At the Lyceum, we have a version of Le Chevalier
d Essonne,—one of the pieces in Mademoiselle Nathalie's repertoire at the St. James's. The English title—A Lady in Difficulties—promises more fun than the piece actually contains. The incident of a lady taking advantage of a likeness (a la Viola) to her brother, to impersonate that brother, and to save him from hostile pursuit, is neither new in character nor is it remarkably piquant in the French original. At the St. James's, however, there was the attraction of a very favourite actress in the chief part; while at the Lyceum the pseudo Chevalier is sustained by Miss Gilbert,—a young lady of rather superior department, but not as yet effective enough to give a tone to a drama. The rattle of Mr. Charles Mathews, as the young military officer who forces his inconvenient friendship on the disguised lady, is genial and amusing; the songs of Miss Kafhleen Fitzwillians, prettily sung, gain much applause; and the piece, according to the fiat of the audience, is decidedly successful. But what is now wanted at the Lyceum is a success that shall be talked about—like, for instance, Box and Cox or The Court Beauties.
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