As the season advances, the attractions of the French Plays
increase : on Wednesday a new performer made his debut, M. LEVASSOR, a mimic a-la-Mathews. in addition to VERNET and Madame DOCHE. Us Bas Bleu, in which M. LEVASSOR appeared, is only a vehicle for the display of his versatility : he successively assumed the characters of a physician, a country farmer, a blue-stocking, and a Parisian lounger or habitue d'estaminet. His changes of costume are rapid and complete, and his mimicry of peculiarities of speech and manner is clever; though there is no mistaking the identity of the individual under the masquerade : the assumption is only superficial, and does not amount to impersonation of character ; still it is a very amusing exhibition of its kind. The advent of the estaminet-lounger, who is shot through the pannel of a door, harlequin fashion, is comical ; and the vulgarly- fantastic dress and quaint galopade are Characteristic traits of the spe- cies, and diverting withal. The blue-stocking executes a trio of a very droll character, the tenor and bass being represented by a couple of puppets that she pulls out of her huge muff: the movement of their lips to correspond with the sounds they are supposed to emit has a very odd effect. LEVASSOR reminds one of CHARLES MATHEWS the younger, and his mimetic powers are of a similar kind. Madame DOCHE appears to more advantage in Madden Friquet, the coquettish blanchisseuse, than in any part we have seen her perform : it suits her person, style, and talent. VERNET'S drunken scene in this piece is perfect—comical, not disgusting: the devious steps and stag- gering gait of the intoxicated man, the constant efforts to maintain his equilibrium, and his abhorrence of the rotary motion he cannot help performing, denote the whirling state of his brain ; while his thick utterance and lack-lustre eyes proclaim the oblivious condition of his faculties. Wednesday next is VERNET'S last night.
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