New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-16
THE DRAMA AND MUSIC.
THE CLEMENCEAI CASE. "

Vice WAS i'm very tn,h a monster of hide0us men
At the standard Theatre last evening. and no one
who was present cvnced any desire u become more
familiar with her face while any thought OF pity %?
embrace was iatOlcr,blc. When Dumas the nhe'l
wrote his unclcan story his aim was to portray the
fsithless wife LA ~ IL being If fuue>> beauty. but a
creature utterly without pr,nciplc. >crup!c. restraint
or repentance. one who sought deliberately l" S'eP
herself I'm to the eyclid>. without the ii'e>' '"
tncnt OF regret 70. H." suffering which >l' ca">e"
or the lives which she riMed. lie made Demon ''
llor. In order that his justification of the act "' He
husband in killing her >honld hr complete. p'>-">t
Ing a. the Younger Dumas has repeatedly Dee" u"
the handling of repuisivc subject ne i never o"''
lie is ingenious and original. startling VIII" HIS i''
Joxes enlvenng by his wit. absorbing 10y tue F'"'i
and force with Which he develops hlN unPta' '"'
theme and wholly admirable in AZ least one 'hih'
Tie ma sterv of ,tyr Ii modern French OF the Keen
est edge the sharpeSt point. the swfP't thrhN' ''d
he uses. IN the original one may ON" '''tV' "
offence Of the motive in enjoyment OF Inc mF'"'"'
In the Standard Theatre lat night we're many men
about town. who desired TO have their )a'd Sc'''s
stimulated by a strong irritant. What they sought
w.s branty re enforced with cayenne pepper. what
they cot was the foul drcsS Of the vlct of adltaed
clsret They expected to have their worn ana lihS''"
interest stirred and excited. by icvcr> and fa>'hat
ing expansion OF plot that TO modern dTd'ha''' -
excusable for touching. What they saw ana hca'l
with many yawns and frequent jccr>. was dull an"
rommopplace performance of a coarse ard ">c"h"
nav All the spirit. Wit aud point Of Dumas VIE
cone The adaptation was clum>ily done. and the III
eenu!ty and favor Of the Orign,l had vani>hcl The
pficial censor not needed here. The authorities
need not concern themselves. The affair T. 30 tame
and fat to damage public morals. ii Will soon pass
Awav.
Not only are the translation and adaptation WIN
ont merit but tho company made bad matter worst
II Dumas could this performance lie wouid insist
not only upon the murder OF the wicked La. hut a''o
upon the sudden massacre Of most of the company
uhe general verdict of the audience wa expressed II!
the remark "Wcll. that woman Ought t. haVc
been killed about three hours earlier. Just after
the curtain for the first time y
In the sweeping condemnation Of the liece
no exceptions need be noted. In the ens'ir" OF
most Of tho acting. 1t may lie remarked by way OF
contrast that Miss Alice Fisher a tie Countess
Dombronowska earnest and pain>taknG. AID
had strong passages while there were some iu'd
intervals IN the PLAYING of Wilton Lackaye and John f.
Kelerd. Miss Pearl Eytingc. a. la was ci'w>one Z"
eve and car alike. The ABIDING impression af;"r the
aconized endurance ~ ~The ClemcnCeau Case s"cn
ct the standard Theatre last evening. must b. that
a more adrot appeal than this 10 the d"pavcd taste
OF certain elements Of the pnpuace j. requisite III
order 10 make the box thc" i'su!t. pleasant Nidihs
to the management. This play Will speedily be con
signed to it's proper place. the compost heap.