The Queen Of Comedies' "jane."

"Jane," the best comedy which has been seen, comes to the city at the Grand Opera House, Wednesday night, May 9th. "Jane" depends upon its situations very largely for the laughter it occasions, and of these situations there is certainly an abundance. The dialogue has had the advantage of repeated polishing, beginning with its original French version, with its British adaptation, and finally with the American approbation. A characteristic feature of the French manuscript of course, is the dialogue, which the English has to discard almost in toto, and what the Britons substituted the Americans were forced to thoroughly overhaul and brighten up. It is contended that the latter text showed greater care, consistency and cleverness, than either of its predecessors. The plot of "Jane" was necessarily absurd, for the purpose of exciting laughter. The fact is further suggested that the former are adepts in their respective characterization. lts story is simple and its action is confined to one day. In the morning we are introduced into the household of Mr. Charles Shackleton, who is in a shamefule state of "hard-uppishness," as his man William expresses it. Mr. Shackleton has represented to his guardián, a Mr. Kershaw, that he is married, and it is necessary for him to be matrimonially embarrassed to enjoy a certain income left by his aunt. Mr. Kershaw unexpectedly writes that he will visit Mr. Shackleton, and the latter has but an hour or two in which to get a wife. He finds this hard work, but after several ludicrous efforts makes a bargain with his housemaid, Jane, to pretend to be his helpmeet. Jane and William are married, but are concealing it. Williana's jealousy, the heart-breaks of Miss Morton, who is the fiancee of Shackleton, and the deceptions that ensue in every direction to keep old Kershaw properly fooled, combine to bring about the most comical situations, and the play floats along on a stream of laughter.