best tragedian, but principally
owes what fame he has, to their actors in that department being of so
mediocre a description, some people prefer Beauvallet but not the
majority, their abilities are very nearly of the same stamp. Guyon is a
fine young man, and plays the parts of young heroes very fairly. Geffroy
is another, possessing sufficient merit to escape condemnation. As comic
actors they have Regnier who may be placed upon the moderate list;
Samson is certainly much better, and in fact by no means destitute of
talent, which may decidedly be also stated of Firmin; Provost is
likewise a very passable actor. Comedy is indeed their fort, it is far
more pure than ours; I remember making that remark to the celebrated
John Kemble at the time he was residing at Toulouse, and adding that I
considered our comic actors gave way too much to grimace and buffoonery.
Kemble replied, "Don't blame the actors for that, it is owing to the bad
taste of the audience, by whom it is always applauded, and a thoroughly
chaste performance, without some caricature, would not stand the same
chance of success." The prices at the Theatre Francais are from 1 fr. 5
sous varying up to 6 fr. 12 sous, according to that part of the house in
which you choose your seat; they begin sometimes 1/4 before 7.

The Theatre du Gymnase, on the Boulevart Bonne-Nouvelle, was once one of
the most successful of any in Paris, but it does not sustain the high
reputation it formerly possessed. Bouffe is now its principal support,
and has indeed a most attractive power; there are also other actors of
merit, as Klein, Numa, Tisserant, and Volnys, who sustain their
respective parts extremely well; but when performing with such a star
as Bouffe, their minor talents are eclipsed, and little noticed. Mad.
Volnys (formerly Leontine Fay) still retains that high reputation which
she has so long and so justly merited, she ever was a most charming and
natural actress. Mesdames Julienne, Habeneck and Nathalie are all rather
above mediocrity, so that this theatre still affords the dramatic
amateur much rational enjoyment. They commence at 6, and the prices
range from 1 fr. 5 sous, to 5 fr.

The Theatre des Varietes always has been and is still a great favourite,
where they play vaudevilles, a sort of light comedy, which are generally
highly amusing; they have always contrived to have actors at this
theatre who were sure to draw full houses, and that is the case at
present. Laf