New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-07
IN THE FOYER.


,o,, AN .s1oSAI CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.l
PARIS. April 29.-The piece which was served
mn, In the Union Square Theater under the u'io vi
~Asucs is now represented at the Gymnase under .no
name Of Andrea" 1t is only moderately suceessu'
and REGARDED as one OF Sardous poorest producuons
r, was evidently made to order and quickly. Ihe ep"
,<tersa series OF lay fguresare not studiea' pu' ~
handled with that dextery for which their author Is
s.mous The scenes follow each other with rapiuV'
and their piquant words and dialogue for the uine ron
der the public almost blind TO the defects OF the play
But bet the the public RECEIVERS se'l anu oi'
covers the stery Of all the agitation and the weakness
of the pot-n word that there is but little heaf' Ut
.rain in the movement In the promenaderOom OF the
Gymnase the loungers inform each other that the
actress who played the character OF Agnes IN Ameo"
ordered the piece for $4,000 coupled with the request
that Mr. sardou would make her ole III 'n0
hast act, she believing that she possesseu
special fitness for the morbund business In rehearsis
the play at New-York she changed her MIND anu CON
esded TO live when the ending unkered by ano'ei
hand according To her new idea. When sardou maue
the play probable that he had poor ioea Vi Ae
can delicacy and penetration. which he sun eh'er'as
As revealed in Uncle Sam" With that VANITY common
10 Frenchmeu he doubtless supposes that Parsan CIVIL
zation enjoys monopoly OF these quantles hence INC
,rude material thrown together in "Andrea"-the dress
pg-room Of vulgar daneing-woman, who inspires e1-
tr.ordinary passions the apartment OF a prefect OF
poce with door opening into library and chimney
whence police agents lunatic asylum Win cola
water douches through the key-hoe.
The play has been little retouched here which makes
II somewhat more presentable than it was in Union
square besides the acting better here The role best
rendered America Agnes, superior here In the
person OF Nine Pierson, handsome and thoroughly
trained actress The Gymnase, in giving her the char
acter did not employ the talent Of its best actress,
Mme D6cles. Mme PiersOn being considered
equal 10 anything the author had put into H.
In popular estimation sardou reached his apotheosis in
RGgabas, his last play at the Gymnase, Laont IN the
principal character contributing much thereto. Inc
death OF this excellent actor the other day has been the
theme of general conversation He was kind OF French
Charles Matthews, but OF higher type. He died at the
age of 75 although he passed for a younger man. lie
vas handsome tall and distinguished In early life and
middle he PLAYED LOveace Characters and then Tor
several years retired the stage. At ripe age he
returned TO it, muchlbetter actor 1t standing re-
proach opinion of many, that he not engaged
the Francois, the national theate the entrance to
which is every French players baton OF marshal On
the other hand, critics, while according TO him the
qualities OF taste. elegance and simplicity think that his
dcton little faulty, his breath too short and his
gesture tr1e too much by rule. He also had slight
hsp. which doubtless Objectionable 10 the inexora
bic Judges OF Rchclieu st. His admirers say that his
oss TO the Gymnase is irreparable; that no other
be found 10 replace him in vgor, fnesse
and sentiment, which is probably true. In all the sue
Of SardOu he has been the right hand man. aud
they have this in common that neither of them has
been invited enter the National Theaer, notwlth
standing their respective merits the classic doors Of
the establishment of Richeieu-st have always been
closed TO the author well TO the actor. In the
language of Bohemia Mr. SardOu does not write up to
the Francais, although he has been for the last ten
years the presiding genius of the Gymnase During this
decade Lafont has been identified with group of favor
ties such Rose Cher Madame Pasca. Mile. Deapore,
and Madame Pierson, Messieurs Landrol Lesueur and
others in plays like "Apres lie Bal" Les Ganaches"
s4N
Oye. He finished his long career. in the drama of the
~Centenaire" in which he made himself look forty years
older, which, according TO Partisan opinion great
act OF courage in such fine Old gentleman whose sue
the boudoir not much behind that athwart
the toOtlights
The relations OF Octave Feulet. as author much
the same with National Theatre those OF Sardou
with the Gynnase. Almost all his work goes to this
thcater which entertans the most critical audience in
the world Fcuilet is known in America as novelist,
especially as the author of " The Romance of a Poor
Young Man" His influence both as a novelist and a
playwright healthy. although not !very active. Re
formers are now in demand all sides for the
Grafton Of France, aud Mr.. Feuiet is of them-of
The rose-water school. He "A favOre with the En-
press AID II is said he partly owes to her his place in
Ihe French Academy, the proudest position to which
French ambition attans. He has written a comedy
called the acrobat" which was represented for the first
lime day OF two ago al the National Theatre. II deals
with subject which has already been handled with
ggor by Alexandra Dumas, in the "Suppice dune
Femme" 1t turns that well-worn pivot-marital
nddcity The husband discovers what he cOnceves TO
culpabe relations between his wife and her handsome
sOusin whom it is the fashion to call gommear,
formerly known as a gaudin. The only new feature Is
hat the author raises smile at the
expense Of the gay deceiyer instead Of the
husband as has been heretofore the custom. The hus
band opens the door aud his wifcs head reclining
sn the shoulder of the cousin he makes step forward.
and rctres a word. The wife walls
aer face with her hand in confusion, and the cousin
grds himself for encounter with explosive nus
sand the husband does not appear and the silent
suspense of the couple their first punishment The
anguish of pcrpleXity and the unknown is written
;he face OF the waiting man and woman. AT length the
cousin hits up his and says at is not right TO
cave a gallant gentleman in such situation" This
speech gives birth a smile in the audience The nus
band after celebrating what course to pursue returns
de requests the cousin retire to the next room, and
en makes his decision to his WIFE which Is this
She shall quit France without noise scandal at this
price she NAV remain the voluntary companion OF the
cousin and she is at liberty to inform him OF 1t at once,
after which her dOwry will be returned 10 her. The
cousin at the invitation Of the husband reenters, when
nc IS acquainted with decision; his
plete success seducer embarasses him. ana lie Is not
tqua to the requirements OF his cOnquestin short he
mas suspicion that he drawn elephant i'll lot
eTy. He celebrates ana reasOns-Of course III the III
erest Of his victim for himself he nothing; he eau
not Of her oss of reputation and cOunsels
her return to the house OF her mother Here where
Feulet does service TO society in putting the de-
teiver ridiculous position, France has laughed
,ny too long the deceived II would be well for
.auon II others would follow his example, with more
yicor for the author OF the Acrobat does his work in
too nica to do much good. THIS play possibly
indicates reaction in popular sentiment as TO the treat
ent which lovers and aithes wives should receive at