The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-18
FRENCH THEATRICALS.
GA Russian Wedding" at the Sale
VentadCur.
HOW the Boyard8 Ruled Their
Families.
NINE. CARVALHO IN "OPHELIA"
Melingue, the Actor of Ro-
mantle Roles.


took place on Wednesday last at the sale Venta-
dour. Up to the previous day there were rumors
In circulation that the project had been aban-
4 doned owing to the exhaustion OF the pecuniary
resources at the disposal OF the director; but the
obstacle, II IL really existed, was overcome in
time, and there was very lair audience-of
course principally Russians-to witness the
performance. Although utterly ignorant or
the language oil the piece l thought 1t might
/ o1er some features OF interest worth noting ana
accordingly took an orchestra stall IN order to
command good view OF all parts OF the house.
The boxes were well filed out or compliment,
presume, 10 Prince Orion, who has taken great in
terest IN the enterprise but the less fashionable
portions OF the sale exhibited larger number Of
unoccupied seats than Is usual on the occasion OF
q first representation This was perhaps natural,
owing TO the piece being in a language which Is
less known to the French than any other European
tongue but / had occasion TO rejoice that had
not been deferred from being present by this DIM
Guilty, Tor can say with truth that have never
been more interested by any theatrical perform
ance In my life. The TACT tnat, although did not
understand word OF the dialogue, never Tor
moment found my attention wandering from the
stage, and that every one around me appeared to
be similarly absorbed, is the best proof that can
oGer OF the novel and peculiarly interesting char
acter OF the piece.
ding, as 1t IS called, is OF the senderest character,
and merely serves as a framework TO connect
series or Iableau3 illustrative OF the social lie OF
Russia previous 70 the accession OF Peter the
Great, from whose time dates lis first start in
civilization. .Ihe boyard OF the sixteenth Gen.
tuTy,n says Prince Luoomirskl in a predatory
article on the piece twas hybrid sort OF being
slave and sovereign aG the same time. Bowed
to the dust IN the presence OF the Gar he became
I tir md INN
hts home. TINS dual existence, based two social
situations entirely opposite, mad Tor It's result
the strange, mysterious ana taciturn manner in
wnicn the Russian nobes OF the sixteenth century
understood the regulau n OF their interior lie.
The WORK oil NJ. Soukhon Initiates US Into ali
the details, archaologically correct, or Doyard's
home The Russians borrowed from the Byzan-
tines. with whom they had frequent relations, the
minutous cerem NAL OF the caesars OF ConsLantL-
nople the Iartars, VINO neld all Muscovy under
their yoke Tor more than couple OF centuries,
also lett trace OF their passage-the ILLUSTRATION
OF the women. boyard lived Ia his teren sur
rounded by little world OF Tools, parasites and
slaves. The women were shut up In the portion
OF the dwelling appropriated to them, aud where
no one tut their lord aud master could penetrate.
Wives, sons, daughters and sisters depended ABB
soutey on Inc viii OF The cnieL. whose outrageous
dsspotsm held every one In check.
sKetched which the piece gives action and
certainly in quaintness. picturesque noenty and
elaporateness OF detail, know nothing on the
stage that can be compared 10 II. TIE eneot pro-
duced the spectator Il 30 real that he entirely
iorgets he Is In theatre, and imagines himself
transported py some magic influence into o
strange world wAers all - novel, curious ana
solemnly comic to him, II can use SO pnradoxlcal
an expression. But before proceeding iurtner
sa.k. 49,
the thread OF the STORY, 30 As 10 enable my read
ers to understand how out OF o marriage cere.
mony the author has contrved 10 spin out q
piece OF ave acts the interest OF which never
sackens or becomes suspended.
vlaaimir, son OF tue ooyard Artamon Grosder
fals in love. and the accident happens TO him in
this wsy:-one night he IL on the nigh road OF
Pskou with detachment OF soldiers, IN charge OF
number or army wagons, wnen ne observes, en-.
