The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
At THE THEA TRF-LIRRE Nv PARIS,
I" The Wenvers." tho Socialist Play by N.
Mauptmann Recently Produced There.

|
| PARIS. June 10.-Everybody knows what the
| Theatre Libre ia Young authors and bold re.
formers. and also those whose talent has
caused anxiety. who saw in front Of them the
conspiracy Of silence. all powerful because it is
| negative. had been complaining for Ions
| time OF being unable to get into contact with
| the public. The manager of a theatre always
| prefers the pieces Of Il writer who has been
| successful rather than those Of an unknown
| young man. however great his talent may be
| II we add to this the exigencies of the censor.
| ship the existence Of which has often been de.
| nouncod by young authors and declared to be
Indispensable by the Same mon as soon as
| they in turn became successful we can see how
| great are the difficulties Of an unknown author
| however original he may be. Strange indeed
are the eXigencies Of the censorship. 1t is the
| same for the caf6-concerts as for the theatres
| and. nevertheless II it is severe for the smallest
holiness when dealing with dramatic work,
| it displays the indulgence Of vicious old man
| for all the wantonness OF the rh1nsonnette
In this way we were advancing toward tho
| atrical inspidity and imbecility and brutal
corruption in addition. A reaction against
such n state Of things is easy enough to foresce
but who would have the courage to assume the
responsibility Of this movement
There certainly was no scarcity OF authors
full Of enthusiasm and capable Of new views of
things. but where could we find the actors ?
How could we escape the Censor' And, above
ALL who would accept the responsibility OF such
an attempt? Who would have the courage to
face the enmity Of successful literature the
hostility Of the administration and OF the pub
lie. and. last OF ALL the ralleries Of the critics
Well. that man is found. He was simple
employee in gas company. He has made
nIf 1irig CIV Tor
displaying the most prodgious intuition in
this line that perhaps was ever witnessed. I
allude to M. Antoine. the founder OF the Thea
ire Libre. To escape the Censor. the young
manager for M. Antoine ia only now 80 years
old had to content himself with one single rep
resentation OF his piece. This took place by
invitation. Thus it evaded tho law in regard to
public representation.
The Theatre Libre gave in this way a series
Of works. which brought many hitherto un-
known talents into note. and revealed new
tendencies. The success was so great that sew
eral theatre managers have borrowed from the
repertory OF the Theatre-Libre.
At first NJ. Antoine's efforts met with great
opposition. The host OF art critics who are so
busy writing that they have no time to think
and all that portion OF the public who fear
liberty and the initiative. rovolted. But the
cause Oh tne was tHuU Oh ART
itself. 1t was defended by man full of energy
and will and it was bound to triumph
1t was attacked at first by raillery. They
chaffed the manager and his troupe. One O
our greatest literary journals attacked NJ. An.
tome personally. But all this only served to
make the intelligent public DESTROYS OF know
ing something Of the new venture. To-day
the representations Of the Theatre-1ibre arc
literary events. occurring monthly. to which
all our journals Of importance devote long ac-
counts
The administration itself shuts It's eyes.
The Theatre Libre counts a great number OF
subscribers, and Al. Antoine has been able to
double the number OF his representations.
Consequently The Weavers." NJ. Gerhardt
Hauptmann's play. which NJ Antoine has
just presented. excited grea interest. The
talent OF the author. his aesthetic tenden-
cles the actual proof that he has Just given OF
the possibility Of treating great social aues-
tons without falling into the old ruts. with
their affectations have created a stirring sue
cess Gerhardt Hauptmann has chosen his
subject In the celebrated revolt OF the Silesian
VIEWERS in lS43. With vgor and im pa rtiality.
assisted by a rare knowledge OF theatricals,
Hauptmann puts the modern social state on
trial He brings under our very eyes the pri-
yations OF the worker. the misery that he en-