The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-18
ANUS E NTS.

THEATRE FRAycArs-GRAND DUCHESS MArtSrB.-
The first and last Grand Duchess matinee OF the
season was given yesterday At this establishment
and was attended by large and fashionable
audience, the principal portion Of whom were
ladies Madame Rose Bel! sustained the title role
and was IN excellent voice, as were also the other
leading artists who took part In the performances,
but although they evidently gave entire satisfaction,
theirerorts please were unrewarded by any marked
enthusiasm or applause the part OF their auditors
This may be owing to the proverbial owlishness
which characerzes all matinee audiences in
TINS city, and who generally reserve Whatever
IN the way OF applause they may nave ,at 10
ing. However, be this a. it may, Madame
Rose Bell Is an excellent artist IN the fullest inter-
probation Of the word, and has demonstrated mat
Grand Duchess can be graceful ana laiyiihe even
while making love 10 a dol, without descend
ing to vngarisms Certain 1t Is that the longer
the Grand Duchess y remained upon the
boards az the French theatre the more II
was appreciated, anu but for previous arrange
ments, which admitted OF no postponement,
II would probably have held its own Tor weeks TO
come, and would have unquestionably increased In
popularity as Il grew older. The theatre win remain
closed until Thursday evening next for the purpose
OF preparing for the opera OF .Geneveve de Bra
bant,n which will be produced on that evening az
this house FOR the first time in this country. ihls Is
one OF the most gushing Of OIenbach's operas
60al5es and Is promised TO be given To us on scale
OF magnitcence never before attempted either III
this city or Paris.
liant house last evening, there was at previous
performances during the past week, only this was
larger and more brilliant than any preceding It, to
witness the farewell appearance of Mie Janauscnek,
the distinguished German tragedienne. That pow
erful drama, Medea selected for the closing repre-
sentation, Is peculiarly adapted to her severe
style OF tragic talent She has never played
Medea before New York audience with consum-
mate dramatic power and wonderful electrifyng
n
soul Is absorbed In love for one VINO she believes as
entirely recprocates II and the current Of whose lie
over the spirit of her love, and life. and
was an intensely thrilling personaton OF strong
counter passions. Her demand for her children ana
threats OF revenge upon Jason for his repuse OF her
revealed with like thrilling effect her power as great
tragic artist AS the plot deepened, or scene sue
ceeded scene as the decree OF Punishment Is pro-
claimed against her, as King Creon declares his de-
Termination that Jason shall marry Creusa as Creusa
bring her two children to her and they refuse
to with her, or nearly crushed to earth with her
mlsfortunes she gives vent TO her overwhelming sor
row. there Is one continuous series OF most brilliant
acting and as the curtain fails she Is vocferOusy
bow responsive thanks to the grand ovation. The.
climax OF her tragic SKILL II their can be any climax
to that which is all along perfection. was OF course,
reserved for the closing act-rhe killing by
own lord OF his children ana ner parting words
with Jason. This tragedy Is too familiar to New
York patrons of the drama to require evolution in
more detail OF the plot and the splendid acting of
Mile Janauschek as Medea Is ithrice told taller
that does not admit more TO be said In her
praise than has been said. Her farewell perform
ance last evenng-only temporary farewell 1t ID to
be hoped-greatly augmented her fame az an &C
tress and the filling OF the Academy OF Music and
paudlts OF welcome and cheers fro the first rising
Of the curtain to its final fall were well merited
tribute OF respect to her tragic genius.
NIBLos GARDEN.-Matilda Heron appeared at this
establishment last evening In the intensely emo
tlonain drama of Camille" to very iair audience
af apdo i0hi v roam ia ON
general appearance Miss Heron's impersonation Of
Camille is so well known to theatre-goers that to at
tempt to criticise 1t would DO work OF SUPERB
rogation. Sufce 1t to say that she plays the part
now with as much intensity and preciseness as
have ever charact erized her acting. The sup
port accorded her by the memoirs OF the
company was such as to give the entire drama a
completeness 1t does always obtain. Mr.. George
IL. Clark, young American actor, unprecedented
Armand Duva and II Is but justice to state that the
part certainly was never done better, II as WELL Mr.
owen Marowe, another young American actor
made the small part OF CASTOR feature OF the play
| as Gustave. Mr.. J. G. Burnett as Armands father
although cast out OF his peculiar line did remarka
| bly, wen. Miss Annie Delan "a Nichette made he
portion OF the drama pleasing and happy contras
| TO that OF Camille; In other words she did full JUS
tce TO the character and In the mock speech short
| 1t is, gave splendid specimen OF eiOcutt0n. Mrs
| France rs Madame Prudence was really first class
Mr. W. r Donaldson looked end acted the Count d,
to whom me minor parts were entrusted deserve
| notice. The play, taken as whole. was very fine,
| although there were several points In which the
management might Introduce improvements. In
the first act there Is magnihcenty furnished draw
ing room, in which at side was shabby looking
toilet bureau and mirror. In the last act, on New
Years morning simple curtain hangs IN front Of
an open window q cherries looking room. IN
which Camille Is lying dang rously Ill. The waits
were too long at times for the setting, and the cur
tain at other times was poorly managed. The out
side management might lind something to do in re-
eving the respectable portion Of the audience from
gangs OF nashy loafers who lounge In the vesti-
bule and doorways. To have q door kept open at
the garden side on such night as last night greatly
70 the discomfort OF those upon whom the draft
came with fun force Is bad enough, but TO have the
decorum OF the audience disturbed by loud and. at
times, bawdy comments on the diao que OF the play
Is much worse, and the matter, being OF frequent
occurrence at Niblo's lately, should be attended to-
Musical and Theatrical Notes.
The Oil region reJoces In a circus