The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-22
ADJUSTMENTS,
Two. New Fifth Avenue Theatre~-The
Opening Last Night and the New


Two New. Fifth Avenue Theatre--The
Opening Last Night and the New
Play.
The opening night at the new Fifth Avenue
Theatre was genuine dramatic triumph. In spite
OF the weather every seat In the house was filed,
and the capacious standing room In the new
theatre was also densely occupied. Everybody
came earlv for opportunity OF viewing the house
before the play begun and many EXPLANATORY re-
marks were heard among the audience in regard
10 the transformation which had been effected and
the tasteful appearance Of the auditorium and
boxes When the curtain rose it was upon the
scene painted by Mr.. James e. Hayes for the intro
ductory address by the company. few lines had
been allotted to each Of the members, and they
were, without exception, well recited and well re-
ceived. or the address itself we need not speak,
save to say 1t suitable to the occasion. There
were degrees OF cordially, too, in the recep-
'tions accorded the different artists, but 1t
would be invidous to speak OF the marks Of
favor bestowed on any particular person where
the future opens brightly before all Afterward
Mr.. DAILY was called before the curtain, and In an
address sinRularly modest and unpretendng, he
spoke OF the little theatre in Twenty-ourth street.
and the tabieau regardless OF c0stn by which he
lost it, He then pointed to his new house. and
said II depended upon the public whe Their his past
successes should be repeated here. All this Occu-
pied time, but it was time that passed pleasantly
away In the dedication of the new house, the
entire audience seeming to enter with spirit and
delight into the ceremony. "Alixe," the new play,
has not been overpraised in the descriptions which
put 1t down as piece OF singular emotional power.
Though full OF French sentiment and marred by
some unhealthy of feeling, it is not to be regarded
as suggesting in strained degree the social
infelcities OF the married state. so necessary
faults and social degradation, followed by years
OF suffering and sorrow and repentance. The
while Madame yalory, who was his wife, but de-
serted him, meets him and her legitimate and llle-
Marquis Cesaranne, whose wife was also the friend
and protector OF Madame Valory's second child.
Henry de Kerdrau is betrothed to the one and
loves the other, while the Duke de MirandOl, "a
man OF millions" makes to the young Alike the
two kinds of proposals which Frenchmen are In
plications of the piece and the emotions which
form so striking feature in the play. Mr. Charles
Fisher played the Count with the correctness and
simple dignity so characteristic OF his acting Miss
Fanny Morant took the part OF Madame Valory,
and interpreted 1t with her customary ability,
womanly. Mr.. James Lewis and Fanny Davenport
were the oesarannes. Mr.. Lewis manifested
the interest re- his and
terizatiOn in keeping with like parts,
which he played BEFORE Miss davenport has less
opportunity Tor displaying her powers. but in the
second act, where she suspects and discovers the
identity Of Madame ValOry, she shows excellent
dramatic art, especially where her face and eyes
tell the story OF her thoughts and purposes. MIR.
Louis James had an exceedingly unpleasant part,
but as he Is best fitted for pOrtrayng the afecta-
lions OF the stage 1t is not surprising that he made
his personatiOn unpleasant and as excellent as
1t was possible to make Ii. His most marked sue
cess was In his manner of telling story which
body wanted to hear. Miss Linda Dietz played
Lucienne sweetly, but without much fOrce-a
criticism which dIsarmed by the FACE that 1t was
sweetness and not force which the part required
The triumphs Of the evening, however, were car
ried of by Miss Clara Morris as Alike Her emo
tional power is something extraordinary. Real
tears came into her eyes as readily as genuine
smiles upon her lips. Love, Joy, jealousy, grief and
despair are portrayed by her with q force beyond
that OF any actress on the American STAGE
The other day Professor LOngfellOw, hearing OF
her merits as an actress expressed surprise at her
name being new to him. This, perhaps, is the best
proof OF the sellshness OF New York in keeping to
itself the genius 1t has nourshed; but such acting
fame to be confined to the narrow limits of this
island. To praise her as she deserves in the short
time allowed for 1t last night, would be only
generalization OF encomium, and we desire to take
up her acting simply as acting and analyze IL in
all its remarkable features when opportunity al
lows. IL is seldom a performance requires this at
the hands OF the critic but this case, exceptional
in its merits, calls for something beyond what Is
customary. Unfortunately, the ending Of the piece
Is sad and sOmbre, the heroine committing sui
eide to escape from the trials OF her young life.
because a happy ending would but suit an audience
sufficiently swayed by emotion in every movement
OF the play.