The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-03
DUMhs's HEW PLAY.
A Cha rsct eri-tic study of stage Life aud Char
acier-Tbe Coming Ccst ume.

from me LDHdOn fttegffDh.
The plot Of the COmiCSse ROnldnt may be
soon told. Snc IL an actress who has charmed
NY tho he lrt Of n Young Italian nObleman. OF
rc-9cct,be family, ana he has married her.
nOtwitnstan ling the rc-Olute opposition OF his
tmily ~. Dumas nroceeds TO snow how wen
founded arc the ohjecti ns to such marriages,
and his moral Is certainly a sound one,
. ne cdrt'tn rises on the trst act. reprcscnilnQ
Ccctti the Cnnobled actress (Nme. Pasc " pl W
Ing the part of FOrnfiud IN soma private the
,tricals. She has rdinrd ncr generous and CON
ndtng husband she has also dishonOred MIN,
aud she az tOTmeutcd by desire to return TO the
~ ee. lie on his part wishes her To retire with
MN Tor timo into the country, and live on the
small rcmnins Of lis propcrtv, Trusting to his
ambition and his name for higher place In the
world nv and Ivy but In a scene of exquisite
pleading she charms away his consent to allow
hor to return to her profession ana reh tbiiitate
their fortunes. The arguments for and against
tho ltp O1 the theatre are admirably put,
and, Indeed, Cecfiid, rejected by her hus-
Duhd's family, discontinued with herself,
enamored oi wealth aud joy, and scornin0 the
peace of the hearth, Is in every WY unworthy
of tho bigh-heart' aud chivalrous gentleman
who loves hcr with ~ devotion 80 pure that II
capilvaies her tnaglnsttOn, though " fails to
touch her heart. The first act concludes with
an emotional dialogue, in which the actress Il
carried away by the power and truth Of her
husbands love aud when Count ROmdnt de-
Ciarcs that VI she " false to him he Will kilt him
self, she REPLIES with genuine pnthos. Do not
stop there Kill inth OF us" The idea Of cold
heart thus kindling A. the lire Of n warm one,
aud OF @ woman who II more npres siOnabio and
artistic than anecuOnaio or tender, IS very sub
tly i'm lrincd.
! he second act Is one of overaowerlng dra-
matte interest. IL depicts The return OF CecWt
10 the - ~ aud pnitrays the exciting ana pas
stOnful lie which goes on behind the scenes as
only great artist familiar with tho theatre
could describe IL. Finally Count Romdni learn
ing moan scuIrilous newspaper that his vile
has di-honOred him, amt that she Is quite car
ROD away by the onthusiasm Of her profession.
Oilers still TO p'rdOn ner If she will follow him
to happiness and quiet. Bat her Blhemtan IN
stinct istUO strong for her, and she refuses. He
ten plants himself at Tue door OF her dressing
room and uCice her TO GO ON the stage lest he
should XIII himself IN despair for his wasted
love and his lost 100 nat.e. Win an IN x
prcssihle look Of disdpin, the guilty woman Is
about TO sweep past him to make her entry on
the 81 "a. when he siabs himself, and the cur
tain falls urOn her int0lcraole grief aud fe-
pentancp, which shows itself In wild agony
very sudden and terrible.
The miro act shows us the Count restored TO
health. aud tn n a passionate scene In which he
eNpr sses he love viii n he feels, notWithstand-
happy vile; but he takes leave OF her Tor yer.
ana then she pi0poies TO XII hefself when an
experienced old actor calls on her an conyinces
her that she - merely importing the NTH act OF
"a tragedy into real lie. This seems to awake
nor Uut uf tIc frenzy cf her despair. ana 40
length thoroughly cheered and cOmiortod by
hts pleading sue agrees To fUl1l her cuga-cmeui.
and To return ~ the u 20 tuu,odaLoly. " W hht
snail | sIy to OR comrades who await ynu,'
SAYS this sensibl, counsellor. laughing ber MS
tIiOuic sorrow. to ecorn wIth some vastly world
u wise reasoning, Tel tncm," she answer,
"tcil them thsf | win act t. ricrrow."
The part Of the Countess Rom Uli - marvellously
played by Madame Plsc especially engaged To-
create II. NJ. Worms is the CONT. and the sen
sibo friend Is CIpilaliy acted Dy NJ LiudrUl. The
piece Is of course oxteilently put on the stage,
ana the bail cr,sses ia tho opening sc ne are
vcr3 LONG dresses ot cardinal red anu pc ri white
this year. with gold ca tciatucs aud cham
holding fan, asmel!iu- bottle, ana an eycslass.
That is tne latest novelty ia costume and