The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-28

"Follfnc" Last Evening 1T tho Fifth
Avenue Theatre.

AZ tne Flfth Avenue Theatre before acr0wded, bril-
liant and Delighted assembly. AS we intma ted yes
terday 1t Is adaptation OF four act French play,
Ebut contains several illusions that assumed to
bgive it American gamor. The story is con-
cerned with the ambition, folly sin and penitence
ola young couple palad Rene and Polline Gene
trvoix: N. genev0ix Is the youngest surviving
lmeInber or an Old established Partisan firm. Fol-
lines temperament tpirsts for the pleasures
J and fashion of society," Her discomfort Is
Isffied by the chance visit OF Aglae,
former school friend now wealthy widow,
who invests her money in the Northern Panunky
and Denver Central, looks like coquette talks
like woman of fashion ana acts like man OF
| business This fatal stimulus Is acquired by Fol.
line at the very hour when Rene's uncle, old
GenevOix. the only other member of the frm has
| brought home Renes sister Gabrielle from the
| convent where she has been educated and when
| the house Is astir with preparations for triple
| festival. Just before the preparations COM
pleted, however, Rene informs his wife that he has
fitted up new establishment and invites her to
| join him in persuading their uncle to
| remove thither. Old GenevOix Indignantly
| refuses, and expresses himself SO warmly in
| favor OF old ways and old institutions
| as almost 10 bring about a quarrel. Rene ana
Folllne. afraid OF telling him the TRUTH leave
| letter announcing their determination and fur
! lively steal away just rs the assembled party are
prepared to sit down to table, This is the first Sc
rious mprObabity of the drama. Likelihood is
sacrificed for the sake of a tabieau but the tabieau
gives sensational emphasis to the end Of the act.
In the second act the young GenevOix are in their
| new and sumptuOus residence. Ola GenevOix,
| who has forgiven them, comes in company with
Gabrielle to pay them VISIT The act opens with
short scene between Bonnefoy, a valet, who Is
correcting proofs OF an article of his own on ''The
Duties of Masters to Servants" and Mile. TheO
dose, lady's maid VINO is entering Fone's
cations, makes demands that are a broad burlesque.
not without q grain OF truth, upon the nsOence
The selfassertion menials Ynites with the spen-
dor Of the apartments in Imposing upon old Gene
ne oehoids Top Of the iIrst water, gwen up to
gambling. dancing and horse racing, and sees in
wSo ve a Sy n Wits an
ton among nineteen century virtues, his shrewd-
ness and simple faith in honest purpose assure
ruin. This conviction. Is strengthened by the
financial sOphistries and cynicism Of Agiae and by
unmistakable stamp Of the Partisan libeTtine.
The balconies OF the floor occupied by the Gene
previous LOGGER mad erected an envious fence be-
tween, and the object Of the Counts VISIT is to
| accede to request OF Rene's that the fence may
be taken down, on the ground that it obstructs
Folline's view Of the Boulevard. The Count
mration Of FoIline, whom he secretly adores, that
| somewhat questionable flavor Is given to this
81 the barrier viii ultimately be the means Of in
Producing the Count into FOlline's private apart
A ball given by the Genevoix to their new
friends s indicated by the preparations with which
the third act opens. But In the midst OF the es-
| tivitieS Rene Is distracted by money difficulties
into which his extravaganza has led him. These
difficulties are augment ted by his ENHANCEMENT
with danseuse; Certain notes, which he is I'M
able to meet, fail due on the morrow, and in this
extremity he applies, to his friend d poatame for
sille are enjoying a first class Irritation The in
ordinate excitement OF Folline's lie has
ss Fevous IN to Ss Da II
she mas swallowed a. lew. drops too
with the Count, is almost overpowered with drow-
siness. In this condition she sinks upon sOla
the Count addresses her in the language of pas.
sion. This scene may be taken in one Of two
senses It either represents a the momentary dream
to the irresistible sweetness OF an IDEAL or else IL
represents weak woman, enervated by social dis
flciai drowsiness her own excuses lead her to
seek, and dlsingenuously pleading that drowsiness
knows base. 1t is pleasant able to add tnat
the refinement OF Miss Dyas who played Fo!llne,
probation. This act contains, too, q long and
amusing scene between Aglae and Pontame and
gambling and dancing Gaspard, has eloped with
large quantity OF his employers money, and that
an American banking house IN which Rene had ex-
tensively invested has just failed. The fourth
act presents to view the private apartments OF
Rene is absent in pursuit Of his cashier, and the
| servants have left on TIE moment, having come to
a the Is Is in a
and no one who has taken care to watch the con-
structon OF the play Is surprised to see the Count
| de Marsille presently make his appearance on the
balcony. 1t is only Just to say however, that he
does SO in answer to summons from Folline, VINO
has discovered her husbands suspicious relations
with the danseuse, and Is willing to accept
the Count the very she
been drinking heavily and his intoxcation is more
and more evident as the scene proceeds Finally
disguised with the Counts drunkenness. orders
| him from the apartment. He refuses to CO. She
mixes few drops OF laudanum in some WAFER ana
! to lnscnsibihty and so regain the note she has
nm and which ne aods IN terror over her
laudanum VIAL drains the contents and falls ap-
parently ileess to the ground At that moment
to examine some papers Gaspard has left behind
him and winch are Contained in desk that is in
FoIIine pushes the soft in front Of the PROSTATE
Count, and admits her husband. She refuses, how
he must discover the Count. Just then Pontame
| arrives. Unseen by the rest Foliine hands him q
away. He leaves, and u moment or two after, as
Rene Is preparing TO burst open the door, Aglae
as oeen sesSo anS DECLARES sa
| been passing the night with FOliine. Subsequent
explanation shows that, acting upon Follln's SCRIP
that both together removed the Count, who is now
! recovering under the care of his physician. Old
| GenevOix and Gudin, his confidential clerk, now
arrive, and Gaspard is caught and makes restltu-
| ton. Gudin's savings, which are offered ana ac-
| cepted. are enough to cover Rene's Obligations
and the curtain tails ppon the acceptance OF Pom.
| tame by Aglae, the mutual confession and forgive
| ness of Rene and Folline and a neat moral pat
| tude by old GenevOix.
| "Foine" belongs to the class OF clever dramas
| about which nothing Is enduring but the oblivion
| INTO which they ultimately drop But after making
due allowance Tor some extravaganza OF situation
| and the recklessness with which probability is
occasionally violated in order to secure effects
| they are clever and interesting though rather
| sensuous ana warm colored reflections or some OF
| the vices and 1oibles OF limited but glittering
sphere OF society. The present drama Is full Of ac-
| ton. Not scene nor character is supernuOus
| The dialogue has that smartness which contains
| something of the surprises Of wit without its
intellectually. None OF the characters are orig
inal, but the entire group affords contrasts
which are capable OF being often repeated with