The New York herald., 1874-05-17

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comes incosnlto to visit Paris. Determined
TO enjoy himself. ne conhnes his invesiiga-
tlons OF French life to the fastest society. and is as
much hoaxed, fiirted with and feeced as any
wooing Prince need desire. 1t Is the story OF
Orenbach's .'Vie Parisenne" over again, with this
exception that In M. yasseur's operetta the part
OF the Prince is taken by lady. The music Is
pleasing enough, but the play has not made u great
hit owing TO scenic oOntretemps which marred the
first performances. French managers are never
so gorgeous as Americans in putting play on the
stage-tnat is shey do not lavish so much in
scenery and properties, nor do Partisan audi
ences much care about their doing SO. Bat in
the "Parisiennes'' there Is a scene where half
dozen dukes and marquses pay visit
to lady and bring her bouquets, and when the
public saw that the parts OF these noblemen were
enacted by six "snpers, J" dressed like journeymen
tatiors in reduced circumstances this was too
much even Tor Partisan endurance, and
Homeric laugh was raised which swept in gusts
over the audience throughout the evening, rem
dering them incapable OF bestowing serious atten-
tion on the piece. AS the first performance vir-
tuaiy decides the fate OF play, so far az the crit
les are concerned, lies Parisiennes" was al
most killed outright BY this laughter, for the fiat
OF the critics went forth that the operetta had
been made sport OF from end to end. remember
at the opera Comique. In one scene crowd
OF conspirators occupied the stage, and an actor
had to CRY out 'Let one go away" but he
called out by mistake, "Let nobody leave this
room" Thts reused q laugh, but the merriment
rose to roar when, few minutes afterwards
this actor having to feign death, the two men who
were to carry him of the stage were utterly
unable to lift him because Of has fatness. snake
two journeys OF it, sung out boy from the gal
1fo1Isv
mood Tor tittering that 1t was only by miracle
the piece escaped tabooing.
"LE COUSIN PoNs''-BY N. DE LAUNAY.
Out OF one OF Balzac's best novels Nj. de Launay
has drawn q comedy for the Theatre de Cluny.
Cousin Pons is one of those human oddities whom
Balzac, like Dickens sketched with loving minute
ness. He is music master, half miser, per-
sstent pfQueaSsiette that Is, social parasite, and
q great collector OF curiosities. His delight Is to
stroll along the quays OF Paris, inspect the old book
stalls and 0ric-a-byac shops and make purchases
which his few friends regard as so much lumber.
When he dies the relatives who had snubbed ana
even ilused HIM little surprised TO find that
Cousin Pons heaps of rubbish form valuable
art collection, salabe at 100000 francs.
In the novel the discovery is made in the final
chapter, and we part with the greedy heirs as they
are in the full food of rejoicing over their Ill
merited inheritance; but in the play NJ de Launay
has made Cousin Pons' wealth the centre OF
numerous shabby intrlgues, round which the am
bitions OF host OF rapacous people converge
Cousin Pons Is also endowed with niece, who Is
the heroine, and OF course this young lady sue
ceeds in thwarting the designs OF the intriguers,
gets all her unce's money and is happily married
before the curtain tails. Since adapting from
novels is much the fashion it is rather TO be de-
sired that adapters should penetrate themselves
VIII 10 irir an
and, If they add new incidents, take care to make
them ft in with the idiosyncracies OF the char
acters depicted. NJ. de Launay has not done this,
In giving Cousin Pons niece he has forgotten
that most OF the mans eccentricities arose from
his leading sort OF hermt's life as a bachelor.
An uncle who lives dozen years with little
niece, toward whom he stands as a iatner, whom
he educates, supports and fondles Is not likely to
become lost, half crazy recluse. The little girls
society would humauze him; or If it did not, then
his own vagaries would certainly tell In some way
upon and prevent her from developing into a
bright witted. amlable and homey girl. However,
in despite Of the blemish common to the majority
OF adapters, NJ. de Launay's "Cousin Pons" is
success, and Bazac were ne still alive, would
scarcely disownIt.
BUNCH OF THEATRICAL NEWS
France being stricken with poverty, her theat-
rical managers are unable to pay actors and
actresses at high rate, and in consequence she
suffers terribly from the competition OF roreign
impresarii-Russian, American and English-who
tempt away her finest STARS" Mile. Delaporte
and Nine. Pasca, by far the best OF living French
actresses-now that poor Mile. Desclee ia dead
have permanent engagements at st. Petersburg;
but the former being home for few weeks hoi-
day, has consented to give series OF performances
at the Gymnase, and the rush for tickets is as
praar 4 Milo nalanorta were a rpnnwpad ctran
ger, often heard OF, but never seen. 1t is said
That the two new stars OF operetta-Mme. Judic
and Nine. Theo-are in treaty with q New
York manager, and, as their acceptance Is only
dependent On the condition Of q slight increase in
the sum originally offered, that difficulty Will no
doubt be removed. Mile. Schneider, alter years
retirement, has reappeared in Onenbacn's "Per-
chole.n She still sings well, but has grown
curiously fat, and appears to feel tnat her lusre
is waning before the younger beauties of Mines.
1heo and Judic above mentioned M. Dupuis, the
French buffo singer being in St. Petersburg. lately
addressed petition to the Emperor praying that
Russian managers might be maze 10 pay per.
centage to the French authors whose plays they
performed. His interference In this matter was
considered impertinent and he has been obliged to
leave Russia in disgrace Mile. Marie LegaulG, who
made her debut at the Gymnase some months ago
in a play OF MolieTe's, has been progressing Ia
mousy ever since, and bids fair, according to COM
petent prophets, to become an actress Of the
highest order. Mile. Favart, the "Queen,n OF the
Theatre Francais, much rritatea by the comments
that were made in the press her spitefulness In
excluding the late Mile. Desclee from the Francais,
threatened the other day to give her resignation
but was prevented by an humble petition from
her brother actors. NJ Garnier's new opera house
is expected to be ready the 1st of May 1875 and
by that time 1t will have cost $4,000, ,ooO Count
ing the loss OF the rental on the ground where it
has been in process Of building for the last twelve
years that moderate sum may be doubled; but
there Is no doubt that when opened it win be
found to be worth the money.
LONDON THEATRES.