We may assume that those of our readers who take
an interest in French plays are acquainted with the admirable comedy of Bertrand et Raton, It is worth while to bring forward this masterpiece of dramatic art every now and then, if only for the sake of reminding folks that M. Scribe is some- thing more than a mere writer of light vaudevilles and operatic libretti. The man who could finish off the character of Bertrand, and manage a com- plicated story like that of the piece in question, is a dramatist in no hum- ble sense of the word. The play has been very strongly cast at the St. James's Theatre; with Perlet as the quiet and politely Ironical minister, Cartigny as the puffy self-sufficient mercer, Madame Grassau as the plain- spoken bourgeoise, and Mademoiselle Brohan as the hopeful juvenile, Jean. By the by, it is a piece of bad news for the frequenters of this house that the last-named actress, whose liveliness and intelligence have kept them in good-humour since the opening, has just terminated her engagement.
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