Year: 1874

Hour,o and might have been called ANYTHING else
with equal propriety. Indeed. we are some what
In doubt whether we are justified in
calling the performance play. 1t Is rather a
panorama OF Paris In the early part OF the
eighteenth century The life OF the period is Illus
trated by an aggregation OF improbable adven-
lures through which the hero Is made TO pass and
which, through courtesy. we will cali the play.
We are told on the bills that the
plot upon which this superstructure Is
built has something to do with the
attempt OF the illegitimate children OF Louis
XIV. to overthrow the regency. But we confess
our inability 10 discover the connection between
the conspiracy and the Incidents OF the play. n
there be any dramatic plot IL seems to hinge
rather on the efforts OF the Countess de Bourbon
to induce her ilegitimate son to Kill
his brother, the Due de Richelieu. This model
type Of womanhood confesses on the stage that
she was the mistress Of a former Due de Richelieu
and entered the house OF Bourbon dishonored
woman. Her peculiar idea OF Justice leads her to
egg on the Cavalier Fortune TO XIII MS brother,
she nrst taking inform him OF his relation
snip. by some moral obliquity in the mind OF the
author tnis woman 10 put forward claiming our
sympathy as rather virtuous person. This is the
only part Of she play wnica can be regarded as
having any dramatic or logical sequence, but it is
numerous tableaux which constitute the chief at
traction or "rhe Hero Of the Hour" The hrst
Duchess Of Maine, where q number Of people
assemble as . 70 cry "Long 1--we the King and down
WIN sne Regent e; we nave here cew to ;ns
In tue next scene to the Place de la Bastile it
existed In l7le. Here we are regaled with very
lively market scene full OF Dustle and picturesque
ness. There Is good deal OF talk about
Duo De Rchelieu, VINO ts . great Iavorite with
OF his taken wig aud scarlet coat; not, however,
i, before the Cavalier Fortune, the Dukes ieglt-
lover OA IN mistake ''S for 'Hssu the Duke. gHe
second act shows us the wounded man,
IN the space o
with tne Intention OF winning fortune for his
complshes, as matter OF course by the aid or
good fortune, his lucky star and hDera potations
hell. Wien mex discovered ne is found lying IN
drunken sumber In the chamber OF one Badln,


re W Of y M ae
penetrated into the apartment. Of the muir.
gambling scene, Of which this Sr: murder is The The
elimination, Is undoubtedly the best scene IN the
dscoverable By the naked eye, it lacks dramatic
interest. 1t is . striking picture and that IS all


from the Seine and the attempted murder e Of Ber.
trand, the Chief OF Police There s boat race and


struggle str on real bridge which ADDS interest to
saved by the Cavalier Fortune. and this he Is
wonderfal anywhere or the stage. The
fourth act passes IN an illuminated
garden, where all the characters are
assembled to be dismissed for the night. Mr.
Rockwell is the only person hurt In this scene,
leu's head will be cut OF for his crimes. II we
could only be assured that It was the authors
head, we should have lett the theatre with Keeling
Of relief. AS spectacle "Tne Hero ol the Hourh
is remax kable production. Most OF the scenes
are picturesque and artistic to Q high degree, but
as dram TIC composlttOn te Is the StranQest mud
die 1t has ever been our fortune to witness. Who
Is the hero OF the hourP The Duo de Richelieu or
the Cavalier Fortune2 After patiently awaiting
till the curtain Tell to have that mystery ex.
planned we confess our inability to decide. All we
know Is that Mr.. Stuart Is the hero-but in
which cnsracserY Rich costumes and clever
scene painting are poor compensation tor weak
dialogue and total absence OF logical construc-
ton and dramatic interest. 1t Is difficult to nm
derstand why managers invest 80 much
money and labor In putting on the stage
a play that does not deserve serious DIS
TO the stage carpenters and the costumers.
Mr. Henri Stuart plays the part assigned to him
with passable skill He has many Of the manner
isms OF Fechter, without his power OF depicting
passionate emotion aud Without MS personal mag
nstis% & MI Warde plays;di the part & q Bertrand
scope. however. but what ne had to do
he did WELL There was quite q crowd
OF ladies In very Insignificant roles. lf We write
OF them at all we must occupy ourselves with their
toilets which certainly were magnificent. There
WAS . wealth OF punk and white beauty poured
would be dnicult to decide which OF tue ladies
looked the prettest Or But We must be gal
liant and hang up our pen.