The Théâtre Louvois is open to all young authors who have the ambition to write for the stage, before they have well stored their mind with the requisites. Novelties here succeed each other with astonishing rapidity. Hence, whatever success PICARD may have met with as an author, he has not been without competitors for his laurels. Out of no less than one hundred and sixty-seven pieces presented for rehearsal and read at this house, one hundred and sixty-five are said to have been refused. Of the two accepted, the one, though written forty years ago, was brought out as a new piece, and damned. However, the ill success of a piece represented here is not remarked; the fall not being great.
The friends of this theatre call it La petite Maison de Thalie. They take the part for the whole. It is, in fact, no more than her anti-chamber. As for the drawing-room of the goddess, it is no longer to be found any where in Paris.
The performers who compose PICARD'S company do no injustice to his pieces. It is affirmed that this company has what is called, on the French stage, de l'ensemble. With few exceptions, there is an ensemble, as it is very indifferent. For such an interpretation to be correct, it would be necessary for all the comedians of the Théâtre Louvois to have great talents, and none can be quoted.
PICARD, though not unfrequently applauded, is but a sorry actor. His cast of parts is that of valets and comic characters.
DEVIGNY performs the parts of noble fathers and foolish ones, here termed dindons, and grooms, called by the French jockeis. The remark, that he who plays every thing plays nothing, has not been unaptly applied to him. He has a defect of pronunciation which shocks even the ear of a foreigner.
DORSAN is naturally cold and stiff, and when he endeavours to repair the former of these defects, the weakness of his powers betrays him. If he speaks correctly, it is without finesse, and he never adds by expression to the thought of the author.
CLOZEL is a very handsome young man. He performs the characters of petits-maîtres and those of valets, which he confounds incessantly. The other actors of the Théâtre Louvois exempt me from naming them.
As for the actresses at this theatre, those only worthy to be mentioned are, Mademoiselle ADELINE, who has a rather pretty face, and plays not ill innocent parts; Mademoiselle BEFFROI, who is handsome, especially in male attire; and Mademoiselle MOLIÈRE, who is a very good soubrette. Mademoiselle LESCOT, tired of obtaining applause at the Théâtre du Vaudeville, wished to do the same on a larger theatre. Here, she has not even the consolation of saying
"Tel brille au second rang, qui s'éclipse au premier."
Madame MOLÉ, who is enormous in bulk, is a coarse caricature, whether she performs the parts of noble mothers, or what the French call caractères, that is, singular characters.