The morning call., 1893-03-21
AT THE THEATERS.
Baroness Blanc in Camille
at StoCkWeIl's.
"La Grande Duchesse"- Bush
Street Closed-"The Knickerbock-
ers" Not Success.

. The Crust of Society" drew a good
attendance at the New California. 1t is an
other OF the unwholesome series that is
occupying the attention Of our theater-going
public just now. The principal features of
the piece are the costumes Of the women
who fill the female roles and the fine inte-
riors that are the result of the labors OF the
scenic artists. The lesson of the play is not
good one. Il Is rather the reverse. All
through is an excuse for the dereliction of
wifely duty, and we're It not for St Aubyn's
censorous remarks there would be added
business in our divorce courts. With us the
theater is no longer the teacher for good.
The Stockwel was not as largely attended
last evening as we thought it would be to
see the Baroness Blanc in Camille" The
weather was assigned as the reason. We
will let it pass at that, but we think the
cause Is deeper. There must have been n
dread that this delicate picture of a pecu
liar phase of Partisan life would suffer in
the BaT0nesss hands and by her treat
ment. 1t did suffer. She was not equal to
II. One would suppose that Marguerite
GautIer (called Camille" in demi-monde
llfe) quite as sick in moral principle as She
Is in physical condition, would be easily
played by woman like Madame Blanc:
but really, she did not seem to apprehend
the situation, and played the part tamely
all through. Fanny Young's Prudence was.
OF course, formally good. She has played
this part so often that it has come to be
second nature 10 her, mOre's the pity.
Henry X. Jewett was not French lover az
Armand Duyal. He acted as if he loved
Camille, knowing her social position, under
protest, and really this is the case when
ever this nauseous play is produced o. the
EDgIlsh-speaking stage. One has no pa
tenee with II, and we cannot blame actors
or actresses Tor their tentative treatment of
the respective characters. Better. for
American audiences, taboo it altogether.
LA Grande Duchesse," at the Tlyoli.
drew large audience considering the up
favorable state of the weather. But 1t was
not well played nor sung Miss Salinger's
impersonation of the Duchess failed in
every particular. especially in the most i'm
portant scena, "The Saber of nv Sire"
ohe sang II without spirit. and the chorus
partook OF her lack OF enthusiasm We
have never heard the usually resoIute Sal
niger so weak. Branson's Prince Paul WAS
another failure in some respects He reads
Ike Ben Cotton, the minstrel, but sang the
Gazette song neatly. If one closed his
say to himself why, that is Cotton; what
is lie doing here?" Mr.. Ferdinand Schneiz
was In good place as Fritz. He has recoy-
cred his throat and acted as if 10 the man
ner born. vi course everybody knows this
opera was written by Offenbach to rldicule
the small and preeutious German princi-
palities, and for this reason it was a favor
lie In Paris. French actors can only pro-
duee II. 1t was comparative failure at the
Iivoli last evening. Even Ferdinand
Sehuetz, who did so well. had to exert him
self to come up to the proper standard
The Bush-street Theater was closed last
night. This is sort of inter jectional place
OF amusement, thrown lie between regular
engagements. However. as the report goes,
II VIII only last till June next, and then be
finally closed. as Leavitt, ii Is understood.
has leased tue Stockwell, and will transfer
his attractions ~ to that house 1t would
not be far-wrong idea TO convert the