New-York tribune., 1871-11-28
THE ORA W.1.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE-piRIS.

GRAND OPERA IIOlSE-rARIS.
II il an illberal observer of human nature
aud hlmrn affairs who cannot tolerate. and even COM
mcnd-within the limits of irstir"-things which.
pleasing his taste. have nevertheless. certain
kind Of merit ShpiocE not rem arkabc as fair-ininded
man, law AID indicated the dilemma OF the individual
who could good reason either for his aversion
TO garng pg hi antipa'hy to harmless AMI necej-
sary eat The sensation drama toour tasc. sttr better
than monstro.ity. II airr, pleasure 1t i al.
ways tedious: and sometimes It ls r"pul>tc. Per
haI,s, too. could give reason fer t.S-but
that point shal be waived When all should
have been sad. the fact wodd vet remain mat the
sensation drama has n certain sort of merit 1t L.. for
example usually sympathetic with virtue. 1t rewards
the good and Furnishes the evil and the fact that its
ood persons are goodies and its bad persons monsters
does not invaliatc the moral Integrity OF Its drit aud
teaching Them too, it doubtless appeals to a much
larger OF the people than il touched by the select
drann and therein 1t dls,s amusement to multitude
for whom otherwise the stage would be vocelcss AID
barren and would fain encourage the hope that it
stimulates in their minds growing taste for better
forms of theatrical art With these thoughts incline
to accept, II not with Joy. at least in
spirit OF meek rcsignation the sensation drama OF
"Paris the Days OF the Commune" which WAS last
night acted, for the first tnlo at the Grand Opera
House Some facts with respect to the purpose" Incl.
DENTS and character OF this play have already been fur
nished % readers Its first performance wit
messed by about 500 spectators 1t was rather rough
representation fact IL amounted to little more than
public rehearsal; but it disclosed the luahfy ana
full strength OF realistic cOmpoSition AMI II
served to reveal unusually animated and eh"ctive
scenic pageant. The tnO Of performance was three
hours and Il quarter. The best scenic pictures Were
those showing the Park at st. Cloud with Its fountains;
tho lool dc Vile; the hilltop ana adjacent country
outside Of Paris the Place Eenlonr with the falcn
column; tho ruined street, after tho boinDardncpt OF
tho capital and the burning city-with which tho eN'
position concluded. These scenes taken oy theihscVes
would make an inter, sting and valuable deneati0n OF
the alternating conditions Of spicndor ami horror when
marked In, KAY city IA the days Of the Empire
and the e. immune As presented IN this instance. they
formed u background for dramatic portrayal 81 the
sucriugs resulting from commission of the CRIME Oh
bigauly. Tho stOry-for detailed rehearsal OF which
We have not spa reir- the Experiences Of daughter
of the rcgncnt Tho heI"uc Ii VII audCrc. AMI she
and Lcr accepted lover axe prosecuted hy rnihan'
and n,ad, To undergo inE,imerablc Ills and sOr-
rows before the attainment 0f their happy union
The rescue heroine who is devoted TO the Empire
and been captured by the mOb-is the most Ing NOUS
and stirring Of these Nicssitiides and gves rise 10
trc,nr ndous popping Of mu-krtIy and ovti wlelnhS
clouds Of suphurous smoke. This effect Is repeated at
the termination Of the piece. There ls great deal OF
in, dent particularly the last two aftS' Dnt
IT Is Photographic rather than ufah"'c' i""
carly portious OF tho play sr" Prolx. Con
densaton ail along its current would he very ~n"'
fetal. Its defects are that II stag if'PP""'
Its literary substance that its SITUATION" aio oH'h
forced; that ts ccoques aro sometimes "a"e 10 'Ak'
place under i,possibe who'll, Improbable circun-
stances uud that is text contains good deal "t swash
about love aud Liberty II, virtues arc that 1t s stuffed
with what are called popular rrh'ehts'
toethcs wise manager. u that wonderful Prelude to
Faust"-so packed with Thought aud trmh-in-trueI'
~, soft wood was intended to bc used for splitting.
and that tine sagacos play wiiLht Wall nok 10 c"nlo't
,,hr chan f., satisfy hi, auditors. assured that IL te
s IA, ,c hr need truult hins' about d'lnS tho
other "Only 10y ms y"u tot" tn n'iSs, no S|Hs
and doubles. tr'lY SAT- p'r'i'uit' ana most
uu,u ~ u .iramili, hvAo|ot /, assumed W oAist