New-York tribune., 1868-04-16
THE DRAMA.

PARIS AND HELEN AT NEw-Y0RK THEArt.
The French musical burlesque of "La pou.
Helene has been adapted, in English for tbs Ap,.-
stage and has been produced at the NewYork rha...
The work Of adaptation has been done by Mr. Molxn~
st. John, an English gentleman lately come 10 mi. -
try The production has been effected by the werr.n
Sisters and their dramatic company Closely copying ta
French original Mr. st. John has constructed b,s -"
esque in three acts has written it partly In uro. go
partly in has given due prominence 60 Al, M.
songs and has embellished the work With much q, ,
original music. BY virtue Of that music which 4. a..
frivolous and intoxicating, and by vrtue-or vics -
certain comic incidents reproduced from the Pr....
piece this English burlesque is invested with A An.
amount of glitter and Of go" that will insure ts
porary popularity. Such positive merit as il has tbs,
fore, Of French origin The adapter is to be credt
with having shrewdly avaied himself Of the .r,.
vailing rage" for Ofenbach-and that il all His y,r
atons from the original unimportant His Iokes an,
few and rather mild. The happiest Line In the text 4.
spoken by MenetauS TO Helen: Your persons heav,
though your conducts light" Considered In the lvht -
good taste, the burlesque Immediately dwindles and f
obvious Its subject is aggressiyely ndeea
The mrth does not vail the mpurty No spectator ean
help understanding that this story Of Paris and Helen.
Is the story Of vulgar int igue Upon that turus Ia
whole action of the piece. When not obtruded tho IN
cleanliness is implied How clevery this done in tn
French original the present habtues Of the French es
ter very well understand. Innuendo. posture, danos
music all tend way in the matter OF suggestion In
Mr. ST. Johns version Of La Belle Helene" the sams In
delicacy of subject remains while the branoy OF treat
ment is wanting We do not say these pieces hurtfu
buzziug blue-bottle fly in the month Of Auguss
may be now and then annoying but Is never
formidable Our point simply is that IL Is
low order Of art-and inmca to enioyment-that deas
with coarse ideas and images Nobody doubts that his
story of Paris and Helen seriously tod in for instance
the SOFT sentimental romantic prose OF the younger
Dumas would be very elegant and very nasty Wherein
its essential nature becomes changed because happs
to be told in the Jocular mood Of broad farce the thinker
will fail to discern. We Ike fun. Nobody can Like n
than do. The influence of mirth in the world
immensely benehcent But it ought to suggest
pleasant topics To 20 the theater with the expecta
tion Of being made happy, and there TO have all that
dsagreeabe thrust into your mind is very much hks
going pacdly TO breakfast, lovely Spring morning.
and finding that the coffee bad the toast burned. sad
the eggs rotten All the influences Of the heater
tend should be especially in an terribly oyertaskA
aud weared ours) pure good, gentle cheering. and
elevating. Heaven knows all enough OF crims.
vice. care trouble, deceit, wrong and veness In every
day life. There Is no call for the stage N en-
bitter the inevitable dose. Life in all its phsses
s of course the proper theme OF the drama but tisi
theme should always be treated In pure spirit ant
presented in sound forms Of art AS to buresque tho
more tne mefrleri BuI, ~ De DWbcSquo unSohcu.
Painful topics funny There is no humor about
death There humor about vice. In this buresqus
Of Paris and Helen" tae latent faint spOils the
flavor To enjoy it at all, must forget what sn
about-and pretty good taken to prevent US frou
forgetting so gaze, the smile fades on our fsccs
Nor is any atonng charm redeemng spell discernbe
in the acting that illustrates the piece With the art thai
casts nameless glamour over la Belle Heene' at the
French Theater IL is not remotely comparable. Ne
CLINT of the French esprit is anywhere seen although
| imitation Of It is everywhere attempted THUS the
performers invite test Of comparison which tiny cAn
not endure. Independent of comparison though the
acting ia mostly ineffective. Miss jennie "orreh 90
Orestes Mr. Welsh Edwards as Cclehas, hr 'sO
Dunn as Meneldas, and Mr.. George Lngsfu, 70
A0omemnon, provide the elements OF mrtn' he@
nernnon is presented thick-tongued ocfnn
Miss Sophie Worre personates Helen, and Miss ifes
worren is Paris. Neither performance evlnces 70
slightest idea OF what constitutes -
are conspicuous in the performance. and tneSe' anu
songs and choruses, mostly engross the attention o'
auditory Several Of the songs are given with 90
deal of spirit Clean and neat scenery employed 10
acting OF the buresque and several OF ths perornes
are sumptuous in the matter OF clothes. occurs
to mention that the two Worrell siste,e VINO sppo,.
male would look much better IN ihai oosuh
than In their present hybrid GARD n.cs asaies Who
personate male parts however, eeioo y.n hs,s
temptation TO show Off their forms fatD ana Heien
will be played every night and ., ,Sn"sh Il
belt will doubtless appeal Yth snccess oa certain S
mon order of Intelligence. In 9lsniissIng ~ we hase
only TO remark that II Is te n.e' % ~. p NJ w.
of adultery that haze ever seen on tDe Nowf"k
stage. and we hope 1t Sill be the last one