The theatrical dulness of the period is somewhat relieved by
the arri- val of a French company, comprising several of the actors of the Theatre de le Gaite ; who have brought with them their military drama, Les Cosaques. This piece, which in the course of some eighteen months has been acted two hundred nights at Paris, is neither better nor worse than the average of military spectacles; but it had the good luck to spring up at the commencement of the anti-Russian feeling, and the authors, MM. Alphonse Arnault and Louis Indicis, were dexterous enough to derive all the advantage that this circumstance could possibly afford. They laid their plot in a French province during the occupation of the Allies, a time when the name of Cossack was particularly hateful; they intrusted the principal utterance (both verbal and practical) of patriotic sentiments to
one of those veterans of the Imperial Army who are to the Badaud what the British tar is to the Cockney ; and they placed the chief collision be- tween the Gaul and the Cossack in a café chantant, where the singers are patriots and the audience are divided in sentiment. Thus, what with luck and what with wisdom, they achieved a brilliant success, and it is even possible they have earned an historical position. The chronicler of the last two years can hardly fail to record the fact that the war has been symbolized in Paris by a long series of anti-Russian dramas ; and in do- ing this he can scarcely avoid stating that Les Cosagues was one of the first of a "mighty line." In coming to Drury Lane Theatre, the French company have found a very shabby domicile as far as decoration goes ; but as their arrival was too sudden for preparation, they must be content with what in social slang is termed "pot-luck." However, they are well worth a visit. In the first place, the London public does not often see better acting than that of the Imperial veteran and his provincial follower, by MM. Paul Menier and Alexandre, who made those parts famous at Paris ; and in the second place, although French tragedy, comedy, and vaudeville, have been made tolerably familiar on this side the Channel, a real Boulevard "drama" is somewhat of a rarity.
The Drury Lane Opera prospers with the help of Madame Gassier and her husband. The Barbiere di Siviglia has immense success. Madame Gassier is as charming a Rosisra as can well be imagined ; and Id. Gas- sier's Figaro is super-excellent.
Miss Cushman has reappeared at the Haymarket ; and, it is said, will shortly play the character of La ilisbe in a new version of M. Victor Hugo's Angelo Tyran de Padoue.
At the request of the Queen, the Amateur Pantomime, which made so much noise at the Olympic, will be repeated at Drury Lane on Friday week, the 11th May.
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