New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-18
The Lnncers at the Academy.

The Lnncers at the Academy.
The "Laucers'' still continues to draw re-
spectacle houses at the Academy. With
out doubt, the play is a deserved success,
although some exceptions may be made to
the denoucmcat of the plot, as well as the
reuderings OF several of the characters.
We suppose that the plot is by this time
generally known to the play-going public Of
this city. Victor DeCourcy Charles Wynd-
bam>, a gay, hair-brained younger son OF
noble family, after running a career of dis
sipation, commits the GROWING folly OF ell
listing as a private in a regiment of French
lancers. He encounters on some occasion
Estelle Duvernay, young widow mobile.
of course, disguised as a peasant girl, for
which amusement she seems to have
penchant. A desperate Irritation ensues,
from which neither party retires fancy free.
Soon after DeCourey is discovered hy
friend, an artist, Eugene (Mr. Allertoni.
This friend induces him to attend a ball,
with view of procuring his discharge from
the commander OF the regiment. Colonel
Francepee ~. II. Fitzpatrick The ball
takes place at the chateau of Madame Is
teLe Durernay to whom Colonel Ffoncepee
is ATTACHED, and expects to marry. The
lancer and the lady recognize each other.
and DeCsurcy is induced by love and IL
spirit of rivalry to enter the field against
the Colonel, whom he discounts on every
occasion. A duel cnsucs between the com
mander and the disguised private. which
results in the latter being wounded in the
arm. He makes his way to camp, where he
is in danger of military punishment for de-
Il 10 oil hn nfn,.
for his being identified by the colonel
There is grert deal Of by-plav in
camp. and considerable billing and
cooling between a queer specimen
of soldier. the cOlonels servant Orchard
Edgar) and comical French landlady.
Madame Pompomne Fanny Burt. AT
length. to avoid the certain death which
must result from trial for desertion and
for personal contest with his superior
officer, DeCourcy, makes a desperate leap.
disappearing, it was supposed, into the
unknown world. The last scene represents
the siege of SebastopOl. with the colonel
and his regiment occupying portion OF the
works. Estclic is there also, as Sister of
Mercy. Madame Pompomme is there. too,
the spouse 1--WE suppose) OF her cl-devant
lover, Blanquct, for the plot is not very
clear on this point.
A period of four years is supposed to
have elapsed at the time. and Victor De
COurey reappears as major i'll the army, re-
formed and regcnerated. He encounters
EstcUe and is recognized: he encounters the
Colonel. and also is recognized-by the one
with ardent love. by the other with intense
hate. But, as the poet says, love will
still be lord of all; - for the Colonel is fOled,
and De Courcy obtains pardon for former
and the curtain falls amidst ardent en-
braces and red fire. So much for tae plot
"Place aux damcs.' the ladies first, be-
ginning at the bottom. Jeannche will
probably box her husbands ears whenever
she obtains possession of that chattel. We
have an idea that Miss Fanny Burt (if she
is MISS could play much better parts than
the one assigned to her IN the "Lanccrs.
for she certainly makes the most of that.
Nine. dAplon,b Miss JohnsOn) has very
happy conception of her aplomb part. We
think the part she takes in the ''Lanccrs" is
far beneath her talent, but what she has to
do she does in superior style. Besides. al
though she can't help that, she Is extremely
pretty.
But Louisa Moore, as Estcilc Dnrern0y;
it is difficult to do Justice to the admirable
manner in which she rendered the part.
The sentiment Of the character is ola refined,
feminine type, but the actions which the
sentiment ilnpel are, at least, questionable
in their gender. Although i'll the height of
her social position she stoops to the lover of
apparently humber belongings, yet she
stoops to him as Elizabeth would stoop to
Leicester. To some extent, she changes
places with the opposite sex, in pursuing
instead of awaiting pursuit, yet the refined,
true womany feeling that pervadcs 1t all,
disarms every sense Of untitness, as urged
by the cruel necessities of her lovers dan
ger. she does her boldest and most mascu-
line, still we could feel. in the words OF the
old glee that
Sweet Cowslips grace
Is her nOmntive case,
And she's of the femme gender.
In fact it is difficult to conceive how the
character of Esteke Dtbcreay could be bet
ter rendered than ii is by the admirable
young actress who takes the part at the
Academy. We hope the lovers of good
acting will not fail to see her i'll this part.
OF Mr.. Charles Wyndhams Victor De-
Courcy. we are compelled in candor to say.
absurdity. Nothing could be finer than his
performance in all the play previous to the
camp scene. In high comedy he is adnira-
BILE. He would make an excellent Joseph
Surface. CAPTAIN absolute, or Du--le. This
is no small praise. But we can not accord
the same praise to his sOldiership. In the
scene before Sebastopol, where he recog
nizes and is recognized by Estehe, and as
they are about to embrace, the sus-eyed
colonel interrupts them, why does Victor
make his legs so Timber. Even i'll sub
hitting to the inevitable superiority OF high
military rank, there should be more dignity
of manhood and heightened feeling than is
indicated by nervous oscillation of the
an opinion of Mr. Wyndham's innate ability
n <<. hnno ha will raf}oct ,lpOn fhis hint