The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-24

river
Theatre Fraacnis.
Last evening the Theatre Francois was oiled by the
lovers OF the Opera Comique The evenings entertain
consisted Of Le Chalet aud Los Noces do Jeanette
two single act operas highly illustrative Of European
country character The OF the first piece 10 laid
in tho mountains Of swzerand-canton OF Arpenxell--
whore young Swiss farmer, Daniel IN. dc surmonp is
In love with BETTY (Mle. Iaursuts) and desires her
hand in marriage She however, loves her liberty
like all true Swiss, and declines surrender either
her heart or her hand. The young folks
Of the village however, play joke Daniel by send
ing him letter Of acceptance his suit, apparently
signed BY BETTY The opening scene presents these
young villagers assembled TO enjoy and exhaust tho fun
OF their trick; but they. are disappointed. h Daniel
IL absent While Daniel Is reading the letter BETTY
makes her appearance aud Informs him thai shs has rs
ceived communication from, her brother Max ~
Verth who had been absent fifteen years the Swiss
army announcing his intention OF visiting homo and his
consent TO Daniels suit But she denies all knowledge Of
the love letter which he received, and reterates her
intention not to marry though she likes Daniel better
than any ono else. Ak this momen, company Of SOL
ders reach the house and Daniel oery them his hosp
tally, Max recognizes him by name and maintains his
own incognto. Daniel determines enlist In the rcg
men Of MAJ The Ia,or once resolves to teach his
o'''vt /" ioSsou iOf neF CIuaNy. Bcttly arrives eud
inquiries the for the presence these soldiers
They demand Of her food beverage and shelter for the
night When the soldiers told that there is nothing
for them. ihoy begin pagng and tho place
10 be alone with rufaps all night makes her shudder
Daniel prepared to enlist With the regiment comes nj
this moment with bundle and roll OF paper 10 his hand
which proves to DO the unfortunate marriage contract
and hi. last will She bcgs him to delay his departure
and remain IN tho house with her over night He
senls and falls asleep in tho arm chair We now see
Max entering, who fegns drunkenness, makes grea.
noise and attempts embracing and kissing his fair host
ess Daniel awakes tries TO protect the lady but Ia
sisted by Max, who asks him what claim he has upon
tho lady She thinking tina, il would DO the only means
Of saving her in this dilemma presents him az her hus
band. max disbelcvcs the story and demands TO sec
TIE aarrtaGe contract BETTY gets the paper which
Daniel had brought with lin and afiiKcs hor signature
toiL
Tho scene here is quite Interesting After forcing
contract In order 10 Daniel from the necessity OF
meeting Sergeant Max the field OF honor which aitor
native causes Daniel 10 shudder the sergeant the
contract and throwing oil his own incocnit, signs a.
her brother In tho pathetic situations tia, occur here
the music T. very expressive and was admirably rem
dercd by Mile. Laurcnts. In the challenge scene H.
Vert displayed hls fine baritone voice and clever mper
sonaton Of the graa son Of Mara The acting was OK
ccilent, especially that Of de surmont In tho
where Daniel has struggle with hts love for BETTY
his fear Of mortal combat
Tho Ncces de Jeaaneae performed by SPECIAL re-
quest and the request WIN undoubtedly be renewed more
than once Judging from tho applause Of last evening
The plot Of this charming little opera Is very simple
married, but shuns fettercd life. The very moment
when the marriage should take place. and the magistrate
that hc Ia not willing TO sign The bond. He escapes and
find him 10 the first scene alone enjoying once moro
snas oon appesrs a. tho wndow no ne him ha
all his friends waiting for the ex-brdrgroom at
the ale house. 70 tender him their congratulations He
tells Thomas that he will accompany him IN n few
minutes, after he has taken on his wedding clothes
Jeanette mile. Naddio who Is In love With jean,
enters TO End the reason why after nxing the
ding day, he had refused at the eleventh hour He
plies that after due reflection, he 10 the coneis
dons him but men.ons ths, her father in spite OF lis
govt, vas raging mad, and intended 10 shoot him had
she not prevented him from doing by hiding his
and he leaves her TO her own mcditatons while she
Is thinking Of him with fondness she hears shouts and
Jeanette looking out from her window. percoives
him caressng vile grit She dtcs her fears and
Jean returns his house tnree-quarters tpsy,
Joannotte arrests his steps, Informing him that her father
was determined 10 take revenge for the sront given 10
his daughter and win shoot him, Jean, being great
coward, Jeanette takes advantage OF his weakness
She proposes TO Jean that he should sign q scroll Of
papor by which she prove 10 her father and oil the
world that II Jean who willing marry her and
Jesnneito who refused He signs and Jeanette requests
wbe shs as,Yes har mama ~ ~. nsner ~h,rh
TO BIO the marriage contract Jeanette tells Pierre In
whisper TO take this 10 her father 10 the Mayor TO the
Pierre u out ~ the house Jeanette discloscs
TO Jean that she is now his vito. He I, ~
rous, and threatens 10 let her lad a life which
would make death preferable, she WI not Instantly
send for the contract and destroy ~ she however l.
arm, replying that she will do In his rage
he tears down the bed curtains breaks the furniture
aud finally leaves IN disgust 20 sleep on his intoxicon
While he s asleep furnture nrrves which she
had ordered before her wedding day. n carried in
and everything u arranged BY her with taste She thea
sets the table and awaits Jean, hoping perhaps 70 dis
persc his anger by such kindness Jean comes down
the staircase he perceives the change he thinks that II
dream he rubs his eyes pnches his rcsb but ~ IL
all reality. There ~ the furniture there tho table
set. fairy must have been 70 work Jeanette On
tiers she . tmd and he at nrst treats her roughly,
bat ths leo mets he asks her 30 the table
70 drink with him, and nnally ksses her His friends
appear al the window, surprise bim At hi. st.re she
prctends aintIg, bot jean calls 10 the whole company
and informs them that she IL bis wife and thai
trey shan cuioy their dance after all
The entire performance Of this picoe reflects the high
Get credit the whole cast Nile Naddies rspderng
of Jeanette called forth repeated applause while NJ
Wilhelm kept the house IN the utmost hiarity BY his
acting of the scksard but self. wiiled Jean The
pran0 solos tolrs a,gts dans aise aud I tod
is 'hsasfn, ty Mile Nadde most Enthusiastically
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