The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-12
BOUCICIULTs CLARIsS4 HARLOHE
In What tits Like Unto Lacy's DramntiEatIon.
and In What Quite Unlike the Novel;

On Monday, Sept %, 1916 there was pro-
duced AZ the City Theatre London. under the
management OF Mr.. Il. Homer new tragic
drama in three acts. from the French. 10y
Messrs I. H. Lacy and John Courtney. founded
on Richardson's celebrated novel and entitled
Clarssa Harlowe.' This play may be bought
at French's for fifteen cents
On Tuesday. Sept 10. ISIS there was pro-
duced at Wallacks Theatre in this city. new
play" in three acts entitled Clarissa Harlowe"
This work was from The pen Of Mr. Dion Douei-
cault. who accompanied It's production 10y q
card in which he gave the public 10 understand
that he had made new dramatic version Of Mr..
Richardson's story. and excused the liberty he
had taken with the novel in his second and
third acts by reference ~ the precedent Jules
Janin had made in ls44.
A comparison Of the two plays shows that the
later is founded on tho earlier production
rather than upon the novel Of Mr.. Richardson
II is hardly necessary 70 say that the original
story Of Clarissa Harlowo is the circumstautial
account Of the seduction Of a young lady. All
the plays that have been founded on the tale are
more or less circumstantial representations Of
how she escaped seduction The drama Of
Messrs. Lacy and Courtney is divided into three
acts The first act represents the scene in the
Harlowe family. with C.drissd suffering under
her fathers dspleasure and a prisoner. but re-
cciving clandcstine visits from her lover by tho
connlVAnce az maid and man servant, and
ends with the abduction Of C.Hissd by Lore
Mr.. Boucicault's first act IL virtually tho Same.
he having changed the scene from an interior
70 an exterior 50 that everything takes place in
The second act q the old play takes place in
Loreldce's house. whittier the lady hns been
carried, and ,where Lorcdcts confederatcs as
semblc 70 aid MIN IN MS designs ana 10 glory In
his triumph. Here 1t is that one Of the con-
spira,ors employed by Loredce touched with
resolves 70 defend her. is drugged by Lor, ace
| and sinks, in the very act Of protecting her
with his sword, into insensbiiity.
forms with this variation tina, he makes tho
penitent villain brother q CiHrssd's which
was an cNpedient employed in tho French YER
work without knowing who the lady is and only
discovers the truth IN time 10 sink heplessly NJ
the foot of the stairs leading 10 her chamber,
oder 'IH s1s oust F' about y y EG 6g9S IN who
w Edr 70 fTishsa tPe LADY out Of her Fo9@
| cAult's version It is caused by Cl1rssd. who de-
| lermines 10 destroy herself in order TO Illustrate
| her lover. VINO succeeds in r"scUlng her from
| the flames at the last moment.
In the third act q l,acys play, Cldrissa has
where Lore.Gce finds her and discover that She
| is dying, He instantly becomes penitcnt. but
! IN q struggle with his peniteut confederate is
In the third n't Of Mr. Bouccaurs play
| C'drisSa has taken refuge in tho house Of a
| friend. She is dying and Lort'1ce is peuiteut
To any one who has waded through the in
| terminable epistoary romance Of Richardson
II is unnecessary t. say that this is not the story
| presented in the novel. No play can present it.
because seduction that may be dis ,n,sed OF
| narrated cannot be represented. Why Mr.
| Boucioault should endcavor 10 create the i'm.
preston that lie had read Richardson's novel il
Is impossible 10 tell His play is not success.
! full one and can hardly be a pleasing one. Tor in
| emitting the successful acroml lishment Of The
| villains purpose he omits all that makes tn,
tinism, followed by one act Of mortuQry gric
and po5t-mortem pentonco. cAn hardly max,
| an interesting and cannot by any means make
agreat play, The whole effort as seen At Wal
lacks has periunctory and makeshitt char
acter.
In addition TO this, 1t Is poorly acted. Mr.
Charles +. COghlan has no aptitude for the par
Of Loreldce. He plays the reckless, unscrupu
lous libertine with sedate, renetive metho'
that he yaiply tries " get rid VI. aud tho VIZ