The New York herald., 1879-10-22

| Last night was exceptionally interesting becaus
it was to reintroduce to the public the regular com
pany. which has been travelling for several months
swinging about circle that includes Boston. Chi
cago, Philsdelphia and their dependencies 1t has
been officially announced that the management pro
posed making this theatre home for the eclect'
drama. and its Aabit1es hocked in goodly array te
witness the first step in its departure from the realm
of sentiment and ''contemporaneous human inter
est" The house. the audience. the play and the
actors deserve critical attention. and claim
! IL III the order given. During tho lone
summer recess. which began unusually early and
lasted unusually long. the theatre was thoroughly
ceansea. eaborately painted neatly decorated COM
| fortably furnished. and put in sweet and whole
some condition. With freshly upholstered boxes and
general atmosphere OF elegance and refinement the
cosey theatre was thrown open last evening. and
almost instantly filled from orchestra to rooftree.
The audience was in many respects notable includ-
| ing men and women prominent in the better walks
OF hie and occupation. The appearance of Mr.. Tis-
sington was warmly applauded. and after the open
| ing music the curtain
| The story Of a play like "French Flats affords
but little indication bf its own merits or demerits
1t is story written not be read to be realized
upon the stage synopsis of that story. therefore,
can convey but very imperfect notion of the play
as such. When the curtain the first act we
the dining room of the first fat of large man.
sion. Into this fat the family of NJ Blondeau are
moving. All the hustle and incoherence of the first
of May are there. 1t soon appears that this NJ Bon
deau has just purchased this house with funds
cumulated by him in the useful though not romantic
pursuit of button making Before the frat half the
first act is over We learn that this NJ. Blon-
deau originally barber, and that he is ashamed
Of that honorable fact. and very fearful that his
second wife--a lady of the best society, who mar
ried him for his money-shall hear of it. He has
purchased this French Hat house to have a home
of is a e II ord NJ traD.
quility." Suddenly the occupant Of the third floor
or fiat. a legal gentleman. named Bonay. enters
upon the confused scene with a complaint against
the Baroness de St. Amaranthe, who occupies the
second story. He holds this lady to be Suspicious
occupant OF the fourth story. tenor OF the grand
Italian opera. named Ritfardni. Poor Blondeau
in his love, of respectability. authorizes Bonay
to give this lady notice to quit. This
notice is conveyed by clerk OF Bonay
and the lady, irate at the insult. gets up regular
charvari on the second story, and on the pandemo-
mum the curtain drops. The second act brings
to the second story OF the house. There we the
Baroness aided by her maid and suitor for the hand
of Blondeau's daughter, hard at work making the
noises that heard at the close of the first act
1t appears that in moment of infatuation this
sutor, NJ Vallay, sued for the hand OF the Bar
oness while engaged to Blondeau's daughter. He is
trying to the proofs of his folly when sud-
denly the angered Mondeau is announced. Afraid
OF being by him, Vallay rushes into
adjoining room. The Baroness. leaving her
maid to receive the landlord, exits into
another one. The old man enters. but soon hears
the OF Riffardin outside Afraid Of the ire of
Rfiordini. whom he once hissed he hides i'll an
other room. The tenor enters and the Baroness
turns. love scene ensues, which shows the tenor
to be applicant for the hand Of the Baroness.
This love is interrupted by the sudden
trance of the brother OF the Baroness Portuguese
Hidalgo, furious at having just learned that his
sister is contemplating such marriage. Afraid Of
her brothers stormy temper the Baroness forces
Riffardn into a third room. not however. till
the latter. has discovered the presence Of
to whip at any cost. Left alone the
Portuguese hears Blondcau's door move, springs
to it, forces the old man out and mistaking HIM
the tenor. proposes duel with the navajo Catalan
knife AS the Portuguese forces this duel the terri
he'd landlord the tenor springs out to whip the OLD
man. who. throwing down the knife. fairly runs
| away. The astonished Portusues bands it to the
tenor who knocks it out Of his hand and rushes off
in pursuit OF old Blondeau just Vallay appears at
| the third door. On Vallay the manned Por-
| tuguese turns. knife in hand. "Thank yon. you're
very kind" exelaims Vaay, putting the knife in
| pocket and quietly walking out. AS the frightened
Baroness comes screaming on the stage the curtain
| falls.
The third act brings us to the third story. oc-
cuped by the lawyer Bonay. Here the plot thickens
We find Bonay's chief clerk the preferred suitor
separation from his wife because Of her tenn
| per; Blondeau running away from the tenor and
| hiding himselt as q painter on q ladder outside,
which is suddenly hoisted to the floor above.
The fourth act as the curtain rises shows
psinters @ LADDER Getting in ''sA'e Ut the w Window
| only to find himself in the sitting room
of the man from whom he is trying to escape Is
| the tenor. The poor old man, hearing the tenor
coming, once more seeks shelter by hiding. He dis
guises himself from the tenors own wardrobe and
| strives in vain to escape unperceived. One by one
all the characters appear and the various compca-
tons thicken to be suddenly cut asunder by the
fact of their sim itaneous presence The tenor OBJ
tains the hand of the Baroness, the clerk that OF
Bondeau's daughter, and all ends happily. the poor
old landlord~ertain that at last he has reached q
| haven of "peace, concord and tranquility"
| The first act was chiefly notable tor the cordial
| welcome extended to Miss Sara Jewett, Miss Maud
HARRISON and Messrs. Parselle. lie Moyne ard Stod-
dard. The ladies were dressed with elegance and
taste and acknowledged the greeting of their friends
| with characteristic grace Mr. lie Moynes makeup
| as u middle aged bald headed, sighted society
man was particularly good. The action of this part
of the play consisted mainly in hustle and confusion,
and contreenps on the part of NJ. Vaay, which with
the jerky eJeculations OF NJ. Bonay challenged the
rsibles Of the audience. The curtain fell general
| distrust, which changed to vehement applause as
| Marston's reproduction of wagner's celebrated
"Chariot Race" WAS disclosed. The action of the
| second act introduced Mr. Polk as Riffardini in a
makeup exactly like the tenor Wachtel to win
| instant recognition, while his burlesque Brig
| noi's we-remembered stride carried the house
| away in whirlwind of laughter The hit
| OF the act, however, was made by new
conner, MIR. Courtaine. who is best known the Cal
oness. Miss Ellie Wilton. Mr.. Courtane took the
stage and stormed in broken English with such elo-
quent vehemcnce as to gain the favor OF his audi
ence and put life into scene that was thereby
greatly improved. In the third act Mr.. Walden
Ramsay created genuine interest aud received de-
served applause admirable treatment of genre
part that SKINNED the line OF comedy SO
near akin to burlcsquc as to make 1t one
Mr. Thomas l.. Morris and Miss Anderson did well
with the bits allotted them, aud scene between
Bonay and Blondeau brought down the house. The
action concludes in the apartments OF Riffarin
where o series OF curious complications. misunder-
standing and equivocal situations afford Miss Sara
Cowell and Messrs. Polk Par see and Couraine fair
scope excel en character deiineaon, and enabled
Mr. Ramsay to deepen the impression alrt ady made.
French Flats" is most unevenly written. 1t is
amusing in spots tedious in others. The manage
did more for the play than 1t deserves. 1t is
to the full strength of the ceverest company in
the country, every member OF which did his utmost
with the ial at his disposal 1t is beautifully
mounted and the musical programme is attractive.
IL the piece succeeds 1t will be because of its artistic
it 1t fails it will not be the fault OF the
manag emert the actors.
THE NEW YORK CIRCUS.
An attractive entertainment of its kind is now
being given at the New York Circus on the premises