The New York herald., 1879-03-09

M. Halanzier is not man to lose his time even in
the clouds. Hall an hour" he shouted out from
rehearsal can see very well from herei" You can
readily understand that il is not easy find direc-
tors OF this stamp. and that NJ. Halanzier will no
sooner have left the Opera than his loss will be de-
plored
DRAMATIC COLLABORATION -..LE MARI DEBu-
rASrE.
And now let us pass other subjects. have
a few words to say regarding the vaudeville which
NM. Meilhac and Haevy have just produced at the
Theatre du Palais Royal-"Le Mari de la Debutante "
Your readers must be acquainted with the names and
the regulations of the essentially Partisan DRAM
atists. whose witty creations are played everywhere
The ''Grande Duehesse." the "Brigands." "Frou-
Frou" and the "Reveion" have borne their fame to
every part OF the world. The fortunate association
OF these two men of talent and wit has given us
number of little chefs dauore. of operate brettos
full OF and refined SATIRE OF come
dies which overflow with humor and keen
observation in every scene, and OF vaude-
villes which make one laugh throughout The
public in seeing those two names associated for many
years past theatrical posters has naturally arrived
at the conclusion that Meiihac and Halevy two
intimate friends; even more than friends-brothers
living one tor the other and unable to live without
each other having the tastes and partaking OF
the same pleasures. The public IS mistaken Never
two natures more widely different or less cal
culated TO understand each other. Meilhac is the
very opposite of Halevy. The latter is a worker;
serious. economical, cold in temperament. always
aIniable. a married man and domestic; Meilhac
adores billiards. Halevy plays only whist The
friends of Meihac in the habit Of say
ing. at is Meihac who writes the pieces
Mehac does not contradict them. Well. the
vaudeville Introduces US. but in the last act
merely lit would almost seem that the authors were
AFRAID of their subject to of those manages OF the
atrica artists, curious to observe and describe.
and which are to be met with occasionally in our
great city. How singular they are. and how Balzac
would have been delighted with them-he who
only acquainted with the me,aage OF NJ and
Mime. Marnefe. The wife represents the capital and
the husband is the operator who turns 1t to account
OF the rights OF marriage he recognizes but this
fact that he the husband is the head Of the family
As sneh he concludes contracts. accepts or refuses
the r6tes allotted to has wife. and says proudly
"We have had splendid success. He is duly i'm
pressed with the fact that he must turn to the best
account his wife's popularity. and as long as
she is able to sing. long as she pre-
serves her personal attractions. long will he
make her perform .i, in Paris. Paris in the provinces
time to breathe or rest The husband renounces
every feeling Of shame or jealousy. He determines
to plug his and close his eyes. As long his
wife remains ut the theatre he will submit heroically
to its inconveniences and make money out Of them.
1t was he who discussing with manager rather
transparent costume in which his wife to appear
in the last act OF popular opereta observed TO the
it is very pretty, but does not
strip the figure enough. My wife Is sufficiently well
made to justify her showing more of it," The wife
her side understands the obligations OF marriage
III her own peculiar way. well known banker
mond earrings Il accept your present" she said.
but one condition. and that is that you give
something to my husband" NM Meilhac and
Halevy shrank from giving too faithful picture of
such ideas and manners. They did not care to push
naturalism so far.
NATURALIsM ON THE BOARDS.
Naturalism is now the word most in vogue. 1t was
born only yesterday, which explains why it is
yet understood by every one 1t is sort of dramatic
pest which has seized upon certain class, but which
l trust will not become contagious. Should this
tradition ever take possession OF the stage. the thea
tire which passes for being the school OF manners
would become the special and exclusive school for
bad manners. Grand passions and noble sentiments
would disappear as if by enchantment to give place
to abect instincts to low appetites to
to alcoholic delirium-in word. to the luxuries Of
the gutter Authors instead of torturing their wits
introduce in their dialogue nesse gayety, obser
yation and pathetic feeling. would content them
selves with making their personages speak
language commonplace. colorless. vul-
Kind of triviaty. And In regard to
theatrical artists their physical defects would in
evtably become brilliant qualities; epeptic motion,
bad taste and want OF tact would take the place Of
every kind Of talent. The high priest Of naturaism
is NJ. Emile lola. Every one has read his novel.
"LAssommoir." But the work should be read in
French; should appreciate in the original text
this special kind of slang to comprehend the un-
wholesome success Of this sort of literature 1t has
been attempted to transfer portions OF the novel to
the theatre by modifying and Transforming them.
The drama is commonplace and tiresome work,
such have already seen hundred OF. and it Is
worse than the ninety mine Others. But the evil
kind OF sensation which was created by the novel
has followed it to the theatre. For some time people
had to bear severe crushing to secure
places at the box Office of the Ambigu.
Now, Notwithstanding furious system OF putting
the eagerness of the public has cooled Off and it
is easy to foresee that before long nothing moro
will be heard OF this unfortunate piece. Everything
had been done. however to reproduce faithfully the
warts and scoria of the novel The dirtiest black
guards Of the city were hunted up to figure in it.
One of the scenes represents, with truthfulness
repulsive than the reality ITSELF tdpor where
the women of the lowest class OF the population go
to their dirty linen.-and very dirty it is The
suds passed in full buckets aud perfume the at
mosphere. Having NJ Zola to deal with we may ex-
pcct something more repusive still. After the
ldroir shall, doubt have abattoirs the Morgue
the amphitheatre of the School of Medicine with real
corpses in the process of dissection and the dpOtor
of La villette. with its authentic emanations.
But it will be said to me, Where il the naturalism
in all this? The piece is perhaps flthier and more
repulsive than any other drama. but is it the
natural for that?" own that should hnd myself
greatly embarrassed were called upon to give .
definition of naturalism. have questioned the par
tsans of the author; they have no clearer ideas
the subject than have. We shall adhere, then. with
your permission. to the definition or Victorien
Sardou.
The horacademician is just now at Nice. busy
with the important piece winch he is preparing for
the Comedie FRANCHISE and employing his leisure in
visiting and purchasing property. Recently, in the
OF his he met lady friend. The
conversation turned on Zos and his ''L'Assommoir." "
"Wel," said the lady. "you at least will be able to
tell me what naturalist isY "A naturalist" re-
plled the author Of "Dora," 'he 10 enpaiAeur 10
tax