug up to him for protection against the villagers
VINO say that she wears a devils claw around her
l neck and they want to see it. She will not let
them force it from her, but gives it to Landry who
linds it to be a medallion containing simple
prayer OF g pure maiden to the holy mother Of
grace" The villagers, banked and disappointed,
Then want to drive her from the festival, but Ian
dry interteres and denounces them. At this Fan
chon is astonished and gratfed beyond measure,
ana releasing Landry from further fulfment of
his promise, voluntarily quits the festival.
~, Landry and his twin brother both soon discover
that Fancbon has splendid eyes, beautiful figure,
and beWitching little feet, and Landry begins to
experience the growth of tender passion for her,
winch she will not encourage, refusing to let him
KISS her. Finally he becomes very much absorbed
and distressed in his passion for her and one day
overhears an interview between Fanchon and the
maiden Madelon, in which Fanchon tries to make
up the quarrel between Madeion and him. He re-
Veals himself, denounces Madelon, and declares
his love to Fanchon. She is almost overcome ::
aud while he is pleading with her, his father and
Mldelons father make their entrance on the scene
La1nidry's father reproaches him for being found
with the little witch girl; and Cailard, Madeon's
lather, demands, before he will agree to pledge
ms daughters hand to Landry, that he, Landry,
viii disclose the nature of his intercourse with
Fanchon.
Landry declares that he will not marry Madclon,
and only loves Fanchon. At this his father be.
comes much enraged, thinking his son bcwitched
by tanchon and her grandmother old Fadet. Fam
chon, though secretly delighted, interferes and as
sures old Barbeaud that she has not given her CON
sent to marry Landry and that she will not marry
above her station.
Landry's father afterward seeks old Fadet, and
tries to bribe her to send Fanchon away from the
villages, out OF the reach of his son. She refuses
but tanchon herself volunteers to leave and finally
goes INTO exile in ncighborng city for one year
leaving Landry forlorn and distressed, yet hopeful
The year passes and Landry pleases his father
very mnch BY his steady and exemplary conduct
The old man hopes he is entirely cured Of his pas
sion Tor the witch girl, fanchou. She returns
nome at the close of the year. to the death bed of
her grandmother. While watching the dead for
lhe customary three days Of mourning, she refuses
to see Landry, and he becomes very uneasy and
wretched, at which his father kindes again with
bis old rage at Fanchon, and swears his son shall
never marry her.
In the very heat and fame of his terrible passion
tauchon herself enters the family circle and de-
mands an interview with Father Barbeaud who
grants it very reluctantly, but observing her i'm
proved appearance, modest department and sen
s,bie speech, gradually emerges from his crusty
shell OF anger and obduracy, and finally is won
over entirely TO her favor, and rcioicing1y CON
tesses his desire to see her married to his son
Landry.
His enjoyment is greatly enhanced afterwards on
hearing that FanchOn brings, as her marriage Dor
fion, the savings of her old witch grandmother
amounting TO the handsome little sum of 10000
francs. Great happiness and rcjoicugs on all sides.
Of course, follow
Tie above is a somewhat imperfect sketch of the
main incidents of the plot of this highly interesting
drama. The incidental scenes and characters all
contribute with admirable effect to the rapid and
Hvely development of the story. There is no lag
glng in any of the SCENES no duness or yanidity IN
any Of the dialogues. There are no unnecessary
characters or impossible situations. All is vjgor-
Gus, animated and natural; and we repeat thafthe
success OF the drama on the American stage is a
moral certainty.
As acted last night the drama far exceeded in
interest anything of the kind that has lately been
seen on the St. Charles boards. We recognized in
all the actors and actresses heartfelt disposition
to aid winsome Maggie Mitchell and their loved
orchestral leader, Mr.. Wadauer, in bringing out
= Tie Cricket" in manner to do justice to both,
and to themselves as well.
Maggie's Fdnclt0n was evidently we'll studied and
was most charmingy acted, though some nervous
tongue-slips toward the last showed how much she
dreaded failure in this new aud trying character
The different phases of feeling through which
he wild and Independent gypsy girl of the country
las to pass before appearing as the stad and dig
lllied lady of the city, Cher purity of heart, and |
Ter courage being the only unchangahle elements |
II her characte) require no little ability for their
Effective portrature on the stage. Maggie MITCHELL
however, underwent bravely the ordeal of her first
appearance in this trying character; and if she |
altered little in some Of the scenes this was an |
'VldenCe only Of a doubt whether she could come
p to the severe requirements of an audience wit
essing the first representation of new play. She
will make q name for the character of FdrchOn.
nless we are greatly mistaken in our Judgment of
er and of the play.
Charley Pope and Read, as the twin brothers
landry and Didie,'; and NIcClannin and the rest
q their respective characters exerted themselves,
nd were more than commonly good. Miss Mad
erns Madelon was clever, but in no respect re-
1arkable. What we have to say of one other
ctress may appear remarkable, after what We
ave said Of Miss Maggie Mitchell; but it is a
act that Mrs. Kinds Fadet the old witch
randmother OF fdncbon, was not only the most
trlking, but the best acted character in the
mole play. There was not little of the Meg
1e'T@leS IN the getup of this character; but
he one who initiates Charlotte Cushmans witch
rs 10 do much good acting before the ima
on can be recognized. Mrs. Hind has all along
cen very lively and correct deneator of moth
rs, aunts and widows, and SO on, in the ordinary
IN OF farces and comedies at the St. Charles but
lose VINO saw her Fddet last night were the first
know how she can act when she tries.
The Cricket" will be repeated tonight, with
lss Maggie Mitchell afterward in "The Bonny
ishwife.'