The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-07

Tno0trtO0l NefOrm0 I'm TINS mcs
tropolis.
Among the new theatrical enterprises In
contemplation in this metropolis that Of the
new French theatre Ia the most prominent.
The building Ia in process Of erection and will
be ready for occupancy soon after the COM
mencement of the New Year This theatre
will be of the most comfortable dimensions.
Instead OF big barn, like the Academy of
Music, whore the voices Of most Of the per-
formers are lost in the realms Of space or
little room, so small that the orchestra
desfens the audience, the French theatre will
hit the happy medium. We understand that
tho interior arrangements will be some
what similar to those of the Opera
Comique, at Paris The upper portion Of
the house will be divided into small boxes
that will be really private, and not open to all
curious eyes and ears like the so-called pri-
vate boxes Of the Academy first tier. Socially
will be encouraged among the audience. At
present it ia impossible to enter or leave ones
seat at the operator the theatres without dis
turbing and incommoding an entire row of
people, and the slightest attempt at converse
ton is checked BY admonishing Misses Under
these circumstances ~ the play 10 dull, the
opera not worth hearing, conversation inter-
dicted and exit impossible, the only resource
Of the ladies is to study each others to;lettes
and Of the gentlemen to go to sleep. People
attend tho present performances, not TO enjoy
themselves or to meet their friends, but to
show Of their fine clothes, which are generally
pretty well damaged in getting In and out
Of the narrow, inconvenient stalls In the
new French theatre all this Is to be RENE
died. There will be good performances
for those who care to listen, and those
who wish to talk can do so without dis
turbing the others. II any one desires to go
out or to visit his friends boxes he can &C
complish this without any noise or confusion.
You may attend in full dress if you want to be
conspicuous, or in ordinary attire If you choose
to be unno tced. Undoubtedly this theatre
will be patronized by our best people. 1t will
have its hobitues, like the famous old Olympic.
Its boxes will be engaged weeks in advance
for family parties, and Young New York will
drop in to while away an hour or two every
evening.
The new theatre will be devoted to per-
formances in both the English and French Ian
guages. We believe that Mr.. E. L. Davenport
will present English plays on four nights Of the
week, and M. Juignet will bring out French
comedies, vaudevilles and comic operas on the
other two evenings. Of the talents of these
gentlemen, both as actors and managers,
it is unnecessary to speak. Mr.. Davenport
promises to collect an unequalled company
of American artists, and he will encourage the
American drama, which has too long been sup
pressed by the lack Of taste and tact which
distinguishes the British adventurous who now
manage the majority Of our places Of amuse-
ment. M. Juignet, on the other hand, has made
engagements with admirable French comedians,
and we presume that some Of the leading
favorites of his former company will be re-
tanned. Besides this, hs,will import . troupe
of French comic opera singers, Of GLASS seldom
heard by the public Of this CITY. The per-
formances he will give will be invaluable both
to our native artists and to those In the audience
who wish to acquire the French language in
its purity. Nowadays almost everybody
learns something of French, and n Juignet's
now theatre will afford an excellent oppor-
tunity to learn the Partisan accent and pronun-
citation. The people 20 to our opera to hear tia
lian words sung or shouted by German singers,
rby Italians who can only speak dialect Of
their language ~ different from the genuine
Italian as the Canadian patois is from pure
French, or the Lancastershire gibberish from
pure English. We hope that Manager Grau's
opera troupe, which is to perform here in the
spring, will offer us something better than
this vocal murder but still, in city where 80
many persons understand q little French, and
80 few persons understand any Italian, the
French opera comique will be our main re-
source for that sort ofnmusement, and the grand
operas which Grau will produce must be con-
sidered as exceptional treats. There is no
reason, however, why this metropolis should
not support both grand Italian opera, under
Grau, and a comic French opera, under Juignet
and we look forward to such reaction and
reform in musical circlee as will justify us in
predicting the permanent success Of both these
enterprises.
Without specializing as to the probable cha
racter Of the other new theatres to be opened
in Broadway and on the corner Of Twenty-third
street and Eighth avenue, we certainly expect
that Messrs Juignet and Davenport will assist
us in our work OF theatrical reform by showing
the public how good theatres ought to be built
and conducted, and how good plays ought to
be accepted, produced and acted. Mr.. George
Chrhty, of the original Christy's Minstrels-a
troupe famous both in this country and in
Europe as the originators Of this popular style
Of entertainment-has cleverly followed up the
reform in Ethiopian minstrelsy which we sug-
gested and which the Califomians and Thorpe
& Overin's band had begun. Christy has
opened beautiful little hall in the
xxhita paaxhla hxaildinc In T,.ap4sz E,.,~4l,