Punch (90.1886)

March 13, 1886.] PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

121

REAL TURTLES AND MOCK.

The Real is at the Lyceum ; the Mock is at Toole's. For reasons
which will be more or less obvious even to the humorous critic of
the Athenceum, we cannot venture upon an
analysis of the original Play, nor of the
original Travesty. It is a skit on the Ly-
ceum piece by Mr. "Wills, and not in any
sort of way a burlesque on Faust by Mr.
Goethe. Mr. J. L. Toole as Mephistool-
pheles keeps up the steam, and his conjuring
and. playing with fire is something that asto-
nishes even himself.

Herr Toole s command of the
German language is stupendous,
and represents years of study,
and probably a residence among
Cousins - German. The delicate
humour of Miss Marie Linden's
Marguerite will be thoroughly ap-
preciated by all who have seen
Miss Ellen Terry in the original.
We are glad to say that Miss
Terry has quite recovered—we
were afraid she would catch cold
in that undressing for bed scene
—and resumed the part last Satur-
day night. Mr. Shelton, as
Marguerite's Mother, shows a

TTm , ■ ± , -u , t> great deal of dry humour, and

J. L. T. as Meplnstoolpheles. By a ^ ^ ^ and fa Gq{ b h

Professor of the Black Art. ^ yery ^ yj^rann
Brtjnton is funny when electrified after the combat. The Scenery,
which involves changes almost too heavy for this little stage, "is
remarkably effective, specially the
change from the Regentstrasse to
what it ought to be, and from
A Street to the Crystal Palace by
night, which last, when we were
there, was received with great
applause. Mr, Warde's panto-
mime leap is a marvel of agility,
and his imitation of Henry Ir-
ving is peculiarly happy. The
great merit of the singing at this
Home of Lyric drama is distinct
articulation.

There is an occasional struggle
between the voices on the stage
and an enthusiastic cornet under-
neath it, but Mr. Fitzgerald,
Conductor of the " NationalBand"
(not a Separatist) does wonders
with his invisible orchestra.

The Realities from the Lyceum
paid the Mock Turtles a visit at a

Matinee, and took away with J™
them a number of useful hints. The Jewel Dance. " A Moonlighter."
Going It is still going it, and for

the benefit of late diners we are at liberty to mention that Faust
and Loose commences a few minutes before ten, and, as progress
is soon reported when rapidly travelling by steam, it is over by
just before eleven. _

A CARILLON OUT OF TOTE.

Shades of Lablache and Lusiley ! Never before was such a scene
witnessed in Her Majesty's Theatre as that of last Saturday night,
when the carpenters, having struck one scene, struck themselves,
and. the curtain rising showed a lot of ill-clad men, who extended
their hands for largesse, and then scrambled for coppers thrown to
them by the audience. There were shouts for M. Carillon, the
Manager; but to appear before the infuriated audience did not chime
in with M. Carillon's idea of the fitness of things. Had he shown
himself, he would have caught it from everyone ; as the French say,
\d double carillon." Poor Italian. Opera ! with such a capital and
picturesque Mephistopheles as M. vidai. too! There was a good
future in store for this venture, if the speculator could only have
tided over the first fortnight. "Well, it was started by a Carillon,
and it ended with a carillon,—and such a carillon as wo hope will
not again be heard within the walls of Her Majesty's Theatre.

A IEENCH AMLET.

Sir,—They've been adapting from the English. Messrs. Sanson
and Cressonois have been doing Shakspeare for Sarah B., cooking
him up as if it were Omelette instead of Samlet. I am the more
annoyed at this because I had already got my own version ready for
Paris, and I flatter myself that none but an Englishman can really
translate the Divine "Williams. I 'in obliged to giro 'em a rhyme
in, now and then, as the French like their tragedies" in verse. "We
only do our burlesques that way. Some of my rhythmic lines are
absolutely classic in their rigid correctness. A. S.

Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! The funeral haked meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
*****

My father !—Methinks I see my father.
Hor. Where, my Lord ?

Sam. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

This is mine: of course I call Hamlet, Amlet:—
Amht. Horatio, je dis, avec bonhomie,
Yoila les petits economies.
Les viandes cuites au four de 1'enterrenient
Dehors les tables de mariage ont foumi froidement.
*****

Mon pere !—II me semble que mon pere je voie.
Sor. Oil, mi Lor ?

Am. Dans l'ceil de mon esprit trouble par mon foie.

The above, you see, adds a physical explanation, and intensifies
the connection between mind and matter.

Then again, when Amlet meets these same young friends " sur
l'estrade," and discusses with them the temperature, the conversa-
tion continues—

Sam. The air bites shrewdly. It is very cold. &c, &c.
Which I give thus :—
Am. L'air mord avec beaucoup de finesse. Tres froid il fait.
Sor. C'est un air qui se sert des pinees, et tres empresse.
Am. Quelle heure maintenant ?

Sor. Qu'il manque de douze, je crois.

Am. Non ; c'est frappe.

Sor. Je ne l'ai pas entendu. A votre sante je bois.

(Brinks. This is my own " business," and quite original.)

Then on we go to this :—
Sam. "Where wilt thou lead mo ? Speak : I '11 go no further. &c, &c.

Am. 00. allez-vous me conduire ? Parlez: je n'irai pas plus loin.
Le Fantome. Marquez moi.
Am. Avec plaisir.

Le Fantome. De quelque chose j'ai besoin.

You see how I work the rhymes. Then the Ghost continues—
Le Fantome. Mon heure est presque arrive quand, il n'est pas une fable,
A des flammes je vais me rendre !
Am. Sapristi! Pauvre diable !

This I think thoroughly French, while preserving the true Shak-
spearian spirit.

But I will not continue my extracts, contenting myself with only
one more passage. It is where Le Fantome describes the method of
his destruction. I furnish it below :—

Sam. Haste me to know't, that I with wings as swift
As meditation, or the thoughts of love, &c, &c.
*****

Sam. 0 my prophetic soul!

My uncle !

This portion of dialogue is rendered, as I venture to think,
admirably, thus:—

Am. Faites hate que je le sache, qu'avec ailes aussi vites

Que meditation, ou les pensees d'amour—
Le Fantome. Vous dites ?

Am. Je puis balayer jusqu'a ma revanche

Et la difficult^ a un coup je tranche.
Le Fantome. Eh, bien, Amlet, je vous trouve intelligent
Et plus imbecile seriez-vous autrement
Que la grosse herbe tout-a-fait mauvaise
Qui bien sur s'enracine beaucoup a sou aise
Sur le quai de Lethe, si dans cette affaire
Vous ne voulez pas remuer avec un bon air.
Maintenant, Amlet, ecoutez ! On a dit
Qu'un soir eudormi dans mon jardin de fruits
Un serpent m'a pique. * * * *' *
* * * * Mais no eavez-vous pas
Le serpent qui a pique la vio de votrc Papa
Porte maintenant son chapeau!

, . , . Mon ame prophetique!

C est monsieur mon oncle!

Le Fantome. Oui! Et il lc trouve ehie !

How do you like 'em ? Quelque chose semblable d une traduction
between a leading Actress and the Committee of tho Theatre n'est-ce pas ? When Saeah sees the above she '11 send to
*rancais there now exists" a Dudlay Feud." | Tours truly, ' Longly R. Parry.

vol. xc. m.