The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-02
FOREIGN THEATRICALS.
Successful French
Drama.
Jun DRAME SOUS PHILIPPE H."
The Debut Of Mile. Thalberq-
Miss Ward.

PARIS, April 10. 1875.
Ii is only few weeks since announced TO you
the dawn OF great dramatic reputation in the
success achieved by the Vicomte de Bornler at
the Theatre Francois His ''File de Roland" con-
tinues to attract crowds whenever 1t is played,
and the piece may now be said to have stood the
test OF repeated representation and the reaction
which usually sets In after surprise. There can be
no question as to the character of NJ. de Bornlers
success. 1t places him at once in the front rank
OF modern dramatic authors, and he Will have TO
labor hard to sustain the fame thus suddenly won.
NEW SENSATION.
Scarcely has the excitement produced by this
event among theatre-goers cooled down q little
than it has been revived by another similar piece
OF good fortune which has befaifen q writer still
younger than NJ de Bornier, ana VINO, like him,
suddenly finds himself famous. NJ. de Porto
Richie, the author OF the "Drame sous Philippe
H." which had such an unqualified success on
Wednesday last OF the odeon, is not more than
twen:y-four or twenty-five years OF age, and was
scarcely known, except as o poetaster aud
as the son OF millionaire. 1t Is TO this latter
lact, l presume, that was due the unusual care
that was lavlshed on the mounting oil the piece
and which rendered 1T one OF the most historically
exact as regards costumes ana accessories Lnat
have been seen upon the stage or late years. Ar
lists ana decorators were sent TO Spain to study
the styles and fashions OF the epoch,
and an amount or expense was incurred
winch the pecunlary resources ofthe management
would scarcely warrant The piece was therefore
brought out under every advantage so far as
scenic effects were concerned, and as regards the
there was but little TO ind Iault with, the
parts being all distributed with judgment with,
perhaps, solitary exception. IL is SAID know
not win how much trutn-tnat the plot Is based
on tragical episode which occurred in Mexico
some twenty-five or forty years ago, and that 1t
has been adapted TO the time or Philippe ii. in
order that the author might be enabled TO give
fuller play TO his fancy in this transpostion he
has displayed an ingenuity and boldness which
augur well for his continued success as play
wrlgnr, though it will expose him TO the censure
Of sticklers for historical truth. The story,
has constructed 1t, may thus briefly ld:-The
heroine OF the piece, Donna Carmen oAlcala, Is
married to an old grandee, who might be her
father and who Is distinguished for
nothing but his loyalty TO the Crown. lie has q
friend to whom ne Is very much attached, Don
Miguel de la Cruz, and who falls in love with his
vile. His passion IS returned by Donna Carmen,
but the lovers do not transcend the bounds or
Platonic attachment. The King philippe H.,
who has reached his forty-second year unscathed
by the arrows Of Cupid, suddenly takes it into his
head TO become enamored or the Duchess, and as
he Is not monarch who easily allows himself to
be thwarted he determines to send the old Duke
her husband. on mission to the Duke or Ava, IN
flanders, from WHICH, as 1t is Iraught with PERIL
ne IS Ia hopes ne may not return. Although un-
willing TO quit his young wife the Duke Is loo
loyal subject to think of disputlng the Kings
command, aud he at once Gets out on his journey,
alter placing Donna Carmen under tue care OF
Don Miguel and making the latter swear that ne
Will protect the honor OF his house.
IN THE SECOND ACT
we ind the lady tired OF the Patonsm OF the stu
alton thus created Tor her. aud wnlcn has already
true 10 the pedge which ne had made to her nus
band. and reslsis all her seductions Al last lear
Ing that ms resolution may all, he determines 10
quit Madrid; OUT The Duchess, TO defeat MS pur-
pose, has Nun appointed Captain or the Guards,
where he IS exposed 10 temptations OF another
kind. aud finally enters into conspiracy with the
lnfant Don Carlos in favor or Flemish liberties.
Donna Carmen continues 10 beset hun vita ner So
hcltations and, nnding that she cannot shake his
resolution, threatens him that sne Will give her.
Rusted, saves himself by night; the KING enters
anu tue curtain falls leaving The rest to the
imagination OF the spectators.
TnE THIRD ACf
shows US Carmen alive To all the horrors OF the
situation sue has created Tor herself. she 1uds
herself the mistress OF . man whose cruel and
ieroclous cnaracter inspires her with uorror, and
whom she can neither DOMINATE nor repuis.. Tne
MOBILES Is discovered, the cons prators arrested
ana Don Aguel. whom the Duchess tries TO save,
prefers 10 die rather than accept safety az the
hands oil woman wnom he now thoroughly
desplsss. Donna Carmen IS nevertheless deter
lDg.y seeks the King to OBTAIN his par.
don. Al the hrst appeal 10 his clemency
dies into . rage. DISTRACTED between
love and Jealousy, the appeals OF MS mistress and
the torments oil MS selesteem. his naturally cruel
and revengelul tendencies and the softenin0 In
nuenee ofa woman'5 passionate pleadings, Phhipps
offers US astrikng picture OF The struggles which
sucn minds are condemned ana wnlcn betray
them tlmes INTO the strangesL inconsIstencles.
IL Is IN tnls scene that the power OF the dramast
Il most fet. We recognize in 1t a.ore than an sc.
cidentally happy conception, Tor each detail IL
treated with consumnate skill, and the e1ecs IL !
arrived Ct gradually and without EFFORT.
We now reach the denouement. No sooner has
the King taken solemn pledge TO spare the lie
oil Don Miguel than he makes the discovery that
Carmen loves nlm and that IL IS % the house OF
the Duchess That the cvnsplrators hOlu their
meetings. The King Is, OF course, furious but ne
passIonately 70 think OF punlsnlng ner, aud ne
has sworn on the BlOle 10 spare tue lie OF Don
Miguel While the rcy al mind ~ tnus perpexed
toe Duke d'Alcala suddenly returns ron Flan-
ders. Tne crafty monarch hnos In this event the
into the mlnG oftne Old Duke doubts OF tue ndelity
OF his wife, aud nuicates us friend Don Miguel |
as the autnor OF us dshonor This done
Resigns the pardon OF the latter and takesit him.
sell 10 the Duchess. The royal nina Is now tran.
qul, and need no longer occupy ltsel with prof.
tcts oil vengeance: the husband wall discharge
the task OF the executioner. Accordingly. when
the Duchess, bearing aloit tie parchment with the
royal sea- attacneu, rasnes toward the place OF ex.
ecutlon ITom wnicn the chant Tor tie dead IS OIL.
reaoy audible. the lniurIaled Duke suddenly con-
fronts her, aud, snatcnIng the pardon rom her
10 undecelve him and make him comprehend
that Ally ue mad remained faithful 70 hts pledge TO
MIN. The old grandee refuses 10 listen 30 ner,
the 'tMisereroD swells into Ourst OF Iamentation
ana Carmen learns ironi IL tnat tue head "
her lover mas ianen under the axe. Recovering
herself sne snatch8s u pognard from the Duzes
belt and, after heaping bitter repfoacnes upon
him for conaianine 30 death faithful Trend ana
MRue Writing Ia her last agony the Vindlcuve
old nobemAn stoops down and Whispers tn her
cor, "Dle 10 peace, pacness u Acsla. have