The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-16
An Avalanche Of New French
Pieces.
4CROMWELL' INTERDICTED.
THEATRICAL PROJECTS FOR AMERICA.

number or new pieces have been prese nted to the
French public but lew OF them regret 10 say, JUS
flying my devoting any remarks TO them. when
tue success or work OF this kind is due merely to
truc. as In the case OF the ''Anaire Coverley,"
TO historical perverslon and shameful bur
setting bad example where 1 TO undertake to
seriously critcise them. TIE explosion OF indig-
nation 10 which the Figaro gave way In connec-
ton with the latter pie has only had the effect
OF increasing the public curiosity IN regard 10 IL,
and such is the peryersity OF the managerial mind
that am persuaded that II were to express my
opinion oil rs freely the piece woUld Immediately
lie seized upon by certain Of our theatrical entire
prefeurs In America who have earned unen-
viaole reputation by their eager adoption OF ali
tue eccenrlcities and extravagances OF the
French stage. As have no desire to be accessory
10 the depreciation OF the standard OF taste or
morals IN my own country shall conine myself
TO noticing such pieces as either have pretensions
TO literary or dramatic merit, or are rendered re-
markable by peculiartles than their vices OF
construction
CROMWELL
To this latter category belongs CROMWELL the
new 1ve-act drama by Victor Sejour and Maurice
Drak, which was produced the other night at the
Ambigu. A variety OF circumst ances combined to
inname public curiosity in regard to 1t. The pot-
lca appositeness OF It's title. the possible adapta-
ton OF It's dialogue to passing events, and the
extreme care bestowed by the management on It's
preparation, and which necssitated q reidche OF q
fortnight, all operated as stmulant TO 0 public
btdss with mere artistic banalities IL was not to
be wondered at, therefore, that the first night
OF Its representation the audience should CON-
PRISE in addition to the usual theatrical haoitu6s
many leading politicians. wen as a number OF
foreign Journalists. or the literary merits or the
Without SKILL is wanting In dramatic earnestness,
and consequently drags lamentaoly at times
The subject, however, Is OF character that
excludes the possibility OF total failure. Several
OF the situations are effective, and they serve to
Keep alive the attention Of the audience. An I'M
provisation By one OF The actors as unexpected
rs IL was unfortunate, converted this languid at
tention into passionate interest. In the text OF
the piece as altered and corrected by the censor
ship, Cromwell Is made use these words -
us sdpprochent ct rdnpent dams romore ces
miserdoes alterss jatsQG la rage dc genereuz sang
De rAn0Ieterre.' Talllade VINO played the part
recKlessly altered the WORDS italicized TO. ices
niserGoes royaliStes altsres jilsQu'a la rd0ev &c
The phrase was Immediately caught up and vehe-
nently applauded by group OF persons seated in
the pit ana as boisterously responded 10
by the members OF the ctaQue stationed
In otner parts OF the house. This gave TO
the incident appearance OF design and or
course excited the indignation OF the royals Is
and Bonapartisrs present. scene OF lndescrib-
able confusion followed, and II was some time be-
fore the tumult could be appeased. IL Is SAID,
though the assertion IL contested that tie DIS
turbance was carried into the street; but, be this
as IL may, IL served as ground Tor tue suppression
OF the piece for a Tor might, by decree OF General
Ladmlrauit, Governor OF Paris. Thus the whole
a
craftsmanship, obylousness or recklessness, which
ever you may choose 10 call II, OF q single artist,
punishment certainly Inexperienced 10 the or
fence. One OF the republican journals peItinently
reminds tue authorities that when ''RaDagasr was
produced, its caricatures aud outrages on prom
lnent republicans were suffered 10 pass nnpun-
lsned, although they gave rise TO disturbances
mnch more serious than those which Interrupted
Talllaue, the actor - whose Indlscreiion the
whole miscnlef ~ due, publishes an aHende hon.
o'dbts ia the journals ana apologies Tor the
enence, when IAN unfortunate chance OF Improy-
satiOn," a. he cAlsd u, caused him 10 oner 10
~ VI .c M w nv ~ p,esvhve o. Lnis act
orally IL Is probable thst tue introduction will ue
at once removed from the piece. Indeed, one or
the Journals o. last evening announces that Gen
eral Ladmrault mas ALREADY revoked mis- order.
