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Ni>. 506. Dec. 3, 1859J THE LEADER. 1319
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MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
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LYCEUM THEATRIC It has seldom been our l...
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original five-act blank-verse comedy of ...
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Amono theatrical dolnfts'of the wqek, on...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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108.Men And Horses; 1st European Cavalay...
days . To an old Indian it is curious to mark the steady improvement in this respect . In 1848 forty-seven days was no unusual" passage from Southampton , and forty-four from Marseilles . Passengers from London via Marseilles now arrive in Calcutta almost invariably on the thirtieth day from the date of departure , There is now regular steam communication from Calcutta to Burmah j Egypt , the Mauritius , China , Japan , and Australia , all the lines , except one , being the Creation of the last five years . In the scores of steam navigation projects started within the last few years in Asiatic water ' s I can remember but one failurethe line to England uia the Cape . Our war steam navy in the East , Queen ' s arid Company ' s included , is now more than a match for the French , Kussian , and Dutch fleets united * while we have a large and yearly increasing mercantile steam marine , composed almost entirely of steamers of more than a thousand tons . "
Ni>. 506. Dec. 3, 1859j The Leader. 1319
Ni > . 506 . Dec . 3 , 1859 J THE LEADER . 1319
Music And The Drama.
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .
Lyceum Theatric It Has Seldom Been Our L...
LYCEUM THEATRIC It has seldom been our lot to witness a more genuine tribute of good-will than was offered by the overflowing audience on Monday night at this theatre , on the occasion of its being opened by Madame Celeste . Every quarter of the town sent its hundreds of representatives to admire and applaud the favourite whose loss has been' so long and severely felt on the scene of her greatest triumphs , and to encourage her in her new and arduous undertaking . The rental required by the proprietors of this establishment is , as is well known , so nearly approaching the " ruinous , " that , since its occupation by Mr . and Mrs . Keeley—whose position , of various
school , ; as far aa England of the nineteenth century is concerned , its moral is sound and commendable . Its aim is to' prove the misery that waits oh licentiousness , the happiness off rustic innocence , and the heart-healing influence of a virtuous home upon areturned prodigal . But the scene of even our modified version is laid , in the penetralia of Parisan frivolity ; the characters are of the partly fashionable and partly notorious Quartier Breda ; and , if we mistake not , the now well-ventilated fact that the heroine of the French play ( though not of Mr . Selby ' s ) and her entourage area parcel of lorettes , will , irrespective of Madame Celeste ' s excellent acting , rapid changes , and superb dressing , do as much for " Paris and
Pleasure" as the mere word Traviata , and the more imaginary than actual correspondence between its plot and that of the Dame aux Camellias novel , did for s famous opera ,, which neither owe its hold upon the public to the interest of its dull libretto or any peculiar master touches as a musical composition . To proceed , however , once more with " Paris and Pleasure : " the scene is laid partly in the gay city , and partly in Brittany . George Kerven ( Mr . F . Villiers ) arid Jolicceur Desgenais ( Mr . Walter Lacy ) , gentlemen farmers of Paimpoul in that province , have , we find , left their homes and sweethearts to see the great world . Having plenty of cash and good estates , they have been welcomed
with open arms by the predatory classes of either sex , and we meet them , in the first act , enjoying a postmasquerade supper , en cabinet particulier , and in fancy dresses , at the Cafe Anglais , with a party of choice spirits from the pays Latin and the Quartier Breda . M . Desgenais seems perfectly acclimatised , and enters heartily into the spirit of the situation ; but Kerven , a milder youth , has qualms of conscience to contend against , as he throws away his time , money , and health at the feet of Mademoiselle Carmen ( Miss Kate Saville ) , who is , of course , his ovil genius . But these gentlemen are not unobserved . The country interest is not unrepresented ; for the neglected Bretoa girls have an an actress sister in i
Paris—Mademoiselle Champjieure ( nee Champ ) ( Madame Celeste ) , a lorette , too , in the original , who tracks them through the mazes of dissipation , and , after playing the guardian angel at several momentous crises , at last leads'them home in triumph to make her sisters happy . We have no space to spare for such an account of the intrigue of the piece as would render our readers at home with it ; but they will appreciate its complication when informed that Madame Celeste appears in no less than eight characters . She is in turn a Breton peasant , a mouchard , a benevolent lady of quality , an usurer ' s clerk , a Parisian flaneur , again a peasant , and her first appearance of all is in a terrestrial version of the
nameless one himself . We were glad to observe that she was in excellent force . Albeit harassed by the incessant dressing and re-dressing , she displayed in many situations much of that extraordinary and indescribable power for which she is justly celebrated . Tho representatives of the Breton peasant girls were Miss Hudspeth and Miss Julia St . George : the former played a gentle , the latter a shrewish , victim , with all propriety . Mr . Villiers' part required no more genius than ho infused into it , and Mr . Walter Lacy made some excellent points in a scene in the Clichy debtors' prison , into which tho pair find ruinMiss Savillo
their way on tho road to . , again , late of " Ivy Hall" at the Princess ' s Theatre , whom we conisder an actress of great promise , and from > vhom -we also expect much , looked so charming as Mdlle . Carmen , that the nig . it of her adorer ' s assets could be no mystery . The bill abounds with other characters more or less prominent and necessary to the action , and all adequately represented . The piece was , we need hardly say , most warmly received , and for the reason we luivo suggested above , as well as the tnstofiil elaboration the manageress has applied to tho mUc en scene , may probably hold the stntro until Christmas , against which time now and
striking attraction's avo , thcy tell us , in active preparation . Among those are a new comedietta , laughably entitled , " The Key under the Door-mat ;'" a new , " original , " and historical drama , by Mr . Tom Taylor ; an extravaganza , by Mr . Talfourri , ami a comic pantomime . Wo had all but forgotten—and it had boon too bad— -to mention that tho old comic piooo , " A Phenomenon in a Smock Frock" has followed tho drama during tho week , and has introduced to notice a vorygood low comedian—Mr . Rouse , who has hitherto delighted tho provinces and tho East ond , but doservos a foothold , and will , jve think , ostablish a position with tho wostorn public .
