Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-27
THE DRAMA.

i" A Celebrated Case" at the Opera House.
D'Ennery's melodrama of "Une Cause
Celebre is Of the French Frenchy. There
is in its construction elements that fail
to commend themselves to the sober sense
and calm judgment the average English
speaking audience, albeit one may
watch the development of the
story with the most intense interest, which
is enhanced by the thrilling climaxes that
are dexterously introduced at fitting inter-
walls. No one in his sober senses would be-
lieve for moment that any court in
ChristendOD would convict man
of the hideous crime of mur-
dering his wife on the naked
testimony of fve-year-old child
and the faintest shadow of circumstantial
evidence. And this is the incident, alleged
to have been fact in French .jurispru-
dence, on which the play of A Celebrated
Case y is hung. There are innumerable
strong" situations in the unfolding of the
tale, allowing ample scope for play upon
the emotions, and barring the excessive
improbability Of its main incident. it may
be said to be very clever piece OF dramatic
composition and it's continued favor with
play going people attests the fact that it
has secured a firm hold on the popular
sense.
The representation Of the piece by Col
lier's combination at Fulton opera house
last evening was witnessed by fair ar,-
dience, in the face of the great attraction
underlined for to night which is expected
to crowd the house. The cast is strong
one. Mr.. Edmund X. Collier could afford
to rest his reputation on his mastery in
depreciation of Jean Renaud, first as the
hero Of the "King's Own" regiment,
afterwards as the galley slave, convicted
Of the murder of his wife. He is yet a
young man, however, and the public is
justified in looking for good work at his
hands in fulflment Of the rich promise
shadowed forth in this impersonation.
His acting is marked by intense energy,
and while a manifest tendency to bois-
ferrous defamation might be made
the subject of legitimate criticism.
this indiscretion so common in young
actors may be very easily overlooked
in the light of the positive genius that il
Eliminates his action throughout the rem
dition of the trying role. Misses Carrie
Wyatt and Florence White, in the
respective roles Of Adrienne and
Valentine, gave finished rendition
to those parts !; the latter was especially
good in the thrilling scene in which she
becomes convinced of the crime of her
pseudo father, and in which she sue
ceeded in working up the audience to a
high degree Of eager and excited interest.
In the scene where Adriennc confronts her
father in his convict garb, and
falling on her knees repeats in
impassioned tones the prayer she had
learned as a child at her mothers knee,
following it up with the injunction she had
received from her father on bis conviction
upon her testimony, and which comes
rushing across her confused fancy at this
apparitiOn she has so often bcheld in
her dreams, MISS wyatt Afforded the
audience fair view of her
powers. Mr.. George W. Wes-
sells was perhaps the best pseudo Count de
Nornay who has ever attempted the role |
here, and is an actor of conceded ability.
Mr.. William Scallan as Dennis ORourke,
the Irish sergeant, was capital, and MIR.
Edwin Varrey was altogether salts
factory as the Duke a. Aubcterre. |
The other characters maintained the
cast at an even balance, and the
piece moved smoothly. The costumes of
;he ladies were rich and elegant, and the
stage effects we'll managed
NofghbOrhOOd News.