The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22
Why the Director Of the
Odeon Resigned.
M. DUQUESNEL'S CAREER
Art Sacrificed to Politics
and Pique.
DIsCU SSING THE MOVE.

during the last THEATRICAL fortnight We have only
had two or three revivals OF old pieces. They
tracted little attention, because in the first
place they in themselves of small importance,
and secondly because tor some days past the public
has become Indifferent to theatrical novelties. 1t
occupies itself merely with question which domi-
mates thing else; nothing, in fact is talked OF
but the official revocation which has just been
launched against NJ. Duquesnel, the subventoned
director Of the second Theatre Francais-the Odeon
1t is long since serious affair OF its kind has
furnished matter for commentary. For the last
eight days it has furnished almost the sole topic Of
conversation. Among the public. the artists ut the
theatres. well in private circles you hear moth
ing else discussed. The reopenng of the Chambers
which has just taken place in Paris for the first time
since the war. has almost escaped notice owing to
M. Duquesnel. When people meet in the
streets the first questions asked are these:-
"what does M. Duquesnel say about it?
Can you tell me why NJ. Duquesnel was revoked?'
In short the preoccupations the excitement caused
by the adventure OF NJ. Duquesnel. are such that
authors having q piece to produce prefer wait
ing until all this fuss has subsidized and when proper
attention be paid to their pieces. The noise
made by the Ministerial decision revoking NJ Du-
quesnel because he has ceased to merit the conf
dence of the administration and iuficting upon
him in addition fine of 20O0f is to be explained
by the great notoriety of the who its victim
He who has been able to interest to such degree
and for long period public opinion cannot GER
tainly be regarded as ordinary parsonage and
had the decision in question affected almost any
other person it would have been long since for
gotten.
INVITATIONS FROM VIENNA.
And. in fact. NJ. Duquesnel. like M. Perrin, the
eminent administrator Of the Coincide FRANCHISE u
. very different from the other theatrical
directors of Paris. He is both erudite and literary
Although originally lawyer he has always pre-
ferred the to his own profession Very popular
in the interesting circle OF noveists and dramatic
authors, no has lived the intimacy of the greatest
OF modern French writers. He has managed. more
over. to extend his relations to diplomatic and
official circles. He has read. and travelled q
great deal. His varied intmacies his daily contact
with all the aristocracies-tho of the fine arts as
well as those OF hereditary distinction
have made him not merely grand
seigneur, but diJettante For many years he
prsctised journalism with marked talent and COM
potency the Partisan correspondent of political
journal at Vienna. Austria is to him. in fact, Sec
ond fatherland. He even possesses at the court of
the Emperor Francis Joseph august friendships.
And he is held in such esteem there that he is re-
garded quite grand parsonage. whose connec-
ton with the theatres constitutes subject OF regret
The management of the Odeon notwithstanding the
noble literary mission Of that important establish
meut appears to his Vienna friends as unworthy of
a man who deemed capable Of arriving ut
higher destnes. Therefore, since the news of his
revocation has reached tn at city, he has received
all sorts of brilliant proposals to induce him to
quit France and the dramatic art and to assume
the direction Of variety of important enterprises
for which large are placed at his disposal. 1t
is certain that N. Duquesnel would figure advan.
tageously at the bead Of an important financial or
industrial Establishment. 1t would be difficult to
find for the elevated position which it is desired to
confde to him such accumulation of distinction
afabty and intelligence. To his qualities as q man
OF the world NJ Duauesnel unites rare competency
in administrative details and capacity for work
quite exceptional.
REASON OF THE REVOCATION.
But the revoked director of the Odeon is attached
above all things to the theatrical world. His great
est enjoyments found there and there he wishes
to remain. Hc has already excited great deal of at
tenton in this sphere. but he does not intend that
his managerial shall end there and like all
directors who are really gifted with artistic taste
and intellectual culture. and who very rare, no
is persuaded that he has still important role to
play. Taking, therefore, into account the high and
interesting personality OF this director, II seems
difficult to explain the severe measure Of which he
has been the victim. It can only be accounted for
by the fact that NJ. Duquesnel has powerful enemies
among the numerous friends OF the present adj
miuistration. For the last three four years
bitter has been waged against him
in the press. theatrical and in certain official
circles Greater zeal has never been manifested
even In upsetting Ministry. NJ. Francisque Sarcey
tine fierce critic of the Temps is at the head of this
furious war; which is encouraged and sustained by
those who covet the direction OF the Odeon. NJ.
Sarcy has constituted himself the defender of all the
unappreciaed aud disappointed young dramatists
ull init 6an
the Senators and Deputies occupied themselves
nually with NJ. Duqucsnel and his affairs when the
budget came up for discussion. The late director OF
the Odeon is equally violently assailcd and
energetically defended at the parliamentary
tribune. His enemies rcproach him with the
extravaganza u his mses en- scene, the beauty Of
his scenery and the elegance of his costumes. Bnt
the accusation most frequently and bitterly made
against him il that he does not play the works Of
the young authors. The truth is, however, that he
has played OF them than any of his predecessors.
but he never plays them for o long period He has
had terrible disappointments in connection with
them. In fact the mission Of the Odeon taking it in
its quality as the second Theatre Fraucais Is TO
form young authors Of talent. IL with this
purpose that the budget accorded TO the director
subvention of G0.0OO But beside the fact that this
sum is absolutely insufficient. it must be acknowl-
edged that the young and unknown authors who
have had pieces produced for some years past have
WORKS OF BUDDING AUTHORS.
Whenever their pieces are played the theatre
shows n beggarly account OF empty benches and tho
receipts diminish in deplorabe degree. 1t be
readily understood therefore, that NJ Duquesnel
has great disposition to renew such costly fail
ures. In the end they resulted in creating in his
character sort OF sceptcisni, which he was wrong
in not endeavoring TO disslmuate. He continued
nevertheless to fulfil the obligations imposed
him by his treaty with the government. lie ful-
filled strictly and to the letter his duty as a SUBJ
ventioned director; but he did all this without the
least enthusiasm. lie gradually acquired the nabt
OF joking among friends, who took care to repeat all
he said, about the pieces that he mounted. As
director he certainly did wrong in this, but as-a
critic no was perfectly in the right. When lie was
asked why he accepted pieces that were little to
his taste lac never failed to reply
IL should not play them we're / not forced to do
70 by my privilege. They never bring me good
piece. am therefore compelled to select the best
from the bad"
Upon occasion, however. NJ. Duquesncl mado
q great mistake, aud that in regard to the
edy OF NJ. Poupart Davyl, LA Maitresse Legitime"
He was persuaded that this piece would be n
plcte failure and his apprehcnsions in regard II
such that on the evening of Its first production
ho asked the author TO Withdraw 1t.
''i5elieve me-" ne said, "the piece will not be n
success. There is still time to stop IL. For mu
tual interests you had better accept the usual in
deinnty. This ought to suit you better than to be
hiseed."