Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-05
"THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL"
Ils suecess on lhe Connnent.


Nor has the success of The Schoo
for Scandal been confined to English
speaking lands 1t rapidly crossed the
Channel, capturing the stage and capt.
gatlng the critics OF France. It's texture
was quite strong enough to bear betray
ing into a foreign tongue. Its solidity
Of situation, its compact and easily com
Drehensible plot. aud its cesseless play
Of vita SORT of Ell Dorado of wit as
Moore calls it. where the precious meta.
is thrown about by all classes as careless
ly as if they had not the least idea of it.
yalue"-thsse we're sill qualities sure ia
commend it to the Partisan public. Ii
l7SS, the auction and screen scenes were
introduced into a little piece called Lies
Deux Neyeux," The next year a trans.
lation in French by NJ. Dslille, with the
permission, apparently, OF Sheridan him
self, wa published in London. Besides
the utilization of certain episodes in Les
Portraits de Famille," Les Deux Cous.
ms, and "Valsain ct Florville'-all
mentioned by Moore-a stage adapta.
ton Of the whole play by Cheron was
produced at the Theatre Francois; il
was called lie Tartufe des Meurs."
Fifty years ago, another version,
"LEcole du Scsndale," by two melo.
dramatic writer's, Crosnier and Jouslin
de Ia Sale, was acted at the Porte st.
Martin Theatre, with the pathetic Mad.
anne Doryal as Milady Tizle.
Another adaptation, someRhat con-
densed, has been brought out this year at
the same thester, the Porte st, Martin.
A series Of international matinees was
given there, and THE School for Scan.
dial, with a few scenes from Macbeth, "
upheld the honor of our dramatic litera-
tDre. This last performance gave NJ.
Sarcey, the critic of the Temps, and the
foremost writer in France on theatrical
subjects, ab opportunity for q most in
ieresting appreciation Of the play. He
considersit one of the best Of the second
class, which, IS in his view the first class
would contain few plays but those Of
Shakespeare aud Moliere, is high praise.
ranks THE School for Scandal with
lie Marriage de Figaro, and institutes
the comparison of Sheridan with Beau
marcbsis. which NJ. Tame had already
attempted. But NJ. Sarcey holds a more
Just as well as a more favorable opinion
Of THE School for Scandal" than NJ.
Tame.
An earlier French critic, Villemain,
who edited g close translation of the play
for the ssries Of foreign masterpieces
declared it 10 be one Of the most amus.
ing and most witiily-comic plays which
can anywhere be seen, aud be hit upon
one Of its undoubted merits when be
pointed out that its wit is SO radically
comic that it can be translated, which,
as al know, is the most perilous trial for
wit possible"
The Germans we're not behind the
French in the enjoyment Of The School
for Scandal" Schroeder, the actor and
author, went from Vienna to England
no small journey a hundred years ago
expressly for the purpose of seeing il
actsd. he understood English we'll, and
attended every performance Of the piece
while be vas in England. On his return
10 Vienna, be produced an adaptation
Tor it is such, and not a translation,
though the spirit of the original is well
preseryed-which has held the German
stage ever since. Macready records him.
self as having seen in Venice an Italian
version Of the play-that by Carpani
probably-which could hardly have fol
lowed the original as closely as was to be
desired, but the strength Of the situations
and the contrast Of the characters would
always carry the piece through in any
language and in spite Of any alterations.
There are doubtless versions OF THE
School for Scandal 49, trAnslatisns OIL
adapiations-in many other languages.
1t may be noted that the AtheD@um has
recently announced the due celebration
Of the hundredth anniversary Of its origi
nal performance by the production Of q
Dutch version at the Hague. -[Apple
tons Journal for June.