The New York herald., 1872-12-24
MUS MENrs.

After the popularity OF the music OF "Fleur Dc
Tne"r might be expected that fresh work by
Charles Lec0cq would be looked forward TO with
interest. "Les Cent vierges" Is the second opers
Of this composer produced In this country. Theru
are the same elements Of popularity. IL not to an
equal extent In the music as In "Fleur de The.~
The opening is unfortunate-beng wretched
specimen OF the song and dance order, as unlike
hornpipe and as un English as the entire surround
ings OF the English tavern in which it is supposea
to take place. Gabrielle (dlle Aimee) has mon
OpOly 0fthe musical bonb0ns. Her opening c0upiets.
"Jai 10 tete romanesque," are rather pretty, with
a catching little mazurka ripple running through.
and her indignant remOnstrance with the gov
ernor in the second act has the true bsaDs
sparkle In IL. The gem OF the opera as solo the
air 'Je soupire ct maudis lie destin," which is
meritorious enough to grace the score OF an Opera
corntQue. Mile Aimee was in unusually good voice.
and gave effect to some of the really fine music
that fell to her share. There are two remarkably
clever clever sna We G might @ say irresistible concerted
Of the method OF making an omelette. and a quar-
tet in the second act, silence Silencel" In the
composers knowledge OF q certain 'zitti, zitt" by
Verdi Anatcle On. Juteau) has laughable song
ody, If such a word can be applied TO piece Of
sheer extravaganza and Instrumentation, Is equal
to the best effort of Onenbach Mile Bonelli APP
tish wife Of very demonstrative and lorid indl-
vidual named Poulardot, who was repre-.
only roles in H., musical point q view
that can compare with the dashng '.Cliquotu song
or the wedding chorus in "Fleur dc The" but
there are many clever touches IN the M
or the dialogue. Few people can iathom the mya-
teries OF an opera nouGe plot which for consist
might be mistaken for Gascons, an impossible host,
ridiculous governor lM Lecnyerl, and his stlD
Three 5ccuiar tai
Gnts In the manufacture OF the dialogue, and thay
are, indeed. entitled to the honor OF having pro-
ated, undisguised and unmstakabe indecency lar
surpasses anything ever heard on the American
boards
Booths Thentrc-ssHcnry Dunbar"
Tom Taylors sensational drama founded on Miss
Braddon's novel entitled "Henry Dunbar" waa
given for the first time at this theatre last even.
Ing. The play was well put upon the stage. Mr..
Wallack, Us Henry Dunbar, although apparently
suffering from illness, showed himself to be the
great and pains-takin actor that he is in every
role he undertakes. His portrayal of the rcmorse.
stricken wretch, whose crime haunted him in his
dreams by night and his thoughts by day, was
painful IN Its fidelity to In the scene be-
tween him and his daughter in the fourth act, where
he describes the murder OF the real Henry Dun
bar, the agony or the conscience stricken murderer
and the deepseated love of the father for his child
-.
however, that he had the disadvantage OF being
compelled to contend against the support OF two
D g aSe II p OF M
George Beck was clever piece OF characteriza-
tion Miss Pateman was altogether too boisterous
in her acting, and gave way TO too frequent
lachrymoseness Of manner. Still, as general
thing she did well and seemed to find favor with
the audience. Mr. Fenno's Henry Carter the de-
tective, was credtable, though the character gave
the actor many opportunities to show what he Is
capable Of doing us an actor. As a whole the per-
cOmmen0atiOn.
The New Play at tho Fifth Avenuc-NIr.
Frank Marshan's ssFalse shamc.''
Mr.. Frank Marshas comedy. "False Shame,n
which was produced, for the first time In this coun-
try, at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last evening, was
a successful play, happily presented. The piece Ia
Of the Robertsonan school. 1t is slow in move
ment and quiet in action, but aside from the dia
logue which is always sprightly and sometimes
ptquant, it has merits or rather capabilities that
keep 1t from becoming heavy. Its slow movement,
however, Is constantly interrupted by the exits and
entrances OF the performers and the play constantly
betrays feebeness OF construction which would
make 1t an Indifferent success in bad hands, For.
tunately 1t met excellent treatment last night. We
never saw Mr.. George Clarke play better than as
Lord Arthur Chiffon. He gave to the piece re-
pose which 1t lacks in ITSELF and acted out the
sumption OF want OF spirit and lack of energy on
the part Of the young nobleman with admirable
sleep, whether it sprung from laziness or from as.
sumed Incidence, did not seem like the old
ge Nas AND the Ssrts
Mr. Rockwell's Earnest Brageigh was also q per-
formance excellent in its way, and more strongly
men oil the piece-Mr. Whiting as the Earl OF Dar-
lngton and Mr.. Davidge as Colonel Howard-need
praise. The heroine Of the piece, MISS Magdaen
Atherley. was played by Miss Clara Morris. The
nS nart y s the
embodiment OF ailectations. She seems q crea-
ture incapable Of very great love, and s only
IN bad hands the part would Be- nsipid il nor
usual abilities in the actress who attempts 1t.
These Miss Clara Morris showed herself to possess
to go uncialienged. The part Of Constance Howard,
though scarcely pert or so affected as the other,
was much less dramatic creation, and Miss Fanny
Davenport Is to be praised for making SO much OF
so very little. Mrs. Gilbert as Mrs. Colonel Howard
had the strongest female part in the piece,
pecialy in the second act: where she complains
that one Of her daughters pert words "gves her
were breathing on her neck.' The other characters
have no interest, but all Of them, except Miss
AtherlaIgs maid and Captain s Brageighs sa servant
scenery was fully up to the standard Of this
theatre: and the realism was carried to the ex-
The effect of this was much more effective than is
usually the. case, for 1t gave the nobodies OF the
piece something to do besides taking care Of their
hands while Bragleigh was insulting Lord Chiffon;
and Miss Davenport made very pretty point by
the wry face she made over a bad shot. II the
piece meets with The popular success Its excellent
qualities merit one OF its effects will probably be
to make expert billiard playing among the womanly
accomplishments In society.
Musical and Theatrical Notes.
1t is finally determined that Kate Bateman will
not come to New York this season.
At last there was change OF bill at this theatre
yesterday evening, and 'London Assurance" sue
ceeded agnes"
Miss Nelson played Juliet at the Academy Of
Music, ii Brooklyn, last night, TO well 1lled
house. The play was well put upon the stage. To-
night she plays Pauline in the LADY Of Lyons"
Thc annual Christmas performance Of Handels
oratorio "The Messiah" takes place at StclnwaJ