New-York tribune., 1894-02-10
THE DRIMA-WCSIC.
COQUEIIN AS NJ. pOIRIER AND NOEL

COQUELIN AS VI. pOIRIER AND NOEL.
For the occasion of his benefit NJ. Coquelin madA
happy choice from his modern repertoire He
selected two plays. Last nights performance at
Abbey's Theatre was divided between mirth and
pathos. between the unfaggng humor OF lie Gem
Dire de VI. Porier and the touching, though some
what exaggerated and unduy lachrymose, senti-
ment of la Joe Fait Peur." Nine. Hading did
not appear in either play. As NJ. Poirier in the
production Of Augier and Sandeau, and Noel
in the little comedy of Nine. de Grardin the leader
of the French company kept the attention OF the
audience fixed exclusively upon himself. With
great generosity he gave also three OF his enter
tanning monologues. His reward was found in the
most crowded house OF the season, In frequent ap-
plause. in several recalls and in some offerings
OF flowers. The evening was for him something In
the nature OF ovation. The warmth OF NJ.
Coquelin's reception was more than justified. It
would be difficult to say which is the finer.
his Polrer or his Noel In the first he
impersonates a harmlessly ambitious type.
rendered ridiculous by some OF the foibles
Of elderly life. but made lovable also by genuine SIM
plicy Of nature and Gender solictude for the color.
less daughter in the play. NJ Poirer is trfe silly.
his manners are quaint and his actions comic.
Played In spirit OF broad comedy. he is one OF the
most amusing figures OF the French drama. But the
style not be broad; it must recognize the
elements of bourgeois respectability. OF bourgeois
prob,y' in the part and IT is because NJ; Coqueln,s
digned side OF the character that 1t leaves an i'm
preston Of absolute symmetry. The unity OF the
conception the completeness Of the execution leave
nothing be desired. Nj G. quelin NJ. Poirier car
ries conviction with his every utterance, with his
every gesture and the proof Of this is In the fact that
in spite Of the poor support which he received last
night, the curOusly domestic scenes OF the comedy
were distinguished by strong atmosphere OF real
ism. He created IT unaided. ~ ,o.o,,
In LA Joie Fait Peur' the art OF VI. Coqueln
keeps the spectator in perhaps a less animated
state OF mind than Is the when the absurd
situations Of lie Gendre de NJ. Po.rier' are being
unfolded on the stage But there Is nevertheless
charm in the representation which has not been
surpassed by anything else within the range OF the
French comedian. He enacts the old servitor In
"a mood similar to that in which he treated the
Rabbi in LIANT Fritz" He s natural, free from
the glitter which accompanies most Of his perfor-
mances: a figure which differs from that he usually
presents. inasmuch 1t inspires not only adnira-
tion but tender sympathy. There is little bathos
about Noel. as there is. for that matter about
the entire play. but NJ. Coquelin riumphs over this
and closes the performance without having once
given hint OF artifcality or cant.
The French comedians will this evening terminate
their engagement In New-York with perform
ance devoted to Moliers There will be double
Ridicules." This will place fitting capstone to the
Interesting labors of NJ. Coqueln and Nine. Hadng.
who have shown their versatility by presenting a
long list OF modern plays but will have left
their worthiest memories in their performances Of
the dramatic classic OF France.