The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-23
ANUS E M ENTS.

Frederick Warde in The Mouutebank'
at che Opera House.
Those who braved wind and rain to see
"The M~ountebank" at the Opera House
last night had the recollections Of o very
fine performance to cheer b homeward
journey. The play is from the French OF
D'Ennery, and Mr.. Warde's "Mounte-
bank" is one of his best productions.
The story runs thus = William
Belphegor, a wandering mountebauk, his
wife and two children, and Fanfarande,
his assistant, are about TO open a per-
Torrance at the village of Courgement,
when Laverenness. under an assumed
name. Count de Rollac. the villain who
causes all the trouble, appears and tells
Belphegor that his wife Is OF noble birth.
He has reason to wish to ingratiate him
self into the favor of her family, but
naturally he keeps these TO himself, and
announces that, although the family OF
De Montbazon would welcome Madelaine
Belphegor and her children, it must
make a bargain with the
mountebank in which he must
~enoun all claims to both.
Madelaine scorns wealth and luxury ut
such a price, but is afterward compelled
to accept them to ave her sick chiIt's
life. She fees with Laverenness, leaving
William aud her boy Henri. Laveren-
ness has had instructions to a Belphe-
gor across the Atlantic aud settle him
there, but Belphegor settles Laverenness
to his own taste, and returus to the salon
OF the Duke de Montpazen IN the garb
and under the name of Laverepness
Madelaine recognizes him aud insists
upon acknowledging him as her husband
and explains to him why she was fol- ced
to leave him. Her grandfather taxes
Belphegor into the bosom OF the noble
family and they are happy ever after.
The part of the mountebank calls for
much rapid facial expression, n in the
beginning creates much merriment. Mr..
Warde was equal to the first require
ment, and his assistant, Fanfarande,
helped in making the latter, lie was
really very funny as the clown. The
scene at the end of the second act. when
Belphegor and Henri find that Made
laine mas deserted them, while it was very
we'll done, was drawn out too long. losing
in consequence much OF its effect. In the
garden fste seem Warde came
out ~ very very IS strongly 4Is gr as IN sal one
Pretty Miss Victory Bateman as Made
iaine, did excellent werk. especially as
regards her facial expression in the last
act when William is playing his dual
role; but the young lady Will, l am sure,
PARTON me when l fiud fault with her on
Inc score of her not looking old enough
luz UlO palG Rt0 h0o g hL0EO 49,
deep voice. AS Henri. Miss Fannie Bow
man strengthened her claims to u bright,
| clever actress. The rest of the cast was
good, the scenery excellent. and tue cos
tunes very beautiful. Tonight Mt.
Warde will be seen in ''Virginius." TO-
morrow night as 'Richard Ill.," n at
the matinee tomorrow Henry Guy Car
ieton's beautiful play, The Lions
MOUTH will be repeated.
-
New Plays Next Week.
AT tine Academy of Music Mr.. Roland
Reed will produces his new play, IA
Club Friend" which was SO well received
| in New YORK. The dialogue Is bright
and many of the situations humorous.
Mr.. Reed rs the Club Frien | Is the un-
| conscious cause of things being badly
muddled in the early partypf the play. but
it is through him that everything is
finally Strengthened out, amt then ne
Your Wife" will be played the last three
nights of the week.
The beautiful war of words and morals
| going on betw cen "Nym Crinkle'' n
| Joseph Arthur Of ''SLill Alarm" aud
Blue Jeans fame. only adds new inter-
| est to Nym's new p ay Jack Royal
which Harry Lacy will proauce ut the
O.eya House next week. The piece was
remarkably well received in PhiIadelphis,
| the other w which Wheeler, has both
denied aud claimed that he wrote.
Last night '.rhs Wolves of New York"
vas produced at the H0boken Theatre.
| The piece is replete with stirring incl
| dents and situations. aud the company Is
an excellent one. The mechanical effects
are highly effective.