The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-21
THE DRAMA IN EUROPE.
FRENCH PLAYwRaHTs AND ANGLo-sAxoN PUR-
IsM-A CENTENNIAL DRAMA-NIIssoN AND
PAT1I-A NOVEL THEATRICAL REcIAME-


PARIS, June I, 1875. .
found in the Figaro lately the condI
tons OF the prizes offered by NJ Theodore
Michaels, the theatrical agent for the three best
dramas by French authors, inspired by the APP
| preaching centennial celebration OF American in
dependence. The motives OF the donor as set
| lorth IN this programme, are, ITO afford France
another opportunity OF testfyng Its sentiments
of esteem and respect for America; 10 strengthen
the prestige OF French drama ic art abroad, and
| TO lay the SOLID foundations OF an international
league for the protection OF theatrical musical
and literary works.n
RULES OF COURT.
Two juries are TO be charged with the task OF
examining the pieces sent IN for competition.
The FIRST composed Pleading French, English and
American critics, whose names VIII be published
as sooL - sne iuries are formed. are 10 make
choice p the nve best works. The second, which
is TO consisr OF NM Victor Hugo, Honorary PresI
dent Emile Angler octave Feuiet, Ernest
Legouye members OF tue French Academy, and
Emile Perrin, Administrator General OF the
Theatre Francois, VIII select from the ave dramas
thus chosen the three which are TO be played.
A CENTENNIAL DRAMA.
The conditions laid down for the guidance or
authors are as follows The piece which by Its
subject and plot must be connected with an Q l.
sode OF the struggle for American independence
is 10 DC IN IOur nYe acts, IN the OF
domestic drama and in prose. IL must be
essentially moral, exhibiting only the play OF
noble passions and giving prominence in an
important female role TO the grandeur OF the sen
tments OF young and sympathetic heroine tsicl.
The lea6ing male part must be conceived In the
same spirit. comic character will, OF course,
be indispensable. by way of contrast As 10 the
1gures Of Washington and lafayette they must,
though afordins opportunities Tor outbursts OF
patriotic enthusiasm, appear only incidentally
upon the stage, and for this reason lit being in
tended that the piece shan be played in all the
dramatic theatres or the woro It would pc Iii nj
cult, II not to say impossible, 60 find In every
country actors capable OF representing IN a be1t-
ting manner, artistically or intellectually speak
ing, historical personages so well known and OF
such value. material tmpossiDiiity must not,
therefore, be allowed 10 interfere with the popu-
lar1Zation and universal success OF the piece
Another important point 10 be observed is this.
The close ana friendly relations which At present
exist between Great Britain and the United states
are known 10 all the world. The two nations es-
teen and understand each other, ana too much
care cannot be observed in the treatment OF
subject which forcedly recalls the past, so as 10
avoid wOundIng susceptibties that should be
| re spected. The manuscripts must, according 10
the usual custom, be sealed and bear on the en-
| yelope a device which should be reproduced In q
letter containing the name and address OF the
author or authors. The prizes are 10 be awarded
by the committee at public meeting and rne 30tn
OF September next has been fixed upon as the ex-
treme limit at which manuscripts can be received
THB PRIZES.
the following is a specification OF the prizes aud
rewards which 10 fan to the lot OF the success
Jul competitors. Manuscript No. VIII receive -
FIRST, a OF 5000 francs cash. deposited In the
| hands OF NM. Kohn, Retnacn & Co., bankers No
4 Rue de Ia Bourse; second, an art bronze TO be
furnished oy leading house in tnat line, repre-.
sennng OF the principal scenes OF the
| drama, or the value or about 1000 francs,
| aud which Is Is hoped Will obtain admis-
son 10 q place OF honor in the French Sec
ton OF the Philadelphia Exhibition; third, gold
medal OF the value OF 1000 francs; fourth, q
! tnird OF the pronts resulting from the perform
ance OF the WORK, watch Is 10 remain the properly
or NJ Mic aaelis ana or which an edition de lure
| rs 70 eq prepared by IA. A. Lamcrre, the pub
Usher. Manuscript No. Is TO be entitled to-
FIRST q silver medal; second, third OF the profits
| arising from the performance OF the work. Manu-
script No. Is to receIve-F.rst bronze medal; ;
second third OF the pronts OF representation.
| Nos. and are TO receive an honorable mention.
Nj. Michaelis engages 70 have played at as many
theatres as possible the three prize dramas, aud to
reserve third OF the profits for the foundation OF
authors abroad.
rHg DEFECTS or THE plan.
there il one feature In this scheme apart from
Il ils obvious unpTofesslonal objects twin which !
nave no concernl, when strikes me not ony a.
Objectionable but impracticable. There Is no
reason wny the competition should be con
y nned to writers OF nationality. II is
\ quite true that the Gramatsts OF other
y countries steal largely from the French, but
unfortunately the major portion OF what Is
plagiariZed rom them Is but little calculated 20
Il ueviate the puDlc taste or improve tue morality
u OF tue world generally. The very restrictions and
obiigat ions imposed Oy the programme TO which
nave arawn attention attest ia themselves the ap-
prenenalons entertained 81 the subject not 0eng
" treated ia a serious and becoming manner. n,
n there ore, peculiarly rewards ale nkely 10 stmu
\ late lnyentveness. Invested Of gIossness aad
RIGHTEOUSNESS, why should not dramatists VI other
I nationalities. and VINO are esteemed Tor their
avoidance OF all such excuses, be admitted 10
compete. The limits prescribed are Oh thcir taste
aud competence, wntle 90 French writers they VIII
appear simply tmpraGticsbe. Even SUCH skl'-
I iul ana experienced playwright as N. Sardou
could not rcncer an American subject instructive
or amusing without cancaturing or denstural-
iziug 1t. HIS impressions d Ame Ican So
I ciety are 1 am AFRAID, those OF most
. of his Literary o0nfrtreS; but, however, this
mar be, IL y certain that French dramatist can
make but little out OF the siais 10 which ne Is
/ restr,c ed BY N. Micnaens. ais views Of lie ana
social conduct nave been acquired in society
much more lax than ours, and as ne believes ~ 20
be perfection, o., at all events, model for all
( DINERS, ne would ind It drncnlt, n not impossl-
bcf 70 frame l0i2 ~ Nts GU ~ Nuc - hltu
which he IS familiar and when constitute tue main
features OF attractiOa IN the subjects which he u
IN the habit or handling. cannot neip, therefore,
expressing my conviction that the OBJECT pro- osed
/ 10 himself by II. Michaelis Will not b. reachedi not
I because there will any conflict OF opinion be-
I tween the English and French jurles, but because
tne chances arc thar both Will nnd inc pieces con-
structed on this plan 50 inaftistc ana duil tnat
they will be unable TO make any selecuon rom the
number presented 10 them.
vEEDls MASS.
The Hrss public performances this season Of
Verbs mass took place AZ the opera COmluuc,
Iac composer himself cOnduc ing. Nine.
SgolZ and Nile. Waumann sang tue soprano and
c0Etralto parts, as the aston OF Us lrst pro-
ductIon IN Paris. These la1les, a. your readers
are no doubts aware, we're originally selected by
Verdi as the best Interpreters fnlt could De found
of the music or tins work and u mas never been per-
formed ia Europe without tnclr cooperation.
need scarcely add that the original success of the
work was IN no small degree due % tie efforts or
thoae sncndId artIsts. Two NV male sOoIsts