The New York herald., 1876-11-21
MISS MUTTON.

Under the above title there was produced at the
Union Square Theatre last night remarkable playa
play destined to make on the American public deep
impression IL based that tendercst passion
oi the human prcast--a mothers love for her
children. II is stained, a all human passion
Is likely to be, with guiltthe guilt OF wife untrue
her vows, but in truth sinncd against than SIM
ning II 10 from tnc French in the shape OF
adaptation, with considerable additions. The
original is a masterpiece. ana every line
that has been added has merely heightened.
without improving the story. Three acts
which form the body of the piece. contain all
The sterling dramatic elements. and adding intro
ductory and concluding act the adaptors have been
painting the ly." They have succeeded only In
iaubing II; they have blurred but could spoil the
beauty OF this dramatic flower So far the adaptors
have confined themselves to transiatins ther author
hey have done their work WELL and even the added
natter is not without merit. but it happens DC de
rop But Notwithstanding the tampcrings It has been
ubected to the public accepted the piece at its proper
value and pronounced 1t great success and here le,
say that more legitimate
better earned; the cast phenomnai
we had almost been tempted TO say perfect From
Miss Clara Morris. who as Miss Mutton achieved VIC
tory her former trumphs. TO Hiss Sylvester
played small part, nearly every role filled with
completeness and roundness seldom witnessed outside
Ihe walls of tho Theatre Francase. With such cast
4 poor play would have chance OF life and
4 good is assured OF a sweeping success The
weight OF the piece upon Miss Morris shoulders
and never have We seen her display such
mingled force and tenderness as in her
almost tragic presentation OF mothers
sunerings and troubles. She sweeps tho whole gamut
OF human feeling, and every chord finds echo In
the hearts OF her audience. In The opening the
key is pitched low but the plot unrolls the voice
OF passion swells to the point where the
mother, calling all her love, makes the
anal sacrifice, and voluntarily abandons her children
rather than darken their young lives with the story OF
her shame At this point, with mastery dramatic
instinct tho French authors, Messrs. Nus and Belot
left the story, leaving the rest TO the imagination
the audience The sacrifice was consutnmatcd. the
woman and mother abandoned house, husband
and children, and went forth to die broken
hearted all that these children to whom her heart
yearned might not know the dishonor their mother
had brought upon them ana though in her heart she
knew herself gutlcss of the crime the world imputed
Ibis ending, and have BROUGHT TO The
nesth scene, where the subllmity OF the
last sacrifice degraded by the revelation that tho
governess who had won their lovo their guilty
mother. Tho improbab,lty and bad taste oil bringing
the second vile TO tue dcathbed OF the first must be
laid at the door OF the adapter IL is ugly blot that
would not have been suffered by the original authors
Mr.. o'Ne IN the character OF Maurice de Lalour had
not as much 10 do as could have been wished but what
be did fully Justified the high Opinions that had been
formed Of his talents He was forcibe, scfcontainsd
and manly. and made very favorable impression IN q
part that not calculated TO obtain very large share
sf public sympathy Mr. stoddart who made his
1rst appearance this season. very anus
ing bra Osborne, and Mr.. John Parselie,
the tutor, Monsieur Belin, awakened SYM
pathy and won all hearts. The remaining char
meters filled folows:- Msthille dc Latour,
Miss Sara Jewett; Jane DO Latour, Miss Biou Heron;
Paul de Lstour. Miss Mabel Leonard: Louise, MISS
Helen Vincent; Thomas Wrapping, NJ G. NJ Collins.
The children parts admirably filled by Bjou
Heron and Miss Leonard, both OF whom give bright
promise OF futurc greatness.
the play is divided into FIVE acts, each one ending
with a good situation. In the first act added
on, "A number OF children brought on with
good effect TO supply the motive ior tho re-
turn Of Miss Mutton to her abandoned home-that
is where the French play begins, The curtain
IN the second act falls the mother accepted as
governcss to her children, and suddenly con-
fron.ed with the husband she had wronged The thrd
ACT is devoted to showing how Miss Mutton IS
gradually forced by circumstances TO bs-
tray herself TO her children aud the second
vile. The fourth to n struggle between
the two women, who recognized each other deadly
toes, and Inc final sacrifice that mother makes TO her
children. The last could we'll be spared though 1t
Afforded Miss Morris opportunity Tor some admirable