New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-08
THE DRAMA.
FIFTH AVENUE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

FIFTH AVENUE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
In defiance of the pestlential weather which
made last night the gloomy and disprtng OF this
suicidal season. large company Of persons assembled
at the Fifth Avenue Theate to witness the first represen
tation OF "Feruande." Tho house, indeed, was full,
and the auditory included many scholars, writers,
wits and representatives Of fashion. The new
" Partisan sensation" therefore, may be said 10
have been received with all the honors'
That 1t was hghly-spiced sensation had previously
been intimated. There was promise OF something par
tcularly succuent the way Of vice, and, as matter
OF course the public prcked up its noble ears and made
haste to rally round the savory cauldron Ana
it found the promise amply redeemed Fer
nande is the strongest dose that has been
administered by way Of the stage since "Camille."
That play laid bare tho exhrang spectacle OF life IN
French brothe and served up love and consumption
with chicken-salad and champagne. This one goes a
step further. and announces the comfortable doctrine
that repentant couresans make excellent wives It's
story-told in four acts and involving some
eighteen persons-begins in gambling house, ana
ends at the happy domestic Preside. The out
line of that story has previously been traced
In these columns. 1t condenses the experience
Of young woman. who was the mistress OF gambler
very much against her will whom chance rescued from
that sphere of degradation who became the wife OF
noble gentleman, whom she supposed to be acquainted
with her true history and character; who suffered
greatly under his reproachcs and maedctory ooquonce
when, at later period he discovered the truth;
but who was forgiven and taken to her husbands
heart Of hearts, as soon az he became CON
WINGED that she had really tried, before
marriage make him acquainted with the facts OF the
case In presenting this refreshing narrative upon the
American stage the adapters OF NJ Sardou's play-Mr
~ H. Jackson and Mr.. NJ A. Cooney-have greatly weak
ened the story by making its heroine at tho outset an
emnenty good and proper young lady whose misfortune
1t is TO be a sort of waiter in gaming hell This pre-
tense, though, Is really hmsy that 1t goes
nothing
ing observers Of the performance and with
themit has the effect OF making the whole thing rdicu
lous Illustration OF much ado about nothing. Either
Fernando must be regarded a she is not
depaded and, II not degraded, she has secret to
diyulge to be dvulged and has done no wrong for
anybody TO pardon. However gloss of the bril-
liant French original seems to have been deemed
sary, and perhaps the silly result ought to be
pardOned to the delicate motive. Our impress
sion is, though. that the adapters (who have,
in the main, done their work exceedingly welD would
have both wise and successful had they pursued the
open policy OF calling spade by its right NAME With
Fernando the reformed cOurtesan and Chtotide as
the discarded mistress, plotting, pursuing, consum
mating, and being bahled In a terrible vengeance
tie play has graphic distnctness OF charac-
ter and purpose, and is work of great
power. In effect this sufficiently perceptible,
last night through the thin vail OF prudery thrown over
it by the notifications to which have referred. Fer
nande" is interesting, exciting, and very effective
mcO-drama What we object to is its subject The dis
section Of physical dseases-tumOrs for ihstance-s left
to the private Of the hospitals The dissection OF
moral diseases-at least OF those arising out of
the relations of the sexes-ought to be reegated 10
kindred obscurity There is atmosphere OF filth
topics of this kind, which makes them obnoxious
something blatant and prctentious, too, about
the manner in which plays like "Fernande" discuss
them. One would think that the sermon on the mount
had never been spoken read and that the idea Of being
charitable toward human weakness and wretchcdness
WAS original with French performers on the literary
slack rope OF morals One gets inpatient OF being told
that some grains OF goodness exist in every
nature and that ought to be forgiven because mortal
man is weak These are trte truths, and needless ones
In the enforcement of them ut rate, there Is no cal
for casting the fascinating halo OF stage art
OF vice, sin, shame, and anguish. Certain
topics are too delicate and too solemn, more
over to be played with. There may be need for
the wise law-makcr the clergyman who
really serves Christ and acts upon his doctrines There
is no need Of the stage IN taking Of the socia ey
the agonzng complications OF circumstance That grow
out of it, that border laid between virtue and vice.
however-where inclination or fate has laid the lives OF
some people-the world is fond of looking and plays,
like "Fernande," which lay it open to view,
will always attract certain attention. We have
always protested howeyer-and always shall
Against any bid for that reprehensibe taste.
No good can come Of it-even when 1t does no
evil The present comments on Fernando" are neces-
sary cursory and briefas the performance last night
did not terminate till close upon ~ O'Clock But they
shall not be Indefinite 1t Is very strong piece, OF
very bad kind 1t beautifully set, and exceedingly
well acted In act third both the scenic art
list, Mr.. James Roberts, and tho manager,
Mr. Augustn DAILY, were called before the curtain.
The scene was very beautiful and it nightly deserved
this compliment. We have previously printed the cast
Upon the acting we cannot comment in detail but
we record decided triumph for Miss Fanny Morant as
Chlotilde Miss Agnes Ethel as Fernando Mr.. d. III.
Harkins as Pomero Miss Davenport as Georgette, and
Mr. Lewis as the Commander. The piece Will be pre-
scented every evening until further notice.