Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-05

ACADEMY OF MUsIC.-The Academy OF
Music was again well-hlled last evening,
upon the second appearance of Mrs Ian
der. The play presented was "Mesallianee,
or Faith and Falsehood," q translation from
the French, Mrs. Lander appearing as
"Laoni Arnaul1," a portrait painters
daughter, and the heroine Of the drama
The play is new to our a boards" and is
therefore entitled to some further notice than
a simple mention. As will be inferred from
its title, the drama belongs to the domestic
school, and presents the trials and difficult
ties attending an alliance between the mem
Der of a family of wealth and AMI and one
in humble life. The plot is simple, yet in
teresting, and is well sustained, presenting
many good points and few weak ones. Brief
ly aud in outline, it may be stated as fol-
lows:
Ferdinand viscount D'orby, (Mr. Jos E.
Nagle) member of a house of rank, becomes
enamored of a lovely girl, Laoni Arnauld,
Mrs. Lander,) the daughter of a portrait
painter, and in humble, if not mean cir
cumstances. Count D'Orby, (Mr. F. 7. Muir
dock) older brother to Ferdinand, and q
bad, reckless man, and Countess DOrby,
Mrs. Ellsler) not less heartless than the
Count, oppose the suit of Ferdinand, and
employ every conceivable strategem to
prevent its eliminating in marriage,
their object Deing not of course the in
terest of Ferdinand, but to obtain his por-
ton of the family fortune, his right to
which they had already treacherously at
tempted to withhold from his knowledge.
But all efforts are f~ruitless against the love
of Ferdinand and Laoni, and they are mar
ried, whereupon the Count and Countess re-
sort to new devices, now working upon the
jealousy of Ferdinand. A suitable accom-
plice is found in the person of a wealthy
nobleman, Marquis de Bevamies, (Mr.
Simcoe Lee) who leses no opportunity to
press his proposals upon the unfortunate
Laoni. Meetings between them are in
geniously planned by the Count and COun-
tess, which Ferdinand is made to witness,
and his jealousy thus thoroughly aroused
and maddened by rumor and
gossip, he loses confidence in his wife, both
are brought to misery, and Laeni is uTti-
mately cast into prison. Love, however,
maintains strong power over Ferdinand,
and visiting his wife in prison he is con-
WINGED of her innocence, and she is re-
leased. Persecution, however, still follows
her, and feeling that she has not the conf
dence of her husband, her life is one of the
utmost unhappiness. Ferdinand is driven
almost to desperation, but his relations to
the Count and Countess as brother
prevents his visiting vengeance upon
them. The Marquis, however, he
determines TO punish, and
finally a vile attempt of the former affords
the opportunity, and Ferdinand kills him.
This tool in the hands of the Count and
Countess being wrested from them, and all
their other efforts having failed, they give
up the contest, and Ferdinand and Laoni
are again happily united in each other'slove
and confidence. Mrs. Lander played with
great power and excellence, and was well
supported by Mr.. Maggie. Mr.. Murdoch and
Mrs. Ellsler were also entirely satisfactory.
Mr.. Lee was unfortunately laboring under
a very severe cold, which rendered him
totally unfit for his part, though he did his
best under the circumstances. But for this,
we cannot doubt Mr.. Lee would have &C
Quilted himself to the satisfaction of all.
His appearance in such a condition was of
course no fault of his, and the audience at
tached no blame to him, though mauifestly
disappointed in losing the effect of one OF
the most important characters of the drama
Mr.. Irving deserves complimentary mention
for his performance of " Finesse."
"Mesalliance" will be repeated this eve
ming.