course , enabled them to economise m ways , not open to managers who are not also actors—it lias rarely been tenanted , and when tenanted , has , we believe , always failed to be remunerative . With the policy of the owners we have no concern ; but the fact is , that the Lyceum Theatre has through it acquired such an upas-like character , that even the wisest on such matters still shake heads and shrug shoulders' at the mention of Madame Celeste ' s speculation . We hope , however , that this eminent actress ' s long acquaintance with the mysteries of management , and unquestionable power , will be aided by such an amount of discretion , and so able q . corps dramatique : for one eminence in a company is barely
enough now-a-days to attract the spoilt public—that , with the complement of a little good luck , she * may be more than equal to the situation . To resume , our notice of the event of Monday : the demonstrations of a very largo proportion of the company present , when the favourite came forward to deliver her inaugural address , very nearly approached the phrenetique . The numerous delegates from all quarters , to whom we have alluded , and who were interested , as well as in the fair lessee , for sundry members of her troupe known in the eastern , suburban , and transpontine theatres , combined all their lung power in a series of salvos , the like of which has been of late seldom heard within playhouse walls ; and for somo time
delayed the delivery of the speech . 1 hat composition , which was of the usual nature , redolent of pluck and promise , being over , the business of the night began . " Paris and Pleasure , or Home and Happiness , " is the title of a four-act drama of no immoderate length , yet advantageously compressible withal , founded , as the bills ingenuously avow , on " Les Enters de Paris" of Messrs Roger do Beuuvoir and Lambert Thiboust . Mr . Charles Selby , whoso abilities both as an actor and dramatist wo have often occasidti to notice , is the English author—so the phrase rung . —and haa contrived to erect an interesting fabric out of the abundant materials confreres
supplied by the work of Ills French , rejecting , at the same time milch that would possibly , oven in tho present state of tho public taste , have have bvon demurred to as of exceptionable propriety . Since a clergyman of the Established Church was permitted by the conductors of the Times , to tear the veil from tho Great Social Evil , thoro is no doubt that society has rushed to eon template It with marvellous avidity , and authors of all sorts and conditions have most liberally supplied tho delicacy . Tho wrltors of prose and dramatic fiction had long , sinco usod up , or nearly so , the salient characters and characteristics of both tho upper world and tho gutter—and naturally , it appears to us—welcomed the now rcsourco oponod to them . Hence tho habits and oustoms of what is
called tho domi monde have been for throo years a very fruitful theme for illustration . Topics are now discussed in drawing-rooms—plays are tolerated on the stage— -volumes , tracts , and articles bristle in tho book shops and the newspaper columns—that wpuld have boon intolerable to tho prudery—then called decency and dolioaoy—of days whon we wore younger . 41 Paris and Pleasure , " to uao , for brevity ' s sake , but one-half of the work ' s title , ia a drama of tho now
Original Five-Act Blank-Verse Comedy Of ...
