New-York tribune., 1870-04-28
TIE DRAMA.
MR. FECHTER AT TIE FRENCH THEATER.

Mr. Fecnter reappeared In TINS city EiSJ
night at the French Theater and acted claude Meinot
In the "Iady OF Lyons" The house comfortably
filed but not crowded. Both the actor and the acting
were received with a great deal Of appreciation. Miss
Lecleroq, who personated Pauline likewise greeted,
and rewarded, with emphatic applause. We record,
therefore, very pleasant beginning for Mr.. Fechter's
second New-York engagement With reference to the
value OF his claude MenOtte work OF dramatic art,
we should be glad to speak with enthusiasm if could
only see some ground on which enthusiasm would be
justified When Mr. Fechter first played in
this country IL was sincere desire,
and our wefounded expectation, to find
in his acting extraordinary merit such as had been
attributed abroad For that transccndant excellence
wo looked ardently and longingy. But We looked in
vain We did not Il thenand we do not see IL now.
The Claude Mevnohe that Mr.. Fechter presented last
evening was picturesque and spirited deneaton; but
the fact that an old experienced actor should play
this simple part In effective manner does not impress
us as at all remarkable. We're IL in order though 10
consider the effort merely that OF clever ana prac-
ticed artist we might find many pleasant words to say
in its praise Mr. Fechter is OF positive and well
tried abilities But Mr. Fechter hither as very
great actor and 1t seems to be imperatyey expected
that whatever he does will be considered IA Work OF e
traordinary genius. Looking at his CLAUDE Netnoue
from this point OF view have simply to remark that
when brass band plays one expects to hear something
more than q sneeze. Mr.. Fechter's claude Menotte,
method is neither better than bakers dozen
other Caudes that have been roaming the Amer-
can stage any time during the last ten fifteen years
Yet mind, it differs from them all in one particu-
lar 1t Is not so much the claude Melnote OF Buwer
Lyton's play as it is tho claude Melnoe Of Mr. Fechters
imagination other actors who play this part may strive
to interpret the conception Of their author Mr. Fechter
freely and boldly employs the character as medium OF
expression for his own personality. We do not deny
that claude MelnoHe is Of the stage personages
who may with perfect propriety be treated IN
this manner. He is callow sentimentalist, and the
actor who lends him momentary dignity bestows
a kindness on his audience. Let us add too, that Mr.
Fecers practice justified in this instance, by Its
results He could not very well appear to be young
and handsome lover, moonstruck and moping because
he rather too mature and too stout for that sort OF D
ness But he could be earnest and ardent; he could
rush. and dash and rattle through scenes OF imropabe
incident and fantastic passion and therein he could dis
play great mental energy and vyacity, and VOLATILE
mpetuous temperament. And this he did, with
striking effect That effect, howbe occasionally
marred by lassitude-cOnsequent on recent illness
and manifested In ftfu nonchalance Of deneanor This
intermittent lack OF animation the part OF the actor
was supplemented during the earlier part OF the per
formance by mournfu lack Of on the part Of tho
theater Through all the gloom however, Mr. Fechters
mental force emotional sincerity and fine sense OF sym
metry made themselves felt He quite often out OF
the character of claude Meno-and above It, He never
interested In the part but he frequently interested us
in the His comedy yacting, in the more cooquiai
parts OF the second act charming His delivery OF
the silly rhodomontade about the palace lifting to
eternal Summer" so natural that the spectators
did not think to applaud It, Into the famous explana-
ton scene he infused warmth OF earnest feeling and
manly simplicity of thought and expression that almost
atoned for the folly OF the whole situation. And there
was thrill Of real magnetism in his almost ncoherent
frenzy In the parting with Pauline. The spectators
were much moved by this, 30 that they called him OUT
and Miss Lecercq tooseyeral times at the end OF the
fourth act. The calls indeed were quito the order OF
the evening-and, considering that the audience was
fashionable its warmth Of demonstration
extraordinary. Fashionable people are seldom
much moved In this city-unless 1t be on the
first Of May. Miss Lecercq, We arc glad to
state, had her full share Of this cordality. She
show herself, in Pauline to be an excellent actress,
alike in comedy and in sentiment Her appearance was
often beautiful. Not always so-because she contracts
her mouth and because her assumptions Of regal and
scornful dignity are unsuccessful But her Pauline
charming the perfect sincerity OF its spirit and admi-
rable precision and grace Of its execution Per
haps shall best denote its chief charm by referring
to ts strange and delicious blending Of the girl and the
woman-perceptible alike in the manner and the feel
ings. Pauline is really the principal char
acter in this drama, and certainly Miss Le-
clercq's persOnation OF the part was the
principal feature OF last nights performance The best
thing Mr.. Fecher do thus far Le1drdere
in The Dukes Motto" Next TO that comes his Claude
MelnOtte. In melo-drama, favored with comedy, he Is
an excellent actor. There may be something great In
this but II so we are unable to perceive it, little
common In talking about actors is sometimes de-
sirable One would think, from the manner In which
they are generally exolled-to say nothing OF the ma
lignant ire and the vtuperatye hullabao which the
least criticism Of any distinguished player Is sure to
arouse-that their nellects crysallized the genius OF
ages and bore the cares of all this world. We
venture to think that deusons are not needful
to the prosperity Of art Mr. Fechter and Miss Lecercq
had in last nights performance the cooperation of Mr.
shewel as Beauseant; Mr.. Becks Glaris "a capital
performance); Mr.. Grifths as COL Damas; Mr.. Brad
ley as IT. Desehappeles; Mr. Levick, as Gdspard very
earnestly and neatly acted; Mrs. Melinda Jones, as
Widow Melnohe; Mrs. Hind, as Madame Deschdppeles;
and Mr. H. A. Rendle Landlord. bit Of white satin
ribbon with the caste printed on It, was given to every
lady who entered the theater and this neat device will
serve We dare say pleasant memento Of pleasant
theatrical occasion.