The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-05-03
The Dramatic Hntertainment.-


formances have been handsomely received.
They go naturally commend themselves to
most people as Legitimate amusement
healthful in exercise and discipline to the
actor, and happy and harmless recreation
to the hearer-thst we are not surprised at
large houses, and expect every good play
fairly rendered to be the source of much
hearty enjoyment. 1t is WELL too, for the
cultivation of better taste and the develop
ment of higher art, that each performance
be candidly reviewed. II is by no means
an improper work TO sermouize upon the
atricals, and direct criticism may be as
beneficial as glowing and highly wrought
sermon.
The "Dead Heart" is play of Paris, the
first act laid in 177l, when young artist
Robert Landry, falls in love with and enga-
ges to marry a certain Catherine Duval. At
the same tire, the Able Latour, shrewd
and titled scoundrel of the Court of Versail-
les, plots the defeat Of Landry's marriage
and the attachment Of Catherine to tool OF
his own. the Count st. Valerie. To carry
out his villany, he arrests Landry for trea-
son and throws him into the Bastile. Gath
crime is then made to believe the lie Of her
lovers death, and at last yields her hand to
the Count.
The second act is in the French Revolu-
ton, seventeen years after Landry's impris-
onment. The Bastile is then taken by the
Jacobin soldiery, and Landry comes out
from the loatbsome dungeon. In the mean
time, Catherine has become widow, put the
Abbe still lives and haunts her way like an
evil genius. A son of the Countess has In
berited the contemplate faults of his
father aud is also the helpless tool OF the
Able.
t. appears that Landry's long entomb-
mept has artially shattered his brain, and
in his anguish for the loss of Catherine and
his acute physical and mental suffering all
his finer qualities have been lost or dead
ened. He thinks, and declares with sad
vehemence, that his heart is dead, his only
aim revenge, and his life burden but for
the burning hope Of wreaking vengeace on
the Able Latour and the young CountiSt..
Valerie. After a time he meets the former
and thew have fierce alteration. Then
Landry becomes Jscobin leader, and both
his enemies are arrested for treason to the
| Renublic and condemned to die.i But
Lapdry-incxorably sworn 10 have the
blood of the Abbe-goes to the prison and
darcs him 10 single combat. A duel IS
fought and the villain is slain. Landry
afterwards meets Catherine finds the young
Count is dearer TO her than life, that the
weak and besotted hoy is not fit subject
for his yipdictive sword, and resolves to
save him from the gallows. He tries hard
70 effect his rescue, and failing at the last
moment to reach Robe' pierre in time for
reprieve, springs into the cart in place OF
the Count, is carried to the scsffoid, and
himself dies on the guillotine. -.
The play is somewhat confused in plot
and not always lucid in detail, yet it has
much literary merit and is full Of fine dra-
matte points. The scenery Of the Club was
na;nted by Mr.. KINDT, and was both apPro-
n,;ate and handsome. The acting. was that
of amateurs, and on the whole pleasing and
creditable. There is certain lack of natur-
alpess. an air of unfnish, want Of hearty
manner and grace, which always ha"nts the
stage, and only leaves after much practice
beb;nd the footlights. These stage-goblips
Of course troubled the Club but were man.
aqed as well as they could be by others no
more largely experienced
The part of Legrand, a friend of Landry,
was played by Col. BARrLKrr, and with a
few exceptions, which probably struck him
with more force than the audience even, it
was well rendered. The Oolonel's voice and
temperament are of great service to bis play
ing. His part was that Of an earnest man, OF
few words and determined action, and he
showed good appreciation OF it. He did
we'll in the cafe; and in the scene at the
nr;son gate with the Countess, and in his
slight difficulties with Toupet, in the prison
corridor. he made some fine points. The
suggestion we should offer on the oolonels
playing would be that be should study the
emotional, and be more sure Of his language
the home.feeling on the boards viii then
come more naturally.
Mr.. PRATT, as the old and young Counts,
showed clear understanding of his parts
in general, and played very well. He did
better as the young Count than at tirst, and
acted finely in the scene between him and
the ABB e, with Landry and his mother as
witnesses though his want of feeling upon
being saved from the guillotine can only be
excused on the ground that the young Count
himself failed utterly 10 appreciate bis situ-
alton.
Miss KEssLER as Catherine was variable
sometimes playing with dignity and spirit
fully up to the occasion, and in one or two
scenes-particularly in her room, with the
old Count-falling somewhat below he'
usual standard. Her best renditions were
as widow, and with more d dramatic force
she would perform every part of Catherine
with uncommon success.
Mr.. WADswoRTH was perfectly at ease,
and his only failure in presenting Toupet's
part as brsggadocio and bufoon, was in
the cafe scene, when his laughable panto-
mine drew the house away from the inf
nitely more important interview between
Landry and Latour.
oerisette, smart, fippant Jacobin girl,
found a good delineator in Miss CHAPMAN
Her only noticeable fault was shown in the
absence of sufficient feeling upon Landry
return from the Bastile. Indeed, none of his
friends, Legrand, Toupet or Cerisette,
showed nearly enough emotion upon the
escape of their intimate companion from his
long imprisonment.
The part of Able Latour was in the
hands of Col. BRIsrOL, and its rendition
after the first scene, which was not good
deserves only commendation. He, alone, o.
all the players steadily advanced in power
from the beginning to the end, playing besi
of all in his final meeting with Landry. The
intrigue, malice, scornful hatred and cour.
age of the Able were well counterfeited by
, the Colonel. .eE.
, Ofthe other members of the troupe, Mrs
BRANDT as Rose Mr. BBCKLASD as Jocrisse