The sun., 1873-12-08
AMTSEME ENTS.


An audience large, bright, eager, wns at
the Union Square Theatre Saturday evening, to
see a work Of NJ. Octave Feuillet prepared for
the English stage by Mr.. Dion Boucicault, acted
for the FIRST time in this country, under the title
LED Astray." The motive OF the drama and
the course OF its action, especially up to the end
Of the third act, are very much like that Of "Frou
Frou." The wife, however, has more principle
than Frou Frott moro character, and takes no
irrevocablc step, while the husbands conduct
furnishes excuses for errors not to bo found in
that OF GHbert's lord. The incidents through
which this motive is developed and the charac-
tors moved by the action are different in tho two
plays, and the difference ls favorable to Led
Astray," in which there Is much the greater
breadth, depth, and vigor. In the fourth active
have the duel between husband aud lover, no
body killed. though and In the NTH act we
have the reconciliation, but nobody dies of II.
In this play the wife has been foolish rather
4 AN guilty, while the guilt of the husband Is
Now. Il tho American public should happen
TO think that tins play stnacks of tho deprnvcd
drama, and therefore should not like Il, Mr.. lIou-
cicnult woull probably assert that there ia no
truth in the loud assurances frequently ex-
pres sed by the press that better kind of dramat
rci1l and only paper circulated In " the Union
Square Theatre states that this play us now put
forward by him with the publicly ayowed inten-
tion Of te ting the taste OF the day. and that
"he l. about to submit To the American public
series # legitimate, high-class comedies, to
surances,' &c. We are also Informed In the
same oncal manner that mo ono but the
author II London Assurance l. perhaps capa-
mont"
Now; II any Of the good people of New York
should prefer that their wNc and daughters
should not study how to bc Led Astray in
the most approved French fashion, II would
show conclusively that they had no taste for
Legitimate high class comedies" and also that
there Is no truth in the loud assurances Sc.
Considered simply as a WORK made for dramatic
representation the play has many merits. with
the exception OF wordincss. which obstructs tho
action In the first act. and which defect the dis
tnguished author can easily remedy, the dia.
loRIe II, as might I've expected. good as a whole,
and IN rarts admir- ,ble The story Is told neatly,
uehhltcly, ana fully. Form, color, contrast, all
are very artistic.
rho decorations with which this play Is set
upon the stage Of tho onion square Theatre were
ol the most complcte and exquisite kind, aud all
the details Of the representation received due
hvc acts, and is presented IN six tableaux, that Is
70 say, speaking after the Eng fashion, scenes.
thirteen pcrsunages complete the round OF
characters Part Of the action takes place IN and
ABOUT chateau In Normandy and O part at u
noble lady hotel in Paris The cast was excel
lent, uncommonly wei balanced, while each
wilkins. Miss Kate t'ayton, Miss Eliza Wealth
Jr.. Mr. VI kee lilnkil. MIR. Stuart Robson, Mr..
W y Montgomery Mr. Claude Burroughs. Mr..
W. III. Wilder, and Sir. ". ). Quiglcy. Where
the representation as whole was SO good, the
parts so justly subordinated. and the entire
WORK 80 idlfly rounded, 50 JudiclousIy COlOred,
and so approp lately toned we do not feel IN
clined To aOalyZc and examine 1t part by part,
nor have we room to do SO. Yet We cannot re-
frdn from saying that Miss Eytinge did her
work with notable judgment and skin. so ht-
tingiy and powerfully As rightfully to increase
her already cnviable reputation; aud that Messrs
lhurne Rankin, and Robson manifested so true
conceptions OF the characters which they
spcctively assumed and 50 much good taste and
propriety of department in their embodiments
u much 10 Increase the high esteem IN which,
as artists, they were already held. Miss Eytnge
was FREQ uently called before the curtain; So was
Mr. Ihorne. At the end Of the third act. when
the hrst emphatic thrill passed through the
audience, Mr.. ljoucicaIlt was called out, and the
compliment was repeated at the close of the
representation when the distinguished gentle
man made "A short sPcech, generously giving a
large share Of the honors won for IL,
author Of the play to It's Fre1Ch parent
Indeed, applause throughout was hbeTallv and
IN the main justly be-toNtd. The indie cAtions
brought uut bl thls hrst T.. rfurniancc were o. {
the piece would enjoy popular favor fVI long
time. II vii! be aCted every evening uHtii farther
Lut.cc.