National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-25
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NATIONAL THE ITRE-MONsIEUR
AIPH

THU NAIIONAb me ,aTRE-MONSlECk
ALPF.JNSE.
As the play Of Monsieur AIphonsen is to be
kept on the stage of the National theatre for the
entire week, Ineluding the Thursday and Satur-
day VespsrtiRes, tvulgarly called matinees,l and
inssmueh It is likely, for more than one reason,
to attract immense and fashionable audiences, in
ereasing every night, as the great wonder to be
referred to becomes better known, It is, perhaps,
quite the proper thing to once explain to those
who have not seen the piece its plot,
The first scene opens with an old sailor,
(Remy,) discovered brushing his captains coat,
who is preparing to 20 on long voyage. The
captains wife CRaymondel is to remain home,
under the care of the sailor, who is laid up for
coast duty. Captain Montaglin has Just received
q letter from son Of an old friend Of his boy
hood, saying he intended visiting him before his
departure. The captain tells his wife Of his ex-
pected visitor, (MOnsieur Oetaye,) and She IN
seen by her husband, is deeply agitated. Soon
the visitor arrives, and IS welcomed cordially by
the unsuspecting husband.
Mons. Octave begins by telling him that he
has 4 child ten years old, whose mother doesn't
even know her; and as he is about to be married
to a rich widow, he has come to ask the captain
to persuade his wife (Raymoode) to adopt her as
her own. Capt. Monraglin, after demonstrating
with him for his reckless manner OF living, at
last consents to receive the child into his house,
anu goes 70 l6J us WIG KNOW OF MS RESOLUTION
Just as Mons. Octave is congratulating himself
on the success OF all his plans he is stopped by
RnymOnde, who demands that he shall give up
this plot against her generous and unsuspecting
husband. Octave begins by reasoning with her,
and declaring that II this child was discovered
his marriage would be broken of by his intended
wife, (Nho Is revengeful as she Is peremptory,)
and that If she discovers the mother Of the child
to be her (Raymonde) she would reveal all to
her husband Ts P5SSs %s p S1S by
her duty TO her husband, at last consents to re-
main silent and take the child. Octave, having
gained her consent, goes OF to tho inn where he
has left the child, and is Just gone when his in
tended wife, Madame Guichard, arrives, breath
less, and demands to see Mons. Octave. Ray
monde informs her that he has lust gone out, but
that she will go in search Of him. And the cur
tam drops on the first act, with Madame Guiehard
awaiting Octave.
The second act opens with Mad. Guiehard in the
same position, awaiting the arrival Of Octave,
who, having discovered her arrival, has induced
Captain MOntRglin to 20 in and tell her he had
gone to Paris; but Mad. Guiehard, who had en-
plOyed spy (MOns. JOYn) to watch the steps Of
Octave tells the Captain that she knows Octave
is in the house, and after little while Octave
comes out and reveals himself She then begins
questioning him about the child, and after threats
and entreaties she makes him acknowledge that
the child is his, but he tells her that the mother
is dead. After hearing all this she insists upon
adopting the child herself and refuses absolutely
to marry him unless he Consents. She then goes
of to Paris to get some things for the child and
tells him she will be back to take the child away
Then Octave goes Immediately to tell Raymonde
hearing this, determines to keep her, and begins
by entreating her husband to keep the child with
them. The husband, unsuspecting the relation
between the child and his wife, tells her that
they will have to give the child up as her father
Mons. Octave, wishes It.. RaymOnde, in her
eagerness to make her husband consent, is thrown
of her guard, and in the midst Of her passionate
appeals she is told by her husband that he has
discovered everything by her words and manner.
She, crushed by this discovery, implores his
mercy and pardon, and he, true to his noble IA
ture, tells her that his conscience forbtds him re-
eetiDg her at the time his love for her IS tested
and the curtain falls on the second act with the
wife in the arms OF her fOrgivng husband.
The third act opens with Mons Octave come
back to take away the child, but the Captain
tells him that his wife refuses to give up the
child, and that to get her he will be obliged to
prove he is really the father by acknowledging
| her legally. This Octave refuses to do, aud the
! Captain hearing this decides to adopt the child
| himself, and has the papers drawn up to this
! effect. Mad. Guiehard goes to Paris and does the
game thing, and on returning discovers the truth
| of matters, and after giving her Intended hus-
| band q sound lecturing shows him the direction
| Of the door and tells him to gO-whieh advice he
| follows. The Captain and his wife being united
| take the child as their own, and Mad. Gulchard
| goes in search Of another husband.
