New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-15
THE FRENCH STAGE.
CROIZETTE-LECOQ'S NEW OPERA-ERCk-
MANS-CHATRIAN'S MADAME THEREsE."


MANN-CHATRIAN'S MADAME THEREsE."
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBuSE'I
PARIS October %
Mile. Croizette persists in her resignation. Her
health has not been strong she is the absolute mis-
tress of Sterns fortune, has Slayonic tenderness
for her youthful son. and thinks nothing so delight
full as attending to household concerns. Why theh
should she go on. she asks, drudging at thr
Francois She last played there in the 3" Princess
of Bagdad." Mile Croizette has become splendldiy
handsome. She is richly developed as goddess
in no matter which of Rubens's NEUROLOGICAL paint
Ing but without Flemish grossness. When she Is
on the stage IL is impossible to have eyes for any
else. 1t is a mistake. however 10 suppose that
she has risen in her profession simply because OF
her physique. She is an admirable actress, but only
does in roles in which there is good deal of move
ment. She would be, IN long sentimental
TRADE which required delicate infections, very
much inferior to Sarah Bernhardt But she is SUI
perior TO her In all the younger Dumas's plays e1-
cept " La Dame Aux Camehas." and in those OF
Angler and Octave Feulllet. As Celimene in " lie
Mlsanthrope" she is Incompatible, particularly
when decked ont in her diamonds
The Theatre Francois depores, and with good
cause, her retirement Everyone did not under
stand what vas best in Sarah Bernhardt. Many
dsliked tine mannerism and afectatIOn of that cee-
brated actress But Sophie Croizette was univer-
sally appreciated. She was endowed with prodlg-
ious and apparent vitality and the magnetic faculty
She resigned some time age, and last week con-
frmed her resignation. Her theatrical associates
are so DESTROYS of inducing her TO return that they
have given her six months longer to reflect. Ny
impression Is that she will not return to the stage
She thinks the dramatic profession a contemplate
one and dislikes the feverish excitement which is
inevitable when it is followed with success. 1hls
brilliant beauty has been surfeIted with news
paper puifs and the bona fde admiration OF critics.
of the general public, and of ilustrous and pluto
cratic paygoers | suppose no actress that ever
trod the boards Of the Francois received 80 many
fervld declarations of love from the students who
i'll the pit She prizes above everything else
that TRANQUIL happiness which the Germans express
ia the word gemnthlich."
Mile Bartet is now the best actress for varied
reperory at the Francais. She has many nice quail
ities and Is highly cultivated But she has poor
physique. Madame samary is only good for highs
OF broad comedy and Mile. ReIchemberg for the
former.
VI. Lecoq has at length brought out his LIE CGur
ct la Main" or Heart and Hand" at the NOu-
veautes Theatre. 1t is destined, l believe, to an
early death. Lecoq is now rich, celebrated and
master of his time. He is able now 10 work serl-
ousiy and at leisure. Anything he presents to a
theatrical director is sure be accepted and the
terms offered But he has so long desecrated his
muse that she is not any longer a source of
uoole Inspiration lie chose to serve biammon
in pandering to the tastes Of the gOmmear, the
cocottes and the cocodettes, and he finds that
his servitude is TO be perpetual Tie brain has
been wound up to give out melodies winch SUIT
frivolous and licentous songs anI chOruSsA lt
must now follow the impetus that II has received.
The same thing happened 10 dorin, the designer for
La Vie PdrsieHne. As the tree falls so it must lie.
Lecoq chose 10 fall deml-anc dOuble-monde-waTd.
lie Cpnr ct la Main sets up to be moro than
the operetIe the comic opera. and yet does not
profess be a rival OF the opera The orchestra
ION wants sOnOrOusness. and Ii power TO rouse
up and transport the hearers. 1t il tame fiat, and
gives the idea of instrumental musicians mt work in
the padded chamber of mad-house. The vocal
part l. less tina middling lacking it does high
inspiration, staying power communicative
warmth. 1t has "reminiscences of Tampa" ana the
"Pr6 aux Clercs," of the ALLEGRO du Septuor" of
Beethoven. and of "Lala RoOkh" in the first
chorus. Bat Herold, Felicien David and Beethoven
are washed out and faded. Those passages in
which Lecoq follows his old manner are
drol gay aud a little vulgar chorus
of women IN the second act is a charming trlhe
But it Is very like a choral song III BIzets " Car
men,"
l have been again to see Erckmann-C hatrian's
grand military piece at the Municipal Thratre OF
lie Chatelet. The >ianese twins of French literature
have unquestionably scored a blank in giving
Nine lhereie to the public. They have
taken from that delicious novel, the of which
is laid in the Valley of the Sarre in 1893, not so
much play a circus piece. the action is sacri-
feed to the tabeaus, OF which are highly sem
sauOnal. and the dialogue is poor. hs authors
were bitten by the success of Victor Hngo's
"Quatre Vingt-Treize," in which there is Homerc
stir and spirit, and thought they codld find in
Madame Th6rese "a novel which has gone
through as many as thirty editions-the elements
for grand military drama. They de-
serted their sweet, rustic muse whose
inspirations they have happily rendered,
and attempted to call from the dead the Revolu-
tIonary army which Hoche led against Wurmser
and the Duke of Brunswick, and to make
1t fight again the battle of Froeschwiller.
Such an evocatOn demands creative genius
Of The highest order. Homer, Dante, Shake |
speare, Milton, Scott. aud Victor Hugo
succeeded in making terees en- ndSse OF dry bones
and In giving them flesh, blood. nerve, muscle. and
that vital force which nurres men into bold actions
Michael Angelo also had this faculty, which was
possessed in q great degree by Rafet. who painted
THE Phantom Review" of Napoleon's grand
army
Erckmann- Chatran pipe delIcionsy or reeds and
wheaton straws, but do not understand how to COM
bine the drum fife, CLARION and bugle, IN spirit
stirring concert. In the spectacular drama of
Madame Therese" the wheaton straw and musical
reed are cast aside One finds of those pretty
graceful and still humOrously treated episodes of
village life which have made the fortune of the
novel Dear old Scpo, the dog Of Frtzel, is elimi
mated along with his master. SciplO and
Frtzel Of the happlest creations