The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-30

Tho New sensation Play. ..6ne WIFE,,

NO NcW Sems0tlOm FI0Y, Juno WI
Another Of those constantly inflicted TRANSACTIONS
In which all the mpurty and vulgarity Of the origi
nal Is preserved, shorn OF the polish, the wit and
the dNesse which have made the piece successful
with French audience was placed on the boards
Of the Olympic last night. We have no fault to find
with the carpenters ana upholsterers they did their
work In an effective manner, giving the piece all the
advantage which can be derived from the stage
carpenters Skill but the bungling OF the literary
jonery could not DO remedied by any amount
Of stage effect In its original form Dumas work
was not exactly the kind OF play that a man with
little sense OF pr0priety would be likely to bring
his wife or his daughter to see. The translator
or adapter has wrought in way to leave all that
was plquant In the worst sense of the word and to
tear or the thin veil which the admirable CONVEX
sationai subtllity Of the French language ena-
bles the author to throw over the most sug-
gestive thoughts. But the translator of
"One Wife" 10 plain man, who calls
spade spade, and IN his intense
literalness he tells US what the French author
meant no doubt, but what ne would not be
suffered to say In the lowest Partisan theatre.
The language Is outspoken and leaves no room for
any doubt az to what Ia desired to be- conveyed.
We are not troubled with double entendre or French
cookery OF any description; all the dishes are
served up with Saxon plainncss. We doubt, how
ever. that the feast will become popular; for the
sake Of the reputation Of the town we hope 1t won't
If the chances OF success depended the intrinsic
merit Of the piece should have no hesitation In
saying that 1t would be disastrous failure, as
1t deserves to be. zone Wife" il but the
logical consequence Of "Divorce." which ought to
have failed, but was saved by Its appeal to cor
same poverty OF language and unpardonabie Wi.
gartty For coarseness and offensive suggestive
ness we know nothing In modern playwritinK at all
comparable TO the second act. The representative
American matrOns are made to talk In a
manner which we do not care too explicitly
hcacy or refinement OF feeling would give utter
ance to the coarse sentiments which American
ladies are made to express s without any feeling Of
Il there was nothing else against the piece than
the scarcely concealed immortality OF this second
the conversation OF the ladies Is such as
could only be INDUCED In by the DENT.
monde, and we hope for the sake Of womanhood
the plot there is absolutely nothing new; every I'D
cident is absolutely threadbare, Awoman, young,
Of sne siSNs sc
her, ana eventually wishes 60 rob and iersaSe her S
Ss seeFR ey ncaen w es
and winds up by the unfaithful husband being
shooting array. In this the translator has
sssi S4s e Ss g 1 pS ESs shs an Ss4
lover pays the penalty OF loving the advef-
turess. Miss Charlotte Thompson, who plays In the
role Of the outraged wife, gives evidence OF &C
quantance with stage business, and throws much
force and vigOr into her representation. She, how
ever appears incapable Of giving expression to the
evanescent phases OF passion. There are no dell
cately graduated shades Of thought or expression
no tenderness Of feeling Ole misses thar touch of
nature which reveals the true artist. with intuitve
perceptions and warm, tmpressi0nable sympathy.
The lady is always acting and never succeeds In
making up forget the fact even In her best efforts.
M s1n u a IL ri VA S4ssl SS%nen and
no character, who caused all the mischief she
had the advantage of looking the charming
woman Of the world which the part de-
mands, and dressed with good taste. Miss
Nina Varian, who made her debut under Mr..
Mckay, filled minor role creditably. The young
lady has, however, no need to paint. so soon.
besides IT has just the opposite erect from that
acugint 70. BE- produced, OF the gentlemen who
figure In this extraordinary piece, the only thing
one looking 81 dy il arnber-We are puzzled tcc
know how and why 1t ever got there. An excep.
yning Bowers wh0ss sSny 81, stage S5sgnsI
Swiss lackey might be, but the sketch was SO
broad ana so pronounced that It partoOk rather OF
the nature OF caricature. The piece has just that
amount OF interest which attaches to q story OF
passion markedly told. This will OF course recon-
mend IL to certain class who are not gifted with
telling picture with the cOl0rs laid on crudely,
without any graduation or refinement five were
asked to characterize the performance In one word
we would say 1t was-detestable. VI.