deavorlpg TO pass them, sledge containing two
ladies' one elderly ana the other young and beau
tiiul. The soldiers treat them roughly and inso-
lentJ, but Vladimir hastens 10 their assistance
and disperses them. Tue young lady's eyes en-
counter his and from that moment they are IN love
with each otner. Vladimir inquiries tue name OF
the lar unknown and Is informed that sue Ia
the daughter OF the boyard zvenigordskl,
the mortal enemy OF ms fatner. lie hopes
10 overcome the rancor or this paternal Ieud.
bat he learns that SO FAR from being disposed TO
allow him to wed the opJect OF his affections, hts
iatner has conceived the Tea OF uniting him 70
Marie. tue daughter oil Prince Andre Sontzen.
Vladimir - thrown into despair, aud ne firmly
refuses 10 accede " ms iatners plans OF marriage
Tor nm until he nears OF the death vi beloved.
81 must BIZ her a last adeu.n he says aud rusnes
OF 10 contemplate tue ieatures ol Lvenigordskis
dead daughter. "But II is NOT neri'i ne exciams,
on Denoidlng the corpse. They have deceived
me- she whom saw AT PsKon was not the daugn-
ter OF ZvengordskLn Just as ne Is represented
abandoned 70 grief and despair at the dealh Of
hls Geioved, the curtain rises ana we ale shown
the preparations Tor his marriage to Marie, TO
wncn IN ms lassitude and nopeessness ne bad
almost consented. IL should be stated that at tine
epocn IN which the drama Is lald IL was usual Tor
tue newly married husband not TO raise the veil
winch covered the face OF MS bride until alter TIE
weddlng. Toe young couple are allowed 70 pass
the time OF tue elaborate marriage ceremonies IN
grief and apprehension, and the denouement -
0n.y reached Wnen they enter the nuptl4l cnAIn-
Der and wnen tae removal OF the bridal veil dis
closes to Nladimr's view the features OF MS be-
loved, the unknown OF PskoI, whose name had
been errOneoGsly indicated 70 him.
Nothing can be simpler or more primitive, IL
VIII De acknowledged. tnan this plot, aud yet IL
serves as the paramount TO a numOer oil situations
OF tue highest interest, and eacn Of when forms q
curious STUDY Ia ltse.L In these the story - so
panty AID graphIcally told that the spectator
seldom occasion TO refer 10 the ioretiO, Wnicn,
II should Ne aaoed, IL as iuil and descriptive as
can lie desired.
roe chief interest OF the piece Is, need scarcely
say. found in the accurate picture wuicn Is
presented t. US OF the manners oil a semi.DafDar.
Gus age, IN wnicn, however, are TO be traced some
rsinains OF we old Byzantine clyilzatl9n,
and taste Tor spendor Ia costume. IfeN music
anu cn0reRraphcal enecls, rom their novelty and
pecullarlty, also constitute feature Of sfkDng at
traction. And IN TINS connection let Us adu that
Que OF tue nnest contraitU voices | nave ever
heard - taat OF Miie PuskaNa. pupl OF the
MOSCOW Conservatolrc. sac was eneOfed in all
her Solos aud contributed ~ atly TO the success
Of the peace. several Russian uances are intro.
uuced IN the course OF the evening. ana IN one OF
tnen Mile. Baselien, very beautiful n RI. cn4rmed
every Que by the grace aud picturssqueness OF
her movements
The costumes and accessories OF this piece arc
OF splendOr ana costllaess OF which you can iotm
but little conception at your SIDE. The dresses or
the actresses are entirely composed or gold and
slver tissues, heaviIy embroidered Win gems
anu nothinx can Oe qnainter OF more peculiar
tnan tile forms OF the conures. Inc costumes OF
tue men are equally rich and curious Ia tner wag.
Tue peculiarly OF all tnis " mat IL strikes one
with al ar OF Iealty thc gravity and earnestness
OF tue performers, OF course contributing ~ no
smal uearee TO the illusion, As have