The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-08
Theatrical.

Theatrical.
MISS PRovosT's NEW PLAY At THE WINTER GARDEN.
A new sensation drama, called aLuce DArvile," was
produced the Winter Garden Monday and repeated
every evening Mise Mary Provost who enacted the pn
cpai character the translator o. the play which is
Of French origin. me original title Of the piece was ola
Faufse Aduierc,' and it written by II. Mocguard,
Napoleon's private secretary Mocluard at time
prominent criminal lawyer and this play Is said TO have
founded upon incidents which occurred within his
profess oLal experience.
il 10 not every lady who iii her own dresses nor
every actress whe can write her own plays, Whatever
"Lucie DArville may have been in French, it is
skeleton Ct a play English. There is filling in
attempt at conceang the plot no pretence OF harmo-
nzing the incidents. The dialogue smoothly
enough but the language is always commonplace,
and sometimes than commonplace The
langn F.aneaise admirably adapted TO such
plays; for IL expresses great deal than
said by the characters. When French play is literally
translated all the lie leave it. This s the fault
OF MISS psavos.'s "LGcie DArviev 10 make
FIJI piece Of it she should have taken the incidents and
clothed them in entirely language, expressing tho
ana net hserai meaning OF the French
words.
"IHce D'Arvile' ia extraordinary melodrama. In the
Grst act Lacie miss Provos marres Eugene de Senrc
vile thr. Baneit) Eugene becomes suddenly rich on
the very day Of his marriage fhe Count and Countess
dc Senneve, Egencs proud relations, regard Luce
nteroper and determine to rid themselves OF hcr,
tina, they may Eugene money. For this pur pose
they bring forward the CLovaer dc Niiroy or Hagan)
rejected lover os Luce's aud determine give him
chance TO seduce then sister in law. Their opportunity
comes in the shape OF masked ball, which begins ac
second Eugene wears a black domino and Luce pink
ditto The Conn tess dresses up the Cheyaer in black
domino and Luce's maid W pink diito The result IS
ixytth ,lFgp h har
husband and Eugene stays with the maid
thinking her his Wife, INC Countess excies Eugcnes
jealousy by telling him hat Luoie married HIM for his
money. and hns eoped with he vt,rey. Eugene
pulls OIL the mask n bis supposed wife and discovers the
mad ana LIS mistake Gardner and popen couple Of
good nauied lawyers, follow Iuce % ne Vttrey house
aud marvelonsly return in time lead Eugene tAither
IN the next scene lie Vhrey discovered endeavorng
iorco ince 10 commit adultery just he about
ceeding in rushcs Eng ne, swords fash he vntrey
wounded, and Eugene r-ns away, believing his wife
guilty.
At third begins 10 prison. whore Tnce Il confined
why or by whom the play ioes not inform these
days Of arbitrary ayess this rccence is not 10 be won
9ered at however; AMI ~ laying the blame upon
ary stanton the audience accepts the prison. Gardiner
and Popein hrihe thor way u and give Luce a set Of
duplicate keys, bow obtained is useless inquire. The
Count and Countess eater and offer Luce liberty If she
VIII annnl LsT marriage. LUCE rcuses the oacr and
this scene Miss Provost especially natural and elective
Next tbs garden Of the chateau escaped
from The prison. like Jack sheppard in pettcoas, and
Andne Az ne doors % TIE chste"i locked, she
WINDOW, pulled IN, tells the truth, and the
whole truth, and reconciliation follows. In act
fourth the Count and Countess defeated their previous
scheme contrive another. Eugene now be locked
up lunatc, and Ne Nrcy Is to have another chance
at Lucie Eugene goes out, and Luce LETT alone. De
vittrey and informs her he has bribed the
servants and given her OPIUM and that IN about fifteen
minutes she VIII be his. the opium begins 90 work
Luce bcss Tor mercy lie Vttroy is merciess as a
stage villain should be- Laco snaichcs his sword and
dares him - just then the opium gets the
ter or her and she falls De Vttey exclaims Now
mine, and PUSHES upon her. Gardiner aud Popelin
enter with pistol 10 the very nick 81 time, and
down goes De vttrey and the cnrain. The boys the
gallery OF the Winner Garden appauded this rather sug
gnstive scene rapurcusy The ladies and gentlemen IN
the dress circle and parquet were evidently astonsned
and some 81 Them left the house.
In act NTH Mr.. Hind, the Magistrate, refuses TO
grant the nterdicton OF unacy against Eugene unless
he can examine the patient Eugene enters looking for
his wife. Luce Is wheeled in a sofa. In n little
while she RECEIVERS from the opium, aud tells her husband
that she has been ruined describing the process
ly mp 10 the time she tell sonseless the foor.
What happened afterwards she don't know Gardiner
| and Popcn conclude tie story, ana Eugene dashes
away TO give 10 g,Tsy hfs dues They meet IN the Last
scene. Eugene calls lie Niirey liar, thief aud coward
poor 6reeleys most approved style De vittrey won't
light because Enrene lunaiic. Instead of knocking
lie Nittrey down. Eugene shoots him ia the back Every
body enters and Eugene Is very rightly arrested
that Eugene is uuatic Mr.. Hind with utter gno-
rance OF the law, says "Irno, and Eugone is Every
! wrongly released Inc play bill calls this HAPPY
denouencn," AMI The play ends We give u this ex.
tended notice because wish 70 protest. against thus
play in particular and all such plays 10 general drama
which begins win ,n atemp, AZ rape and ends with
murder is not calculated 70 please this community or to
benefit the stace That class ~ pieces ceased he
popular With the Bowery audiences several years
ago The French ike such scenes and pc haps they
repusye when disguised ~ tie dJalc en- nors
or the French language but N broad honest English they
are entirely gross and abhorfent.
II characteristic 81 the careless management u the
Winter Garden that tIlcie D'Arvie'' was put upon
the stage with no rev scenery, and that
two OF the actresses announced the play
tili-Miss Ada Chioo sna Mss Fanny Brown-did
appear an the stage his Provost played her part
very neatly aud called before the curtain several
times. M Barrett ~ few nery scenes, carried OF his
share OF the honors 81 the evening. Mr. naydge
capital Popoilnhe is always good-and Mr. Norris
ceIled any n HIS previous efforts Gardiner. Mr..
agan the villain lie vittrcy, all that could be
deesed. The other parts all badly died but Mrs
Howard, who played the Countess, took Miss Cliftons
place short notice and not N blame for her OF
omission and commission. The mask d ball scene ex
tremey stupid, aud the prison aud trial inap-
propriate. uness The management expcnis pains
spends more money upon scenery, dresses and ap
pontnents the Winter Garden will lose all claim 10
be considered nst class theatre. IL is far behind
every other place OF amusement on Broadway and tho
Bowery 10 these respects. We hope this hint win be
taken.