LA RENE ISDIGo.''
The nrst operate WORK OF JOhan Strauss, and
whlca was brought out With SO much success at
Vienna about lour years ago. was produced Tor
me urst time in Paris At the fneAtte uc 10 RenaIs
sance On Tuesday last. Inc libretto IL one OF the
lgntest and most fantastic possible, but II IS al
ned With music taat amply redsems ITS poverty
aud thai, In TACT, would render the most skill
iully deyisei plot feature OF subordinate
interest. Melody ~ us alI.pervadng cnaracteris-
tic; out melody distinguished by originality, anu
ia which, with perhaps a single exception, II Is
impossible To trace souvenir vi other composers
Zoe impression let upon the senses BY tnis con
nuuous stream u graceful and pleasing narmo-
MES is Of tue most soothing but Al the same time
exnilaraung. nature, ana can only be compared
to ne dencieus intoxicatlon produced ~ the
hasneesh OF the Orientais. Out OF tile numUerles.
beauties of toe woik Il would De difficult 10 say
whicn nnds most favor with tue pubic LOT nearly
all the nlo1Cedux were encored on the drst night
result wnlcn IL u out fair TO say SOME de-
gree que 10 the admirable manner ia which the
ulnerent roles were Interpreted. allie. xglma
BVudar sung that OF FanlHsca. tie part orgi-
naly created py Nile. Gelstinger the popular Ger.
man prlma donna, and was ~ successful In AZ
that sue received quite an ovation. VI. Puget as
Janio ana "A. vantnier a. cnief or tue eunucns,
also sang agreeably the music or their parts, and
came IN Tor their saare Of tue nonois 81 lae even.
iuE. The costumes were magnificent, and cspe-
me journals deyCtes an entire article II Is stated
SAat tue CON- oser was so well satisfied with the
VI her part that he engaged her on the spot to
create the principal role OF the new piece which
though frenchNoman, II appears that Nile.
Bouffar speaks German perfectly, and, therefore,
VIII dad no di1icuty IA ful1lliuT all the require
nents oi tue Part. Ike most men of genius, tue
composer was extremely nervous about the i'm
preston made by the nrst representation OF his
piece upon Paris audience. anu, Instead OF iaking
his seat IN private box, Kept walking up ana
down the cCullsses during the evening. From
time TO time Nine. strauss came to INFORM
him or the EFFORT produced by his pet D.0rcenilr
ana bis mind was soon relieved or oil anxiety ~
g. the general result. When The curtain iell a; the
close OF the performance he mad the satisfaction or
hearing yocuerous and persistent call Tor MS
appearance and wnen, ACCORDING 10 the Vienna
ia snion he was led out Dy Niles Brounar and
Alpnonsinc he was overwhelmed by tue enthu
hasm win which he was received. me Princess
de Metternicn and the Prince ae Sagan, VINO occu-
ped box near the stage, distinguished lnem-
serves by the prominent snare wnlcn thef took In
the ovation.
.'THR HCGUESoTs" AT the OPERA.
Meyeroeers cher-dRucre has been brought out
al tue New opera VITA completeness OF cast aud
spleudor o. mise scelse mat lmpart TO II all the
interest OF novelty. Mnen state that Faure, Mme
GarVaho, Mile. krauss aud Nllaret all appear IN tue
piece, some idea can be formed Of the enectlve
manner Ia which Il Is presented The chorus aud
oTeheslra leave but little to be desired, and that
~ e wiz pc sup lied after few more nights per-
lCFmabce. All that IS now wanted 10 restore
ffench opera 10 It's former glory Is new batcn OF
1atlve composers 10 extend It's repertoire aud
nuctiiy the Held on wnlcn much oil tne national
he MA naufv