The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-14
TWO NEW PLAYS ENACTED.
81 WARD OF FRANCE" AND 1.-THE
HTGHT4 YMAN" LINT MONT.

w. Nv 49,
Piece Mt wnlinrL'- Thentr"-'1".'r by he
koven ANA Huner by Smith In AMER
Setnt work at the nroadwnS Theatre.
The authors of "A Ward OF France" nro.
duced last night Mt Wallnck's Theatre for The
hrst tia o in this city. set out to write a
romantic drama Of American life and to
provide for 1t q scene and period which
should be picturesque and yet character.
istic. Tho place they chose was New Or
leans. and the time ono of the most stirring
in the country's history. There could have been
found no more interesting life than tina: Of Lou.
isiann in 1903, especially during those days in
which the province passed from the possession
Of Spain back into the ownership of France.
only to be delivered over TO the United States.
That incident in American history has teen sc.
lected by Franklin Fyles and Eugene Prcsbrey as
the important influence in the background OF
their play. The period shows New Orleans first
under the rule of n luxurious Spanish Governor.
who treats with the pirates out of fear and for
his own profit and pays little heed to the
approaches Of the Indians and the other
dangers that menace the city. In the
atmosphere Of gayety and luxury which
II shown in tho various scenes there
10 the discordant note of dissatisfaction and inn
pending tragedy. In the later scenes of the
play this influence continues as n background
for tho engrossing action and picturesque move
ment Of the leading characters in the story.
That commences in Franco and is completed in
the house OF the Spanish Governor at New Or
leans and in the home OF q fortune-telling
auadroon.
"The Ward OF France" is a young girl OF no.
Bile birth. who is sent TO Louisiana as q nile a
Ia cdssette. along with the rest of the girls OF
evil life transported to the province. She is
placed among the group through the influence Of
Fetir Ldussdt. who seeks by sending her to tho
new world to make his way clear to the posses
sion of the estates owned by her father
IN France and Louisiana. This father
he believes to be dead, for during the Revolu-
tion Ldussat had him condemned to death. But
under the name Of George PILLARS he escaped to
the United States, and has gained n place for
himself in the life OF the young republic. After
the girl has been sent to New Orleans LausSdt and
bis son go there to represent France in the trans
fer Of the province from Spain. The purchase
by the Unit ID St,tes has already been arranged
by Hiltdrs. who has come to New Orleans as the
secret agent Of this country. He is seeking to
recover his daughter, who was sent by him to a
convent when he was compelled to flee from
France, The Revolution having come to an end.
he Is able to claim his property, and his only de-
sire is TO hnd some trace OF the child whom he
bad left in Paris, The girl has on the way from
of the man who had ruined her fathers fortunes
and attempted TO send her to the worst fate
The authors have opened their story with a
prologue laid in France. and this scene intro
life in the convent by Fsiir ia1ssaf and expIains
the motives which lead to Laussut's action.
father for his lost child; the Vaccinations
of Laussdt the love OF tho young girl for
ton of Zobct, the semi-bnrbaric. picturesque.
octoroon fortune teller, half impostor. half
sasterd son; the conmanding isure Of that son.
the historical Jean Ldftte; the final confusion
these are revealed in the four nets of the plny
with abundant picturesaueness. color, and
panied by characteristic scenes of dancing and
revelry, and several situations stand out with
particular force above the Others. One OF these
has wronGed, and others are the fight over
Forer between the two men who have the
OF the pirate who. having his half brother at his
mercy. spared him; with the words. This time
girls voice as she sings in the hearing OF
her father, and the final victory over
tering New Orleans. There are striking
moments in the progress Of the story. and they
are the work OF Walter Burridee. and the in.
notable for the effects Of color. and its sense Of
space. The courtyard OF the palace is also a sub
necessary suggestion of Oriental influences.
Possibly the most conspicuous figure among
bodied Jean Lottte, the pirate. with just the
necessary bravado and freedom. The best OF
s sis Sssl ot lis w sesis se0 were in n shs Ds so niue S9S t aS,
served. Elita Proctor Otis, in the difficult role of
tass ssasr snd lR oofsa beste Ti rs P P0 M e aaS P,si
black wig than she ever did before. Maurice
BARRYMORE has indeed rarely looked hand;
his figure was as youthful as a boys. Una
Asseil was spfiieien,ly ingenious and tender to
6sborns. as eeor ls'GTNal iars. acted with tie
Hsesssary power. and revealed the affeGtionate
Interpreted well the part OF Laussdt.
M ash dsi EIds%aa and s5sftsd b.r z ac seS% &c one , roll.
6rattan was a handsome Victor. and Maud
Msuaue Winter played d' gracefully the so small role
that fell to her. The parts were generally well
tho play with enthusiastic favor. The curtain
was raised several times after the conclusion of
the third act, and the applause at the conclusion
Of the play was long continued.
Last night saw at the Broadway the first per
Torrance there of Its own opera company and
tho first trial hereabouts Of a new comic opera,
~The Highwayman." With the new company
IL Is planned to make the Broadway q
permanent home of comic opera, and a good
start was made with a new work of
Reginald Dc Koven and Harry b. Smith, from
whom we had Robin Hood" In 1.-THE High
wayman' the librettist chose England as the
scene Of action. and as the time the period
when the mail coach had not felt the competi-
tion of steam, and was yet the mark of high
wAymen whose daring was picturesque. and
whose manners were on occasion as fine as
any knight OF the realm. 1t was one of these
predecessors of the road agent" who was
taken for the hero. He was a younger son of a
good family, who. after doing good service in
the army. had entered the gay life OF London
and lost at cards all no possessed. The
winner was n cheat, and knowledge of
this coming too late had driven the young
gentleman to o%utlawry. So at the open
ing of the opera. he was the hero OF half OF Eng
land. while his head was wanted by the other
half Indeed, tho latter element was so urgent
as TO have offered IA large reward for HIS arrest,
and two parties. one OF soldiers and another OF
constab!cs. were out after him and the sl 900
that was Ia go with his capture.
A sweetheart of his huyhOod days had sued
Tor and won his pardon, but this had como into
The hands OF the man who had cheated him
At cards, and. who now intended to with