New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-23
DeBaF's PaEssaT Ia the cherry Wives of
WfndsOr.D

Shakespeare, 80 the legend runs, wrote
the play now going on at the St. Charles al
the suggestion Of Queen Bess, who was SO
elated at the character Of FaLstGF in the
two Henrys, she desired drama where he
should be the pivot. The merry Wives Of
Windsor" fills the bill. Here the imprudent
old william Of the tragic play is quite a
different man from the amorous old knight,
who seems to appear only that he might
turn into ridieule those retired soldiers of
Henry v, who claimed the respect of their
country. Fa4ssaR belongs to a family of
tictious men, who appear in all the liter
ature Of that day men who are soldiers
fathers but not husbands, wine bibblers
and uneonscionable braggarts.
When Ford, the Jealous husband, calls on
FalstayF and, assuming quite another name,
endeavors to procure his services in con-
quest Of Mrs. Ford, the acting Of the saucy
old knight is superb, and it is here Mr..
DeBar Goaxes even an unwilling temper
with good humor. Then the scene in the
closet, in which place he is secreted by the
lady he has called 50 see, when he 0verhears
the dismal fact that her husband is coming
up stairs, his dlsmay, the terror which takes
hold of him when, ON casting his eyes up
and down he finds no hole where he can es-
cape, brings Out roars Of laughter, greattR
even than the storm of mirth which rushes
after him when he disappears from view in
buck basket. Then the famous speech
beginning
''Have 1 lived go be carried in basket
all showing more Of those same traits dis
coverabe in the tragedy, were read and
acted so as to produce feeling like salutipg
Faistatf as q bully boy.' The way the old
man vaunts hiB powers toward his shree
serving GDels and Che manner he talks to
them %like o justice Of the peace to poor
detenQantf is apt to cause surprise in those
who have seen the same man in the trage-
dies, and whether escaping from Ford's
house as an old woman. or wearing the
horns in the park, the beholder sees a re-
alization Of the discontinue which should
wai5 en- all those bent on destruction of
domestic peace, Sympathy is evoked. Such
the authors ara DO one can see FalsSatf
i'll nsed without feeling with the sight
deep interest in the man, solely on account
OF his good hamor and his jests, his side
shaking temperament. The intention of
the author to throw cold water on dispo-
sition falsely called gallant. but whose ex-
hibitions are confined 10 family Circles is
well evinced in the acting.
There is 4nore dignity sn this one among
the careers OF FaLStsE. lie puts on airs.
He receives $he hostess with a grandeur
truly l'arisian, but still can not avoid
trace OF his old habit, seen when he. in
magnificent pomp0Sity, rewards her services
with purse Of gold OF dimensions SO small
that even he is forced to exclain, II am vet
your debtor" That he is maD who never |
paid hie bill IS shown here as we'll 8s else I
WHERE and that be is in an uncommendabIe |
state of loose morals is displayed every |
where. Il is supposed by contemporary
critics that Shakespeare iD the "Merry |
Wives" threw into each OF its characters an
infusion OF his Own time, when she arts of |
peace began 10 Fiso superior to the demands
OF wal in which the people had been en-
gagged Gor the preceding three centuries.
Thus VIC find in the bombast of F0lstaD's
adherent satire on the valor of which re-
turning soldiers Dragged, in their pocket
picking habits aBneer at their lives outside
If camp. while in Dr.. Caius we have repre-
,ented the true fre-eat,ng Frenehman of
.hat day. Eail Of love, honog and desire to
- Ou4 ~, linn