The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-05
A III u s L. M f N rs.


1t was nearly half hour past midnight on Tuesday
when the curtain ell on the last scene OF NJ. beots
drama, "Article A." which Mr. Daily has adapted FOR
his pretty little theatre 1t is singular and we rather
opine, ineffective name for q drama on the Ameri-
can boards where we have been accustomed always
to something more telling and expressive But in
France It acquires q mOmentous significance, re-
ferring. as 1t does, TO the obnoxious article OF the
penal code, by which 1t is ordered that "evey dis
charged convict shall for all his life be subject to the
surveillance of the police, shall reside In a remote
village OF the empire NOW republc), and shall never
dare to be In Paris other large city under PEN
atty Ofrearrest and Imprisonment" Brought out at
the Amoigu last October this play enjoyed sue
cessiu run OF 140 nights. Its plot Is powerful ana
deals In the most vivid pictures OF the darkest as
wei the most passionate traits OF human charac.
ter Some Of the very mansprings OF the story are
forbddlng in their nature and TO some extent re-
puIsiye. The plot hinges upon the consequences OF
an early passion of the leading male character,
George Duhamel (Mr. Crisp. for beautiful Creole
named Cora MISS Clara Morris.) sudden and
ungovernable fit OF jealousy on the part OF the
former brings on him curse that clings TO him for
years. He attempts the murder of his betrothed,
dslgures her for life Is condemned TO the galleys
Tor the same. ana being recognized eight years
aflerward by Cora, when he has been DIS
charged from the gaeys and has married
is threatened oy Cora, who discovers him, with ex.
mama with Cora aud leads ultimately 10 insanity.
The despair OF the unfortunate Duhamel and tho
| foundation OF the drama. Around them are
grouped fashionable woman. Baroness De Mlrac
M. Mazilier lMr. Parkes)i an eccentric but GOOD
natured Top. Potaln (Mr. Lewis; an arlstocrat Of
| (Messrs DE We're and James, and physician, VINO
attends principally to The domestic happiness Of MS
Inc cast comprises nearly 1fty persons ana Ger.
talny there Is no lack OF action or interest In the
the whole Of the irst act rhis viii bear CONSIDER
abe pruning as IT lasted over an h0ur on the hrst
a n oa ana rs dm saa n pe p ns
was the magnificent acting OF Miss Clara Morris,
! whose deneation OF the character OF Cora VIII be
nenceiOrth cassed, IN point OF greatness, with tae
Lean OF Miss Bateman and the Meg Merr,les Of Mss
Cushman. The mad scene in the fourth act was
terribly real In It's Intensity, and no school, DesalJc
or otherwise, could give such startling naturai-
ness to insanity as 1t received from Miss MOTIFS
Her death scene was touching In the extreme. The
varying phases OF revenge, madness, jealousy and
love which make up the character were given with
unusual power ana dlstinctness. In the part OF the
Baroness de Mtrac D'Arnoy Miss Fanny Davenport
had ample scope tor the deneation OF the Dtquaate,
good heart, In which she IS always delightful. her
examination as Witness In court was a most adj
milable piece OF acting, and her ruse IN the third
act to prevent any person recognizing George
capilaly played comedy scene bliss Linda Deitz
In Marcelle, had the ingenious and delicate young
| girl TO portray, aud succeeded in making
! the personation delic1ousy lovable in the
second act in the love scene with George,
1 and full Of new power III the fourth act, where
| she conronts the woman sne believes her rival.
| Mr.. Crisp was earnest and nasslonate; but IN
! scenes he rather forgot Liz mlets warning against
tearing passion to pieces. Messrs. Lewis, Harkins
/ IA Judge Griiiiths anu Davidge were excellent ia
their respective parts, anu Mr.. Pafkes occasionally
freed himself rom his unfortunate habit OF hating
at intervals IN his speech. Inc scenery, Tor gran-
| deur and magnlhcence, surpasses even all the
former displays at this theatre me salon O the
Baroness Roberts, III the third act Is 0ae or dazzling
richness furnished with every article OF luxury
ana taste; The court room IN the first act ana
the last act Were modes OF elaborate ait.
Tao improbable and sensational nature o. some OF
the incidents OF The plot ana OF some OF the traits
OF character displayed by the leading peisonases
place 'Artcle 41 out OF tile pale OF the sympathle5
OF the American public. Dunamel exhibits tenn
sentative Of the rowdy class, as Is nstanced In his
drawing revolver on his betrothed ana manning
her through Jealousy, marrying an innocent girl
under false pretences and using very unRentlcnanly
language toward his first victim when he
Is found There Is lurld, criminal col
orng about this which leaves very dsa-
greeablc impression behind, not to be removed by
the most gorgeous setting. The moral is by
means conducive to the health OF the mind OF The
locker on. It's redecming quality Is the great power
with which the character OF Cora IL drawn, and
the still greater power displayed by MISS Morris In
the delneatiOn OF II. About this there be but
one opinion, and that favorable Ill the extreme.
Sombre the play Is, however, II Is much preferred
to BOuClCaults 'JeZebel,D which Is something In
the same line ana In which Miss Morris made such
an impression at this theatre. The most avisn OK
penditure on the part OF the management III every
detail has not been wanting iii article Az
Tnu,t Want NyEn,ulet,, i, Rrooslyp