THE THEATRES.
THE performances of two different companies of French actors, the vaudevillistes headed by Monsieur BOUTFE at St. James's Theatre, and the tragedians in the suite of Mademoiselle RACHEL at the Italian Opera- house, alternately attract the admirers of fine acting, during their brief stay ; and no one who can appreciate histrionic talents of the highest order should omit the opportunity of seeing both these wonderful performers. Monsieur BousrA has played Le Gamin de Paris every night of his appearance this week ; after having personated some old man—as Pere Turlututu, " the oldest inhabitant" of a commune, in the last stage of decrepitude, or Michel Perrin, which FARREN played in an English version of the piece called Secret Service. BouveS comes on as the Gamin in a blouse, locking like an overgrown boy of sixteen ; restless, mischievous, impudent, and as full of tricks as an ape—spinning tops, jumping over chairs, and committing all sorts of vagaries, to the annoy- ance of his old grandmother ; whom, however, he coaxes into for- giveness. But when his sister's honour and happiness are endangered by the seducing arts of a young libertine, the Gamin is sobered down into the champion of her fair fame ; and his appeal to the proud old General, father of the young gallant, rescues her from disgrace by bring- ing about the marriage of the lovers. Inimitable as is SOUSA'S persona- tion of the Gamin, we must confess to a feeling of something like disap- pointment at perceiving traces of the art that we had not detected in his previous performances—his movements were a shade too deliberate to seem perfectly spontaneous, or rather involuntary : this is being hyper- critical, we admit ; but perfection must ever be the standard by which Bourses personations are judged. At the same time, we think that his ex- traordinary powers cannot be adequately estimated by those who have not seen him in a play of grave interest, such as La Fille de I'Avare. We missed seeing him as Pamirs Jacques, the character in which MORRIS BARNETT made bis reputation, for it was not repeated. The aristocratic subscribers to the French plays do not like to be strongly moved ; and it is a tribute to the pathetic influence of his serious acting that the re- petition of such parts is not desired by them, though the public thereby lose the opportunity of seeing deep emotion most powerfully depicted. In the Gamin, the second act especially, there are some touches of pathos, but they do not amount to more than a graver form of comedy ; the whimper of the big boy is little else but ludicrous, though his con- cern and distress excite sympathy. Here, too, we may note one of those traits that bespeak the great actor—he turns away to hide his gnef
oftener than he shows it. In Le Gamin M. BOUFFA is throughout ad- mirably well supported : Mademoiselle Fonahor as the sister, Mademoi- selle Caosrx as the grandmother, Monsieur GAMARD as the butt of the Gamin, and Monsieur OUDINGT as the old General, are each and all ex- cellent.
Mademoiselle RACHEL'S performance last night of her new part, Ariane, we shall advert to next week.
The doings at the &nglish theatres this week are inconsiderable. Two novelties were produced at the Lyceum on Monday ; and with success, if friendly applause be the criterion. One was an operetta, composed by Mr. CLEMENT WHITE, called The Kiss, or Bertha's Bridal; the libretto, music, and performance, being alike of too slight preten- sions for grave notice. The other, Uncle Rip, is a farce by PEAKY., with a few puns and comic situations ; in which HARLEY managed to raise a laugh.
The Haymarket has put forth another candidate for the representa- tion of Irishmen, Mr. O'NExt, from Dublin ; who appeared on Tuesday as Dr. O'Toole, and was very well received. Mr. O'NEII. has no lack of experience or confidence, and he is indefatigable in his efforts at viva- city ; but we did not perceive any indications of genuine humour in him : his dancing is capital—would we could say the same of his singing!
Mr. and Mrs. KEELEY are making as much fun as the pieces in which they play. at the New Strand will allow them : we wish them better opportunities than they have hitherto had of exercising their humorous powers, for the sake both of the public and the manager.
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