The New York herald., 1869-05-11
Am U S E M E N T s.

FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE" The hERMITS
BELL.n-rhis was the French opera at the Fifth
Avenue last night. They call it an opera comtQue,
though it is quite as much sentimental opera with
a leavenng of wholesome piety. 1t does not belong
to the Onenbachlan school Of the 0o,De. The story
is consistent and connected and the development OF
the plot is something that we can almost believe in.
The action takes place in village, about the year
1904, at the end of the Of the Cevennes on the
French side Of the Alps on the boundary at that
time between France and Savoy squad OF
French dragons are on a hunt for a gang OF
hereucs. They halt and enjoy themselves
at the house of rich farmer, who
has farm hand devoted to the prescribed heretcs
and who is on good terms with wild peasant girl
who has a reputation in the village only FOR mis-
chief. The farmer too, has pretty wife, somewhat
inclined to frtations-a weakness which seems to be
pretty general among the ladies OF the locality. But
the shrine and the bell of an old hermit (the good
old dead three hundred yearsl protect the lords
of the villagethe hermts bell superDaturally ring
ing out the alarm with any peccadilo on the part OF
the fair sex. The commander OF the squad OF dra-
goons gets into decided irritation with the farm
ers wife. but at meeting near the dreadful
bell it rings out the alarm The bold drago0n,
however, cOntrves to quiet the lady's apprehensons
and to humbug the jealous farmer While the peas
ant girl manages the general business, with the
farm hand OF getting the prescribed old pastor ana
his flock over the mountains safely into savoy, out
OF the clutches OF the dragons And the story ends
In the happy union OF the peasant girl and the farm
hand, with happy clearing up OF charge OF
| by.path to lead over lrma as Rose Friquet, the
peasant girl; Aujac as Sylvan lthe farm hand
griffou Thibau the stupid, old, jealous farmerl,
| Mile. Ducos as Georgette. the farmers pretty and
the prominent characters Of the play The music is
| delightful, and while Irma and Aujac never ap-
! peared to better advantage than last night, Mons
Th0ler, with his rich, strong voice and fine acting,
! came in a very welcome acquisition. The Alpine
throughout very fine, and the costumes OF
the dragons and peasantry historically satisfac
tory. The choruses, male and female are good; the
music, solos, duets and choruses are, we repeat de-
lightful and refreshing. The whole makeup and ex
ecution OF the piece exceedingly graceful and pic
| turesque. The dialogue might be somewhat short
ened to advantage but STILL as given last night the
opera Is a very pleasing entertainment. Let those
| who would be satisfied go and see and hear II. 1t
has evidently been produced with great care and re-
gardless of expense in every department.
| WAvERLEY THEATRE-A complete change OF CON-
pany and of the bill attracted very respectable
audience to the uncomfortaby narrow seats OF this
otherwise commodious little theatre last night. The
performance comprised the domestic drama entitled
| "Miriam's Crime,' the farce OF "Middy Ashore, "
and second farce, 'Ici pare Francois" with the
"Love Letter Polka and the "Kiss Waltz" by those
pretty girls and fine dancers, Misses Betty and
Emily Rigl. 'Miriam's crime is touching domes-
by Miriam Miss Lizzie willmore) for the purpose Of
permitting the fortune to go to the man she loves,
but her mistaken scheme Of love Is thwarted by the
saving OF previous will by Biles Mr. Felix Rogers)
drunken lawyers clerk. The result the usual one,
Of course ana the plot is well worked out, present.
elaboration Of Miss Willmores representation Of
Miriam is very refreshing after the overdrawn
passion on the one hand and the buriesque
an excellent and not over.acted sketch Of the
legs little more Biles would become q fayorite
stage topper. In the "Middy Ashore Miss Jenny
| Willmore as Harry Halcyon and Mr. Rogers as Tom
cringe, brought down the house. The pieces were
well put and the support by the rest OF the com.
pany was very fair We were glad TO see that an an
| patience OF the audience by delay and undue pre-
paraion. Tie bill continues through the week, and
| a visit to the Willmores VIII be found pleasant.
| BowERY TuEATRE.-The bills announced thai
''whos to winn was acted in London 'two entire
seasons, with the most enthusiastic applause
| Such a positive declaration invited personal scru
tiny and after bestowing II upon this drama, at It's
first representation last evening, are only able tc
say that the very numerous audience, which filled
the house to Its utmost capacity, so well pleased
that their comments will tll every seat for this sea
not only, but for some Others TO come. IL IL ex
acty what the habitues Of our so-called popular
theatres want. There Is an adventurer and the
keeper OF a workhouse, O nobleman and scoun
drei, a beautiful woman and q betrayed wife, "sec
ond sight, and rescued daughter, and there art
scenic effects, such as the appearance OF the whole
| scene Of the murder OF his wife at the moment
Of the death Of young Edward. And the denoue
ment s actually irritating And all this Is aiterward
| to he followed by the ''Chief Of the Ghaut Noun
tains,n where again injured innocence triuTnphs
and where the victory OF the true lover is finally
| achieved by the aid OF an American MILDLY and
| .olly tar, from an American man-ofwar, the
| middy's constant companion and occasional protec
tor. The world has seen worse dramatlzatons upon
the stages but II does ones heart good TO hear the
| joyful expressions OF sympathy with the misfor
tunes of an American sailor in foreign lands, ant
the shouts OF JOY when he at last succeeds in van
gushing his enemy. Patriotism may be taught In
better WAYS, but the lesson VIII never have more
lasting effect.
BRyANrs' MNsTRELs.- dusky favor,es ate
/ phorf frapa fho Ito mn.
last evening at their popular hail in Tammany 70
the summer season, with new attractions and a re
duction IN the prices Of admission. The troupe
were welcomed back TO the city by crowded house
not even standing room being attainable, and 81
well did the members OF the company, indvid
ually and collectively, endcavor TO please their I'm
tlnuous roar OF sde-splittng laughter from the com
mencement to the termination Of the performance
has been travelling with Op% the Troupe troupe, las
night made his drst appearance In this CIT
as sroa member , OF r,s, the company and wa
| dance. The great black "koh ah-nor, diamond o
American minsresy-Dan Bryant-delighted tn
| audience with number OF his clever eccentri
sketches; Unsworth regaed them with his banj
solos, and Messrs. Hogan and Hughes contributed 1
entertainment by their inimtable virginia double
shuttle" In addition to the musical portion OF Tn,
nights festivities the programme for the presen
''iack Cade.Y 'Txionr and the aBlack Doctor no
| TO mention the startling buresque OF "Red Hot,
the subject OF which takes the or track from Onen
bachs 'Orphee." and, as per bIll 'Toows Frencl
| verse and versions at disrespectfu distance.u
PARK THEATRE, BROoKLyN.-The five act drama
entitled ''snare, or What Can't Money Do- was pro
duccd for the FIRST time last evening at this theatre
and witnessed by a. many admirers Of the dram
a. the house could well hold. II Is scarcely necessa
| ~ to add that { he play was highly appreciated
when II Is stated that Mrs. ID. p. Bowers and Mr..
| O. McCollom sustained the leading parts, those Of
| Clara and Harry Melville, q loving wife and al
| fectionate husband, who are eventually separated
by an artful woman, who gains her purpose by th,
liberal nse q money. a, This artiul woman wa. @
banker tMiss Ella Wren, who always hac
an attachment for Harry Melville, and who resolved
at the death Of her husband the old banker TO use
the money WHICH she had fallen heir In securing
Melville to herself The opportunity offered In Mel.