Mr.. ID. Il. Harkins, as Captain Montaglin, filed
| with elegant effect all the requirements OF the
| TOie-one framed for the simple purpose of dis
playing the nature and character Of a noble. for
| giving and Just man. Mr.. Harkins is Just such a
| man as he looks on the stage. Mr.. Il. 7. Ring
! COLDS Octave is lacking in suaTity: address and
! courage. 1t is methodIcAl, tame and machine
ness and polish. It is lacking in nervous force,
/ vitality and magnetism.
Ease, grace, action, GbGHd0R, quick, magnetic
| control are some Of the qualities needed in that
| class OF unconscionable villains to which Octave
! belongs; however, Mr.. RinggOld was most accepta
BILE as n careful and painStaEiHg actor. The
/ Remy Of MIR. Dayidge is a happy illustration Of
/ an old sailor and was greatly enjoyed. His inim,
| liable style in signing his marx evoked a round
i of applause: and Mr.. Jennings aTtistically and
! amuSingly filled his role Of JOvin. There were
( two points in Miss JeWett's assumption Of the
| role of RRymonde noticeAbIy gOOd-the alteration
of her husband in the first act and her confession
! in the second. In each position she displayed q
/ power by no means fOreshad0Wed in her general
! mildness, and fairly won the hearty applause she
received. Miss Grey, as Madame Guichard, gave
us most excellent delueatiOn Of o character
subject to violent emotions, and quick exhibitions
| OF the extremes OF love and hate, and WIthal
! very brave and generous, and full Of witty re,
! sources, and though uncultiVated, we'll up in all
/ the arts Of the world and WOmankind in partieu
| lar.
BIJOU HERON.
What shall we say OF BijOu Heron: C0mpli-
/ mental common places, in speaking Of this won.
| drOus child, are altogether out Of place. She is
| one OF the brightest spirits that ever descended
/ from the sphere OF Immortality to earth. Her
features II not positively beautiful, are certI inly
/ very uncommon, and when 50 perfectly speaking
] her lines, so laultlessly giving each word its
| proper accent and full Significance; when so ar
/ tistically making her entrances and exists, and
tripping from the right to the lett OF the stage she
riyetS every eye, and all hearts are touched with
| admiration and love. OF her years (she is only
| tWelEel she is the most eOnsummate actress the
| world ever saw. What she may become, with in
| ereasing years. time and histriOnic record can
| only reveal but now she illuminates her dramatic
horizon with star that promises, in its zenith, &c
| be Of uncqualed splendOr. Her fathers and
mothers in the profession must feel very proud oil
| her.
! At the Thanksgiving resperfine all the young
| people can go TO see BilOu Heron, and Saturday
| afternoon, too. Her mothers name, illustrous in
the annals Of the stage, is Genmed by the gifts Of
n beautiful daughter, with unlading lustre.
I
WAY.
| The talented sister of Mrs. Bowers is drawing
increasing houses TO at Ford's the interesting
| historical play Of ClancaTty. The history Of thu
| Assassination Plot Of 1898 has been told in detail
| by Lord Macauloy, from materials furnished
| mainly by the State trials Of that date. Tit
| story Of the marriage OF Lord and Lady Clan
earty while still boy and girl, practice not un
| common at the time when it occurred-OT thei
/ long and entire superintendent encounter a
| strangers-the husbands subsequent discovery o
| himself to his wife-the rapid growth Of theil
! lOYe-Clancarty's arrest, in his Wiie's arms, by
/ Lord Charles Spencer, her brOther-his con
| domination to death under the high treason act
license, after filling high posts in the armies ant
| councils Of James H., at st. Germans, and tbs
| pardon obtained with difficulty, from the King
| by the loving courage Of Lady Clanearty, are
The author is answerabIe for duplicating Lord
Clanearty in the assassination plot OF 1893, (fOI
most of the features aud actors OF which, repre-
sented. including the scenes and characters at IN
Hurst, there is historical authority aud for "a
| signing to him the manly and courageous part in
first revealing the plot to the King aud the Earl
| of Portland, which was really played by Thoma'
| PrendeTgast, a Jaeobite gentleman Of lancashire
| The assassination plot Immediately preceded thu
| reunion OF Lord and Lady Clancerty. and The
combination Of the two series OF incidents involve
no violence TO historical consistency. The play i
| now running smoothly, and in Mrs. Conway
fine and spirited rendition Of the role Of Lady Clan
eaIty solid enjoyment is experienced. VeSpertine
| Thursday and Saturday afternoons.
THEATRE CONIUQUE.
The rush to the Comique continues in all it
force. That stage has never presented at on
time so much fine variety talent as it does TIL
| week Get at once son board the Mary Jane,
| aud land at the Con.iQue wharf.
THE RACES YESTERDAY.
The long-talked-Of, Often-postpOned race be