The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-16

representation of English or American social
life. The plot of the play was published on
Monday so that IL is unnecessary to repeat it
here, and 1t remains simply TO speak Of the
merits and defects of the performance.
There Is too much mere verbiage, in the first
two acts especially, and material improvement
would be effected by little judicious cutting
The strongest point is in the third act, where
"Gilberte's" ("Frou-F Frou'O jealousy is avowed,
and she determines to fly from her home. Each
act, however, is, in a certain sense, complete in
itself, presenting good stage effects and con-
cluding with effective climax.
The performance at the Chestnut last evening
indicated haste in preparation, and there were
some Inequalities that subsequent representa-
tons will remove. The first two acts especially
dragged considerably, and they require to be
acted with much greater vivacity. In "Gilberte"
Miss Keene had character admirably suited to
her style, and she gave one of the most artistic
performances we have had from her. In the
third and fourth acts especially she acted with
great force giving an admirable representation
OF the weak frivolous woman aroused almost to
madness by the recollection of her own defects
rs wife and by the idea that another had
usurped her rightful place in the management
OF her household and In the affections of her
husband and child. AS 'Louse," the quiet,
sensible, self-sacrifcing sister, Miss May Howard
was also admirable, and her performance is
to be commended for its elegance and ladylike
dignity. Mr. Wallis personated the rOue father
of "Frou-Frou" in excellent style, and Miss
Laurens was creditable representative of the
lady's maid Pauline" Mr.. Mordaunt as "Henri
Sartoris, )" the husband of "Frou-Frou," was not
in his element. His style Is too brusque and
ponderoHs for the proper personation of an ac-
rNIta I,aI IL D.. a
There were some fine bits of acting however,
in MIR. Mordaunts performance, for which he is
entitled to credit. Mr.. Otis, who appears to
great advantage in certain class of foppish
characters, was also i'll adapted for the repre-
sentation of the part assigned them, that of the
seducer ''Count Valree," and he did not play
with the same care that he sometimes does.
Making all due allowances for the Irregularities
of a first performance and the perhaps unavoid-
able deficiencies of the cast the play went off
in good style last night, and there is no reason
why it should not be as successful here as it has
been elsewhere.
1t may not be amiss, however, to recon-
mend that the kissing business might be raced
little with advantage. When all the person.
ages of play kiss each other about half-a-dozen
times in each act, the thing after time be-
comes, as it were, monotonous. 1t is especially
disturbing to the enjoyment of those who are
designated on the programmes of one of our
theatres as 'the more intellectual portion of the
audience, when the oscillation becomes such
prominent feature that the old ladies begin to
count the number of the kisses aloud and to
eXclalm shocking" 1t is possible to have too
much of almost any good thing, kissing not ex-
cepted, although little of it undoubtedly has q
fine effect.
FrOu-Frou is well placed upon the stage, with
appropriate scenery and elegant appointments.