original five-act blank-verse comedy of " Gabrielle , " as loyally espousing , in a loose age , the cause of pomesticity and virtue , and beingr , moreover , quasi dramatic composition , a work of considerable elegance and yet simplicity , was considered "worthy of a national premium , and held the stage for some time , at the Theatre Franeais . If Mr . Reynoldson ' s admirable version , charmingly acted as it is by all concerned , have not a similar fortune at the Princess ' s , we may , indeed , join heartily with those who ascribe the decline of histironic art and the failure of dramatic composition
to a thoroughly vitiated public taste . The plot turns upon an axis , which has been , of course , used before ( and with which the public were recently familiarised in " The House and the Home" ) namely , the absorption of Mr . Vaughan , a working barrister ( Mr . George Melville ) , in his profession , to the neglect of his lady-wife ( Mrs . Charles Young ) . . A friend ( a la mode ) of the family , Mr . Beaumont ( Mr . I . G . Shore ) , proposes to supply the void in her affections , and has gained a footing before the opening of the drama . We are permitted to -watch his advances and to observe how the weakened defences of the lady ' s
honour are reinforced at a most critical moment by the intervention of Mrs . Saffron ( Miss Carldtta Leclercq ) , another young married woman , of warm hea , sound sense , and feminine perception , aided by the green-eyed monster incarnate in the person of Mr . Adolphus Saffron F . Matthews ( half arid half to Mrs . S . ) , who , not . satisfied with playing Argus on his own account , constitutes himself a kind _ of amateur detective on behalf of the pre-occupied Vaughan , and planting the husband in ambush , shows him—though her principles and character are yet safe—how crumbling a hold lie has upon his wife ' s heart , and exposes the meditated treaspn of the friend . How to use the information is Vaughan ' s
question ; and he elects , not to fight , fast or tear himself , but to crush the viper out of Beaumont with benefits . He leaves him in special charge of the wife and the home , runs up to town , meets the premier , and is speedily down again with an offer of a lucrative place for him . He finds him en-te'te-a tete with Mrs . Vaughan , and ,. on his refusing ^ the proffered appointment , draws from him the avowal that his reason is an attachment for a married woman . This is the situation of the piece . The righteous and well-expressed sentiments of the author , with reference to the indicated crime and its consequences , are given in the best of quiet taste by Mr . Melville , whose every-word is a sting to _ the horror-stricken wife and to the treacherous friend . this harr
Mrs . Young and Mr . Shore , who , during owing scene , have little to do but listen , contrive , the former especially , to express emotions , and thus add to , without damaging , the tableau . We need hardly add that the scheme is effective , and the lowering cloud passing over leaves the honour of the lady unsullied , and her affections in a sounder state , while Mr , Beaumont , it is presumed , seeks a worthy field for his talents and trouble Mr , Shore is a rapidly improving artist , and , perhaps , is too obliging to the centre of the group by standing for fifteen minutes on one flower of the carpet . The personage lie enacts would not have done so under the circumstances ; but we can imagine this " stuck-pig " repose to bo more the result of dictation than of misconception . Of Mrs . Clias . Young and Mr . Melville ( whom late we saw m Hamlet , and expressed opinions now realised ) we cannot speak more highly—to our \ v . \ y of thinking —than to say they acted as would jinve done the ladii and gentleman they represent . Mr , Melville has taken a praiseworthy liberty with u rotten , old stage custom in wearing- enough whisker to make him look a handsome , manly young fellow ; and lua general carringo and conception of his part aro open to no exception . Miss Carlotia Lc-olcrqdid all that was riffht with tho nice little part ol Mrs . Saffron , and Mr F . Matthews , as * tho retired attorney overflowing with bonhommio , showed us how entirely he can , when lie pleases , cast off tho cap and bolls that occasionally injure his efforts . Tlwre is but one drawing-room scone throughout , but that is a marvel of ingonuity and completeness . To the whole cast of tho interesting piece , no l « ss than its author und adaptor , wo may add ( and a rare thing , too , for critics ) t hut wto felt personally indebted for a most agreeable und well-spent hour-and-a-lmW .
Piunoisss ' s Thmaxubi . —It is with no small satisfaction that theoritio circle , that havo for some time watohod with no unsympathetic eye the difficulties oncounterod by tho now lessee of the Princess s Theatre , have boon able to record an unanimous and very warm verdict in favour of his last no \ y offbrt-p namely , » Home Truths , " ndaptod by Mr . Reynoldson , an able French scholar and a practised hand at the work , from the French of Emilo Augier . I ho
Amono Theatrical Dolnfts'of The Wqek, On...
Amono theatrical dolnfts ' of the wqek , on whioh wo have no room for longtliy opinions , have boon tho production of a well-written but plotless , and , thereibro , incomplete and uninteresting , comedietta , " Chatterbox , " at tho St . James ' s Theatre ; of a trifling piece at tho Strand- " Shameful Belmvlour » not worth our notice , ox the Varied talent of the . artiste engaged upon it ; and of a successful bijou--« A Base Impostor , " confectionatcd from the Pronoh by Mr . Horace Wigan , and nicely acted by that ; gentleman and othorB , the Olympic company .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 3, 1859, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03121859/page/11/
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