The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-14
THE BRILLIANT COQUELIN
THE ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AC-
CORDED HIM IN NEW YORK.
Acting That is a Revelation Of the Pos
sibilities OF the Dramatic Art-Popu-
lar Joy Over the Return OF Days
Company.


French comedian Benoit Constant Co
queln is at last here. After hearing his
praises sung for more than ten years, after
reading his able discourses on his art and
the considerable comment they called forth
the New Workers were more than eager to
see him. When, therefore, as "Mas-
cairillo' in lies Precienses Redicules," he
stepped from the sedan chair he was
greeted by long continued burst OF APP
plause which could not but be interpreted
rs the most genuine Of whole hearted well
comes. A simple dignifed acknowledge
ment-a graceful bow was the artists an
swer to the demonstration, and with this
he proceeded to fairly astonish those who
had never seen him before. To many in
the brillantaudiencc which filed Palmer
| formerly Wallack's) theater on Monday
evening the societaire Of the Coincide
| Franchise was no stranger, for fully half Of
the numerous assemblage were OF the
| dilettante foreign element, and Of course
had seen Coquelin in his proper environ
ment To tho balance of the aud
| fence he was an artistic revelation
| In the tlummeries and fineries OF French
| fop OF the seventeenth century he was a
! living illustration of Moliere's exquisite,
though always revealing just enough Of
the exaggerative to prove himself IA hum
bug. Aladelon and Cathos, the daughter
and niece of the good old bourgeois Gorgi-
bus, came TO Paris 10 revel in that highly
| literary life OF which they had read 80
much IN connection with the famous Hotel
Ramboullot. Their minds are filed with
all sorts OF high flown ideas, and they are
consequently little pleased with the atten-
| tons OF La Grange and Du Croisy, two
very sensible and unaffected suitors. Their
indifference is so ill-concealed that the
masters determine on revenge for the
shabby treatment they have received, and
30 send their lackeys, disguised as ''ele-
ganls," to pay court to the ladies. Mas
carillc's tete-a-tete with them is full OF the
SINE egotistic small talk and insincere
/ ilattery which characterize the society man
vi our day. Ii goes without saying that
the ackeys are promptly exposed by their
masters and are soundly hogged in the
midst OF a mnuet they had the audacity
TO dance with the fair Madelon and
Cathos. Lying back in spacious arm
chair with all the assumed dissatisfaction
of a thorough man OF the world, gossiping
and chatting, and even singing hist 2)latest
song Coquelin was the personiiication OF
all that was droll. Ills face full OF varying
| expressions, his voice carrying any num-
Der of intonations, and above all that
smile, perfect chef d'Unuyre OF the come
dams art. Ills thoroughly possessed
manner lounging in his chair, rolling his
big head llrst 10 one side and then to an
other TO exchange pleasantries and ilirta-
tons with these two socieiy-mad dcmoi-
sellUs, was 50 real that we only were re-
called to the sham by his reference TO the
scent OF his wig and his gloves and the
tneness OF his laces and ribbons 30 great
an artist ~ Coquelin entirely absorbs one $
attentention unless the supporting Is ex-
tTaurdinary strong. In the present in
stance the troupe is an excellent one, but
hardly succeeds in winning the interest
from the central figure. What n contrast
10 the lghtsome, mischeyious, cunning
Mascarie was the character of, rs Noel the
old family servant in Madame, as dc Girr-
din's charming one act play,
ia Joie iait Peur" Here n
whitc-haircd old man bent with
are he tries 20 console the family Desau-
hicrs-mothcr and daughter-in this terri
bic grief over the supposed loss OF the
son aud brother Adrien. Alathide. the
hincr, j. also morbid In her sorrow, and
Therefore the sWeut-tcmpcrrd, big.hearted
old mans task IL no easy one. lie Goes
about il, however, in the most tender and
loving way, feeling every now and then a
doubt MS 10 whether the pride Of the
family Is really lost or not. Adficn re-.
turns and finds Noel busting about and
setting things to rights. The old man Is
Just thinking over some Of the Young
masters exploits as n boy, when Adrien
makes his presence known. The shock 10
Noel IL ~ great that nc first he falls in A
stnpor, aud then gives way 90 tears while
Adricn holds him IN nm ailectionate ON.
brace. The dear old heart Is now 80 clad
that when Mile. Blanche, the Young sister
Of AdHrn. tones IN from church she finds
Noel yainly irving to conceal his ioy In un.
Wontcd attentions with the dusiing-brush
Ia the accompaniment OF tunclcss ta.rum
tn-rum, which hc j. hummIng 10 himself
the children ae beautifully conceived.
Through the confusion 1T those about her
Mine. ncsaubuyn tint finds q clcv 10 the
happy dgnuurmcni, aud finally, after a
most iorcib'c and superb bit uf acting
mother and son are In each others arms.
Cpgurlin's picture Of the agcd servant WIS
true 10 the lie, aud his stimulation OF the
movements both with hands aud feet,
was absolutely perfect The two sides ol
paihos aud humof were manage with the
skill Of an artist, and many times did the
smile crcp through the tear mis.s bv the
exquisite ciCyrrnCss OF this greatest of
comedians. In The intcrmissiUn between
The iNppIuys Of thc evening NJ Coqurln
ryuiici thrc monologucg "le Nuuirugr,"
10y Coppcc, "lo Nic," by GUnct-Ian.
court. aud gu English school boys dcliv-
cry ol llionminr's fable, &c Corbcln II
lc Rvnnrd.' This last WIS immensely
funny In 10 be- gave an excellent imiti.
ton Oi the Etplid ndhCrcucroi the English
10 their own inionaiion and articulation
when speaking French. or ior that matter,
amy lurcisn Language. AZ the closc OF the
performance the audience cherfcd VI.
tUqurlin for several minutes IN the most en-
thugilstic manner, and made him feel that
an artist 0i his merit Is ALWAYS "lc hriUn-
ycuu' in thc fullest sense Ol the word.
last night the vicinity 81 Broadway and
Ihiricih street was the scynr oi an excite.
munt worthy the great Patti nights NJ the
Academy. Carriages, hansoms and horsc
ears were all in AnglC, aud crowds oi
well dressed people were hurrying in both
directions. Tho premiere at naly's aud
the American debut OF that fascinating
frcnchwomun, Jane lladiug were the
causes ui this considerable connection,
and the inyctrutc iiH,,.nightgu were
dcsoli because they couldn't be at Days
and Pulmcr's Ht the same time. However,
that was ont Of the question, aud one had
% make bis choice between the two. MI
DAILY aud his company fresh nom their
European ttiumpha Wprp nearer 10 our