Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-29
Don Quixote Dramatized.

A melo-drama, founded upon the renown-
ed history of ''Don QuiXote," is the latest
sensation in Paris. The playwright was NJ.
Sardou, and the theatre where the play is
performed is the Gymnase. The LodOn
Times correspondent thus describes the
effect:
"The incidents in Dun Quixote' that have
been dramatized by NJ. Sardou for the Gym
nase are among the most familiar. The
knight stalks upon the stage holding in his
left hand an old volume bound in parch-
ment, completely absorbed in its perusal.-
He wants to turn the leaf that clings to the
next page, and he does it with a sword of
iIcmense length which he carries under his
arm. He soon after makes his arrangements
with Sancho, and soon they both set out on
their adventures. One of the first they
meet with is that of the gang of galley
slaves who are set free by the valiant arm
of the knight. The scene Of the windmill
is exceedingly well got up. While Don
Quixote looks at it, it suddenly, by the skill
of the machinist, assumes the form of a
giant who grinds his teeth, brandishes his
sword, and deties the knight, who in turn
calls upon Sancho to look at the monster,
while he himself proceeds to mount. When
Sancho turns his head in that direction, 10
and behold, the giant vanishes, and the
windmill only is in motion. The knight
bestrides Rosinante, and Sancho, with Dap
pie, keeps at a safe distance. He rushes at
the sails, disappears, and the next moment
you see a form on white horse hurled
through the air. After various pleasant in
cidents in the interior of the inn we have
the watching of the arms and the knighting
of Don Quixote by the hurley and good
natured landlord, who reads from large
volume some outlandish gibberish, and who
lays in due form the sword on his shoulders.
The full moon is shining, and gradually as
sumes the features of Dulcinea, sheds tears,
and then laughs as she disappears under a
thick cloud. The feast of Gamacho is very
well done. We see the OK roasted whole,
festoons of fowls and game dangling from
the trees, cheeses and loaves of bread piled
to great height, skins bursting with wine,
and fifty cooks, clean, bustling and joyous,
preparing the banquet. Bands of dancers,
boys and girls, fill up the intervals.
"The best tdbLedu of the whole nine into
which the piece is divided is that which rep
resents, and with much fidelity, square in
Toledo the day of bull-fght. The anti
quated houses with their red tiles, their
overhanging balconies, and their drapery;
guitars and castenettes at every corner; the
lamps burning before the image of the Vir-
gin; the squabbles between the suspicious
duu IuC Kay scuOIlJdS, Jllc ARRAY
between the bull-fghters and the students,
all for the black eyes and sweet smiles that
beam upon them from above. Amid the din
and uproar is heard the bell of the Angelas.
Instantly the multitude, men and women,
young and old, high and low, fall down up-
on their knees, and repeat the prayer in
the deepest silence. The AUe Maria over,
the song, laugh and sport begin again.
"The piece is interlarded with episodes of
his own by the dramatizer of Don QuiXote;'
they are commonplace and rather tedious,
and the audience seem anxious to get over
them as quickly as possible, to return to the
knight and his Squire. Indeed, it would be
difficult to imagine better representative
for Don QuiXote than Lesueur, or than
Pradeau, who takes Sancho. Lesueur is tall
and one of the thinnest of men; and Pra-
dealI, so long known as a tavorite at the
Bouffes, is, | am tempted to think, more
like Sancho in face, figure, stature and obe-
sity than Sancho himself. Dapple is per-
feet, but Rosinante is in too good condition
for the Rosinante in history. l must admit
that both the stced and the ass go through
their work with much credit. In truth,
Lesueur seems to take his part in right
earnest and l would not affirm that in GER
tain passages he does no persuade himself
that he is the very Knight of La Maneha
himself; Anne Cherry (Madame Lesueur)
is the very picture of Maritornes. The other
are not less than thirty
six in the piece, exclusive of dancers-are
creditably sustained.n y,r