The New York herald., 1874-07-23
New Plays with Exciting Plots at
the Paris Theatres.
Infelicitv-CauSo
and Result.
Money Lenders and Gamblers Swallowed
Near the Footlghts.

Is comedy by NJ Paul Ferrier, and Is not only ad-
mirably conceived, but eXGulsitely played 1t is full
OF spirit and gaiety with some OF those happy emo
tional touches which separate comedy from farce,
and the spectator goes away laughing with wet
eyes, touched cheered and delighted. II Is written
In verse, and cannot help thinking that this is q
mistake. Tor the necessities OF rhyme fetter the
freedom OF thought; but M. Ferrer's verses are
neat and pointed, and they are delivered so we'll
that one is almost able TO forgive tho monotony
which would be insep arabic from this kind OF COM
position in the mouths OF inferior actors. 1t may
be said at once therefore, that Tabarln" has taken
rank as a standard play at what Is perhaps now
the first theatre In Europe.
THE PLOT
1t is, 1t may be said, inevitable that NJ. Ferrier
should have felt himself obliged to follow the trad-
ton Of French dramatic writer's, and consequently
he has inflicted upon his hero the same misror-
tunes were suffered by Georges Dandin. He
describes TaDarin as jealous OF his wife Francis
quine, and trying in vain to recall tie love which
she vowed TO him back TO her heart.
Excited by the tunes OF wine. which he has drunk
to drown MS troubles ne at last administers 10 her
one OF those mild manual corrections which
allowed by TIE laws OF many countries, but which
politely supposed to nave fallen into disuse In
good society. The effect OF this doctrine OF
marital obedience, taught with stick salts
in some historical instances, Is far. in
deed, from reganng the wandering affections
OF FrancisQuine She not only persists in her IN
fidelity to the marriage vow, but makes such al
rangemcnts as give her constant opportunities OF
seeing her lover, and one wretchcd day Tabarln s
informed that she has eloped with hin. lie en-
deav0rs to follow her, put IS prevented. and here
comes the pathos OF the piece Ultimately his vile
returns to him; he explains her temporary alb
sence from his roof, as sucn things only are eX
planned on the stage, and the curtain falls on the
return OF his domestic bliss. The part Of Tabarin
was played by Coquenn with skill and dehcacy
which quite ennobled it, Coquen the younger
was equally successful as Grippe-Sauce, and Kline
interpreted the part OF the mountebank Mondor
with great truth OF accent and gesture
AT THE CLUNY THEATRE
NM Beauvallet have been showing the public
Of Paris how much OF trouble, torment, crime
and infamy may be compressed INTO the space of
twelve hours. NJ ana Nine. Van Bruck, when
the 'Nuit de Paris" begins are indulging IN the
happy hope that their beloved son Armand will be
married on the following morning to his charming
cousin Jeanne. who has been brought up by them
The young man shares the joy or his parents, for
he loves his betrothed with a deep and tender
passion. He therefore resolves that evening to
sup with few friends and take leave OF his bache
lor lie forever. While this Jolly festival Is going
on Louise Berner with whom he has formed
connection more common in France than in
America, breaks In upon the party and
passonately tries TO seduce back the lover who
is about escape from her tolls. All her efforts in
this direction proving poweress she resolves
upon vengeance, and, aided by an old usurer who
has designs on Van Bruck's niece she succeeds by
enticing Armand into low gambling house. The
keeper OF this vile place is one Frusquin, chief of
n ho nd of frnh n n.
lishment though dressed in livery, all his dis.
guised accomplices When Armand wishes to go
home he is prevented from doing SO by Frusquin
and his acOytes. Louise Bernier. stung by re-
morse, comes to his relief: but is stopped on the
way. Presently Armand rises from the card table
after having lost all he possesses. and sold his
watch for q n.th OF its value to the usurer More
over he has pledged his honor for the further sum
OF so OOOr For a moment he attempts to rise up
against the rogues who have despoiled him, and to
wrench from them the profits of transparent
cheat: but he Is reduced TO silence and despair,
for he knsws 1t will now be impossible for him to
marry the girl he loves
Meantime Louise Berner, who Is aware Of all
that has been done, comes to see him and offers
to pay his debt OF honor to the gamblers. He re-
fuses this base proposal with Indignation, but new
ertheiess the young woman, VINO repr caches her
self as the cause of his ruin makes an inventory
OF her jewels with the intention of taking them to
the Mont-de-Piete as soon as 1t is open In the
morning. Unluckily she s calculating without
taking Frusquin and his band OF thieves into &C.
count for they not only break into her house and
carry away her trinkets. but SO manage the busi-
ness as to have Armand accused OF the theft. At
length by the assistance Of an honest servant,
Louise Berner bestirs herself so actively that
the stolen jewels are traced to Frusquin All
ends as dramas ought to end, with the triumph Of
innocence and the punishment of vice.
''UNE NUT DE PARIS"
This is essentially French piece written for a
French audience. It could not be performed in
New York because the hero's castaway mistress
carries Off most Of the admiration which is Justly
considered Ia our country to be only the proper
reward OF purity-on the stage-as though no fallen
woman had ever done acts OF noble self-sacrifce
and sublime devotion. Upon the whole, however
perhaps we had better not exchange our general
views OF morality, stern and sometimes mistaken
Or cruel as they may be, for those light theories
which prevail In France; for here public opinion
goes to the opposite extreme making all improper
people fascinating by reason OF greatness of soul
which redeems their irailty and entices our SYM
pathles In the wrong direction.
Gle PIED DE MoUToN."
This play has been revived at the Porte st. Mar
tin, new theatre built on the site OF tnat wherein
Alexandra Dumas the elder won so many trumphs
In the last generation. 1t Is ballet Jcerfo." or
what is irreverently called ''eg" p.ece-sucb as Is
chiefly the delight OF elderly gentlemen who
not sufficiently careful as 10 the decorum OF their
behavior, ana 1t Is divided into five acts, with
twenty tabeaux or sensation scenes. TIE original
author OF 1t is Martainviile, man OF some theatri
cal celebrity, and has been revised aud corrected
by Coquiard and Cremeux. 1t Is composed OF the
usual characters aud the usual
INCIDENTS
OF extravaganza. Gusman the Handsome re-
ceives talisman from fairy godmother and Is
thereby enabled to win the heart OF Eleonore the
Peerless and to laugh to scorn his rival Nj
gaudnos who ts named with delicate humor in
such manner as plainly to signify that he Is