PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2354, 18 October 1870, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

True to their promise, to produce the latest novelties, the management last evening presented to Dunedin playgoers the drama, adapted from the French, of MM. Meilhaco and Hahivy, entitled “Frou-Frou”— pronounced froo-froo —drama that has achieved as great a success as any of modern times. It is a mixture of “Camille” and “East Lynuo;” the sentiment that pervades those dramas pervades it, and the moral is J;he same. In it, as in those play?, there are some excellent situations; but in point of construction it is inferior to the first named play, and, although at times some elegant language is met with, it docs not come up to the latter in that respect. A contemporary furnishes a very elaborate account of the plot, which we cannot do better than repeat. The lady of the story is one of the frivolous favorites of Parisian society. She believes in her heart Paris could not live without Frou-Frou, any more than Frou-frou could live without Paris. When she is first introduced to the audience she is the reigning belle of a large country side, and has for lovers two gentlemen, on one of whovn M, (jc Sar.torys—she bestows her hand- They come tbxris to reside; and it is in the second act, when they havg been married six years, that the action proper of the drama commences. Frou-Frou has her mansion, her aristocratic friends, her little flirtations, and at times the dialogue is sufficiently pointed to lead to the thought that, like other ladies of fashion, her flirtatious verge on something still more dangerous. The discarded lover of six years ago, the Comte de Valreas is a constant visitor to the house ; and when the scene opens we hear of an amateur performance which is to be given directly, in aid of the charities of Paris, at which the principal parts are to be taken by Frou-Frou and de Valreas. A rehearsal has been fixed to take place directly, at Sartorys’ house; and he, prior to his departure for the city, comes to her to inform her that he 1 as received from a Minister the offer of a splendid appointment at Carlsvnhe. He thinks that he ought to take it, but submits the matter to her bands. She at once poutingly admits that she cannot live nut of Pari«, but puts it delicately to Henri that if he chooses to takq the appointment he can go, auj slip will remain in occupation. After a scene of mutual tenderness, tl;o husband declares ho cannot leave his wife, and that he will decline the appointment. In an outburst of gratified prido, she at once declares that in order to show her appreciation of his sacrifice, she will do anything in the world he asks her. “ Will you,” he rejoins, grimly enough, “then give up these amateur theatricals?” The wife here shows the utter selfishness of her nature by declining to do a'o. Dp Hartorys goes away to his Bourse, !j,ud do Valreas pnd Madame and Monsieur de Cam.bri (two representatives of the fashionable world) come in for the rehearsal. From a comedy point of view this sueno ia the best in the piece, the acting of tbc four engaged in it being as near perfection as possible. Just as Valreas is about to embrace Frou-Frou, according to the printed directions of the book, against which proceeding -lie at first protests, and to which she afteryva.rds biusjiingly concedes, the sister Louise enters ihe room, and pie fashionable at once decamp. Louise is hardly a secondary character ; she is the elder sistep of tl)e heroine, and at the time of ifie marriage entertained the grand passion for ftvrtorys. For six years she hap not entered his door, hut she co nes now to say farewell to him, to his wife, ami to his child, because she intends retiring to a convent preparatory to taking die veil. Frou-Frou attempts to dissuade her, and says she must come and live with them altogether. Lornse refuses. Sartorys enters, and in his turn persuades, and 'Louise consent?. Frou-Frou wraps her skß around Ijor, ami to meet de Val*

reas at dinner, leaving the husband and his son seated together with his sister at the table. Six months ; ass quickly away before the curtain rises again, and' we then find Frou-Frou madly jealous of Louise, who has taken possession of the mist ress’s place in the house, and in the child heart of her soil The husband's affection remains undiininished, however. The wife makes one bold effort to save herself. Valreas still haunts her ; has become importunate. She has commanded him to leave Paris at on e. He seeks an interview and pleads his cause, but she repels him with a declaration that she does not love him, which means, as plainly as words can sp- ak, the very opposite. Ho is about to embrace her, when fortunately the husband enters. “M. de Valreas has come to say his adieux,” she cries, and he is politely bowed out. Then a great scene ensues between the husband and wife. An advantageous offer has been made for the hand of Louise. That offer must, says Frou-Frou, be accepted, and Sartorys must use bis influence to get it accepted. Louise enters. The husband comes at once to business, and states the case. Mademoiselle is proud of the honor and glad of tho offer, as, by declining it, she will at once convince the world that she has no intention of marrying. She has made her home with her sister, that sister’s husband and child, and she prays that she may not be driven from it. Monsieur expresses his gratification, and turns to his wife with a shrug, as much as to say, “There, didn’t I tell yon so : perhaps you’d better try your hand’ now.” Frou-Frou, who has been a silent agonised spectator of the scene, has by this time worked hcself up to a pitch of unnatural fury. Do Sartorys sees the impending storm, and, like a wise man, retreats, Louise is about to follow, when she is checked by her maddened sister, who pours out a volley of coarse threat, of virulent epithet. In vain Louise supplicatingly entreats, the torrent will not be stayed. At last the meek nature is stirred and then she tells the story of her life of sacrifice, and says that once more she will give up her happiness as .-he had done before. “ No,” says FrouFrou, “you have usurped ray place, stolen from me the affections of my child and my husband ; stay here and enjoy the fruits of your labor, t have love away from here—l go to it.” And go she does. This scene is one of the best products of modem sensational drama, and it was splendidly worked out by the principals, The end of the miserable story is soon told. Frou-Frou and Valreas have little time for enjoyment. Like Nemesis, Sartorys follows and finds them ; kills the seducer, and casts off the seduced. Tho lady repents, becomes as unselfish as she has been selfish, catches a fever and dies, with her husband at one side of her, and her sister on the other. We have sa d so much of the plot that little room is left for a notice of the acting, which we shall give to-morrow. The piece is placed on the stage in a manner that reflects the. highest credit on the management. The characters arc all elegantly and correctly dressed, and the appointments are in excellent keeping. Even the scenery is new. There is a scene in the first act —the home of Les Ohamerettes —which is alone worth going to see. There was a very good attendance last night, but was not so large as we hope to sec during the run of the piece, for it will doubtless have one.