The New York herald., 1869-05-26
AMusEMENTs.

A M q Z II E N rs.
| >>~~->~-
The GRAND OPERA HoUsE-PATRIR-The sec0n,
| representation Of victorien Sardou's drama
"Patrie," In this spacious and splendid theatr
| was given last evening. The first representation
on Monday evening, was prolonged 30 far beyon'
midnight that 1t was impossible to prepare befor
going to press anything like full and fair apprecia
tion Of either the piece or the manner In which 1t
performed, and such an appreciation can never be
honestly prepared beforehand. The following Is {
brief outline Of the piece which is historical In char
acter and heroic In SENTIMENT
It takes place In the Netherlands, during the OPP
preston Of the Flemish In the sixteenth century, by
the Duke OF Alva, the Cruel the instrument Of that
Objectionable bigot Philip II. The sway Of the Duke
Of Alva lasted seven long years, during which he
murdered, burned. hung and put to the torture no
less than 600 victims. This s the rant victorien
Sardou has chosen. The principal idea, however,
Is the struggle Of patriots when two great
passions contend for supremacy In their hearts
love Of ones country (patrie) and love Of
woman. The love Of patrie is victorious
through terrible conflicts. The chief characters
are the Count Rysoor an old man, the grand hero
Of the piece; his protege, young patriot also Kar
loo van der Moot; his wife, Dolores; the Duke Of
Alva, and his only daughter, Rafaela. an invalid.
The first act shows the Butchers Market at Brussels
which has been transformed into public place OF
execution for some Flemish Insurgents who, on
slight pretences, are condemned to die. One espe-
ciay is suspected OF having cOnspired with William
Of orange, and II he cannot prove that he was in
his own home the previous night he Is to die That
man is old Count Rysoor, who had positively been
absent from home three days, for no other object
than that Of taking measures with william for the
overthrow Of the Duke Of Alva. Knowing, there
FORE that he could not prove he had been at home,
he quite ready to die; but to his great astonish
ment, when the Spanish captain, who is to witness
against him. stands up to disclose that he had been
away from his dwelling, the captain living in the
same house. he witnesses to the contrary, that the
Count had been at home on the previous night; he
proceeds to say that as he went up stairs to
bed, being rather drunk. he stumbled against the
Count who was just closing the door Of his wife's
bedchamoer, that the Count and he had scuffe In
consequence, In which the captain dealt him thrust
through the wrist with his rapier; strange to say
the Count Rysoor had scar on his wrist from re-
cent wound but not dealt by the captain, and this
confirmed the testimony Of the Spaniard. The
Duke broke up the tribunal, leaving the Count free,
na Seng w the no% Sd
interest in saving mis- lfe walked up and closely In
terrogated him. The man still maintained his YER
sion with every appearance Of veracity. adding ex-
cuses for having wounded him and repeating the
words he had overheard the one he had supposed
had visited her the night before The suspicion was
terrible 1t became certainty as he pondered over
1t. His wife, Dolores, had lover; he would seek
her and accuse her. He does so, and she does not
deny the charge She rather cynically rejolces In
her guilt for she confesses that she only married the
she had always had an aversion for him on account
Of his being Protestant while she was a
Catholic he is Flemish and she spaniard. She re;
fuses, however, to tell the name OF her lover, and
when the old man, who had raised the poor girl that
she before her union with him to his own rank,
reflects on her base iDGratude, he threatens to XIII
her paramour, whoever he be- wherever he find HIM,
and find him he will by the scar on his hand. The
lover Is no other than Karloo van der Noot he has
been led away by the fascination Of Dolores who
passiOnately loves him. without ceasng nevertheless,
reproach himself for the i'll return he pays the old
abuse OF the confidence placed in him.
Karlo0, William OF Orange, and the Count Rysoor
meet the same night to concnde their arrangements
the city OF Brussels on the rampars which are GOV.
cred with snow. Dolores, determined to ruin her
unobserved to his conversation with william, re.
solves TO betray their secret to the Duke OF
Aya Anything @ to ria her & from rom. the s, Count n y
minutey describes the plan the Flemish are going to
follow but n her haste 70 reveal eyerytnng she
inaon, lets out that Karl00 is one OF the band AS
she discovers what she has done she retracts
all her charges but the Duke, secure OF his prey,
desires her 10 be cast into prison. and, while she Is
safe rushes to the Hotel de vile and arrests Count
hyBOOr, WIFI Ills COLcdBueS WIlhIu WIS uOJ NJ Tue
Hotel dc Vile; he was outside the city, waiting, at
the head OF small army OF 5000 men; for the bell.
ringer was to give him signal It had been settled
sounding midnight, TO ring forth funeral dirge;
but that, II the Count Rys00r and Karoo were sale,
he was to peal out festive tune. Just before the
Duke OF Alva had surprised the insurgents and ar
rested them o splendid scene takes place be-
with eager hearts beating for the delverance Of their
countrymen, the Count, then ignorant that the boy
warrior was his wife's lover persuades him on this
tn mt ms n fhn
head OF their friends, humbling himself by saying
that he was now old, his hand unsteady, and he be-
seeches the ardent young fellow to accept his trusty
sword, with his blessing, adding that all depended
their feats this night which should be directed by
young head no, % trusted to % SO cId commander @ as
he holds out his honored sword and as Karloo ad-
vances his hand to take 1t the old man sees the scar
and the whole truth dawns ON him. Karloo, con-
trite and stung with remorse opens his vest,
imploring his benefactor to stab him. For q mo-
features wrIhe with revenge but II he Killed Karoo
his country must die; none could lead the men on
but Karloo, and, with magnanimous clemency. he
The Count Rysoor Is led to ''the question: where
he is to be tortured but before the executoners
tell Dolores tnat he forgave her ere he died, and
making Karloo swear that whoever the traitor be
who has disclosed their plot he VIII XIII him with
the knife that he then pierces his heart through
with. When Karloo ascertains that Dolores was the
female Judas he has therefore ~ stab her, which
does, and then with one bound throws himself into
the same burning fate which was awaiting the VIC
tins and conspiritors Another great feature In the
play is the character OF the old belringer, repre-.
sented as burdened with large family, he their
only support. The Duke Of Alva desires him on his
life 20 up to the steeple BELLS and, according TO
his agreement with William OF Orange, TO ring the
festive peal which would allure him and his men
In the city TO be slaughtered by the Spanish SOL
diery on the ramparts. The old man, half pasied
with terror looks ready to do anything to preserve
his precious life; but he s no sooner In the steeple
tha pulling all the ropes, his patriotism awakes and
instead OF the Joyous tune which Is Intended to be
the loss Of his cause he gives forth the funeral drge
and his brains are dashed out on the spot. The final
tabIeau, which represents the condemned on their
way to execution, the death OF Donna Rafaela, the
tears OF her stern and cruel father who had forbid
den all tears and yet weeps himself, and Karloo
rushing in TO die with his friends the conspirators
s full Of thrilling eject.
the Decorations throughout are superb ana are
directly copied from those used at Paris. The fol-
lowing Is the cast
Count Rysoor... Flemish (...eMr. =. w. Coudock
Marquis La Tremouille, French nobeman,
Mr.. George u. Clarke