, 1863-02-27

\uoas Anu the French SPY.
MeVickcr's Theatre last evening was crowd
cd beyond it's capacity upon the occasion Of the
rendition OF the French Spy By Cubas. 1t was
virtually the first appearance Of Cubas. as ever
SINCE ner engagement she has been cut down
10 brief dances after the drama and f,rcc.
Which Tas unpleasant to the public who DE-.
sired to sec Cubas in her proper roles. The
French spy is genuine French syl1abub in its
accessories, bordering on the school ofRosscau
and Sue. II is hardly worth the name Of play
RATHER, spectacle containing much of the
most stupid nonsense with capital oppo1tu-
mites for good acting. The entire interest
centres in Hamct and Mohammcd, but oven in
these characters the action is purely physical
and l'artakcs mainly Of muscle. Mohammcd
Is the wild, agile, subtle Arab, fresh from the
desert With the attributes Of the panther.
Aamtt Is civilized Arab-thc panther tanned.
Mohammed Is furious ferocious, blood -tlirs-
=. uamct is cool, calm, careless Of danger.
LeaEe out these two characters aud the spec.
tac!c IL d Mass Of rubbish. There is rautiur
colonel, dull brigadier general, IN armr Of
four bcan-roleish, ,stiltcd priyatcs whose u,oye-
mcnts are regulated by internal clock-Tork:
q handful OF milk and water Arabs, aud some
very stupid ,ivandiercs. Tony BaTard. the
BOD Acres Of the piece, is good as far as It
goes There is also tho usual amount nf
olnes fed and green fires, sinking powder.
blood mud thunder, SO dear to tho pea.nut
caters Of the gallery.
Cubas as the Spy Is !; study. She makes nn
the character capita1ly, and we are glad tn
no'lee pays some regard TO dccency in her
costalhe-a matter not usually observed bv
thc sensation actresses of The day. she docs
mol oasc her reputation upon model artist
displays, but rather upon the legitimate rcn-
dition Of the character. Her pant on,im.ryand
W play are excellent, in wlic, she is aided hv
her wonderful face, wicked eye, and arroyy.
agilc motions. Every Increment Is the v.rv
peFsonlf'caeion Of grace and beauty. and brr
poses are equal to the conceptions Of the old
cassie statuarlcs. These could not wei, h. |
Otherwise. Her figure is psrf.ct-1t,r
eHsllc, softly rounded, and bcyitchinrl,
neautitul-nncs Of beauty which could law.
'a"gnt iosarth lesson, and tending to drive
ice sculptor into ccstacies. In the little GEM
u The Arab dance, composed only of 4 f;.w
steps, Of an exceedingly intricate but erocef,,
:, sne is tie very poetry Of motion.
10 all This grace and beauty she Joins strength
anu endurance, as was evidenced in her dex-
'cions sword play iu the due1lu with Muha,n.
meo' which was the prettiest piece Of fencing
We have ever seen done by an actrcss. TIN
'haracses has always been one open to obfec.
ion, bocausc It has been abused to thr limits
II Euigarity by second rate actresses. Bpt
;nbas, In the Spy, changes it, because shc
aoenes IL IN heauty' gives to it hcrstatucsquc
her lightning.likc motions, her grace.
III dance, her midnight eyes, and nnc facial
Mohammed was rendered by Shirley Franco.
ha was neat, clever piece Of acting: moi
'verstr:linea orspoi1cd by rs.nting. McVickcr
s 1oney Bayard kept the audience in rood
'nmor With his drolleries, and fairly caused
n explosion, WHEN in tue prison he wished
'c lad the smallpox, that he might break
'ut.
Inc rest OF The characters, as represented
y Inc stock, were in'olera4ly stupid, sleepy
tnhes. ihe scenic effects were well managed.
spec'a4'S the stormtng scene and final tab
eau, which we're very effective and beautiful
Inc spy, as far as the main characters pcr,,
onccrned, was success, and as the entire
interest ceutres in them, 1t matters but little
bout the others. Still it would be v..+
Improvement to "lnnow that stock company |
little, get out the rubbish, and employ some
olerab1c players, If nothing more.
The play will be repeated this evening for