At the French Theatre, this week, Psalr has appeared in
Le Malade Imaginaire and L'Avare, having previously performed in Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme ; but his success in MOLIERE comedies has not been so great as in the vaudevilles of SCRIBE and others. In L'Artiste, where, as in Le Cornedien d'Etampes, he personates four different characters, the executive skill of the finished actor is most strikingly exemplified • and it is in this that PERLET now excels. We saw him in Le flalade Imaginaire, and felt something like dis- appointment: though his personation of the choleric and imbecile hypochondriac was admirable, yet the markings of the character were somewhat coarse, and there was a want of individuality about it ; one never lost sight of the artist. This remark applies equally to his performance of L'Avare ; it was the comedian PERLET, not Harpagon, that was before us always—even in the scene where the miser is frantic at the loss of his gold. We did not see PELMET in Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme ; anticipating that the character would not be so well suited to his style—though, after the vulgar buffoonery of LAPORTE, it would have been welcome. But we honestly confess that MOLIERE'S Bit is more enjoyed in the reading than the per- formance: it is only the fine sense and playful satire that elevate his comedies above the level of farce as regards the plot and cha- racters; and the actor is too much tempted to raise a laugh by ex- aggeration, or some other device to produce effect. PERLET's engage- ment, which was to have terminated on Wednesday, has been lengthened a few nights, according to custom ; and upon his secession, M. Bourei, and Mademoiselle DEJAZET are to appear. As we have made com- parisons of the French and English actors disadvantageous to our countrymen, it is but justice to say that the performance of Un Mon- sieur et une Dame, at the St. James's Theatre, is very far inferior to that of Mr. and Mrs. Krut.vy as the Lady and Gentleman in a Perplexing Predicament, an English version of the same piece, and an improve- ment upon the original.
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