The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-07

''The Marquis" at the Chestnut.
The Marquis; or the False and the True which
was produced at the Chesnut Street Theatre
last evening, before large and appreciative
audience is an adaptation from the French of
Victorien Sardou by Mrs. f. Edwards Lewis of
this city The language and situations of the ORR
ginal have been changed in a number of places,
and the last act is almost entirely the produc-
tion of Mrs. Lewis, so that the piece is substan-
italy new one, based upon Sardou's model,
and the American dramatist is entitled to much
of the credit for such merits as 1t possesses.
The Marquis is French melodrama of the bet
ter class; thatis it is picturesque and impossible,
but entertaining in spite of, or perhaps because
of, its extravaganza. 1t is to be compared with
such pieces as The COrsjcdn Brothers and Pau
line rather than with such as Frou-Frou
or Fernando, and if extravagant In its
plot and incidents, it at least has the
merit of not being vulgar as too many of the
old-fashioned bloody melodramas are. The plot
is considerably involved, and contains proper
proportion of the deep mystery and the despe-
rate villainy without which such play would
be worth nothing. There is q Marquis who is
supposed to have been assassinated his son,
whe has disappeared from the sight and know
ledge of his relatives; another Marquis who
mourns the loss of brother and nephew, but,
nevertheless. finds time to attend to his toilet;
villain who had attempted to assassnate Mar
quis No, l. fair lady with whom all the male
characters in the play are in love- and variety
of subordinate personages who aid in unravel-
ling the intricacies of the plot which turns upon
the attempt of the heavy villain, "Count d'Al-
vimar, to gain the hand of the heroine, "Laura
de Belle and the Illustration of an attempt on
his part to compel her to accest him by intru-
ding into her chamber at night, through the in
tervention of "Mario," the lost heir and
his father, the upposed-to-be-a -assassinated
marquis who appears upon the
scene under the name of Edgar" as the leader
of band of musicians who attend upon the
festivities of the Chateau de Biant on the occa-
sion of the heroine, Laura de Belle" choosing
husband, which she is compelled to do by the
will of her father, at a certain hour on a certain
day. or else be disinherited. The fair "Laura"
fixes her affections upon Edgar, in spite of his
supposed humble BIRTH and the "Count d'Alvi-
mar is of course highly enraged, and is, more
over vexed because his nobility will not permit
him to cross swords with plebeian. His fight
ing proclivities are gratifed, however, by dis
covering that Edgar is his equal in rank, but
before the hostile meeting comes off, the old
Marquis Frederick" encounters DAlvimar' and
dsarms him, but spares his life. Edgar then
proclaims himself to be the lost Marquis of Bois
DOre, ana Oe0Ou0ceS IL AlVlInar IOr having
attempted his assassination. The villain, furious
at being unmasked, draws his sword aud rushes
upon edgar" but is satisfactorily killed before
he does any damage, and then all goes as "merry
as o marriagebell."
The plot of the drama is ingenious and enter
tanning, and there are number of highly dra-
matte situations, while each act concludes with
an effective tableau. The performance last eve
ming was in many respects creditable: but JUS
tice was scarcely done the piece, owing to the
iniudicious manner in which several of the
characters were cast. Edgar" the leading part
was either not understood or it was very care
lessly played by Mr.. Thorne, who made very
little use of number of fine opportunities
offered him for vigorous and picturesque acting.
This part, in the play as written, is one of con-
siderable strength, but as performed by Mr..
Thorne it was almost of secondary Importance,
and failed to make the impression it should
have done. The heavy villain 'DAlvimar, "
another first rate acting character was entirely
out of Mr.. Metkiff's line, and it did not receive
the justice it would have done at the hands of
more energetic actor The success of the
piece depended in very large measure upon
the proper presentation of these two parts, and
it is to be regretted that they were not better
done. Miss Glover, who personated "Laura
de Belle" was scarcely forcible enough, but
otherwise her performance was worthy of COM
mendation. The best effort was decidedly that
of Mrs. Davenport, who sustained the character
OF the boy Mario" in a remarkably artistic
manner, and in effect made it the leading role.
Mr.. Phillips is also entitled to commendation
for an excellent representation of the old
Marquis Frederick"
The Marquis was placed upon the stage in
creditable style, and it was costumed with
much elegance and good taste. 1t achieved a
fair amount of success last evening, the strong
points being readily recognized by the audience
and with more vigorous representatives of the
two principal male characters than it had last
evening, it will make an excellent stock piece
for occasional production.
The City Amusements.
AT THE CHESTNUT the new drama, by Mrs
f. Edwards Lewis of The Marquis; or, False
and True, will be repeated this evening. Il
will also be given at the matinee to morrow.
Tomorrow evening The Merchant of Venice
and Robert Mdcdire will be performed.
AT THE WALNUT the pantomime of tn,
Three Hinch6dckS will be repeated thi
evening.