The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-12
COQUELIN IN "THERMIDOR.'
The Play Which the French Government Inter-
dCted.


the very momento of victory must have been
as bitter a disappointment to the CHIEF
actor as TO the author himself During
those two performances Partisan critics
went into raptures over Coquelin's inter.
probation of the part of Labussiere.
1.-THE art Of dramatic Interpretation,
they stated, has scarcely ever been
brought 10 such state of absolute perfec-
ton as in the famous 'dossier' scene"
One critic remarked: In 'Tbermidor'
NJ. Coquelin reaches the most marvelously
pathetic effects with simplicity and So
b iety of means that fairly astound his
audience"
But Mr. C0quelin did not seem to be con-
sidering his disappointment yesterday.
Wien he had described the action of the
French Government he continued to pace
the room in silence, apparently engrOssep
in the pleasurable reflection that "Thermi-
dor" was again TO appear upon the stage.
this time under a paternal government
that does not silence plays because they
contain the ghosts of politics a century
old.
"Will you tell US something about the
plot of NJ. Sardou's drama?" asked the re-
porter.
"Ahw replied Mr.. Coqueln. quickly
wheeling round and taking a seat.
This All! is one of the pecullarities OF
the actors conversation. 1t expresses
more immediate comprehension of Ques-
ton aud Differentiated desire TO comply
with demand than whole dictionary of
polite phrases would do in the mouths of
people uututored in the art of expression.
1T is scarcely necessary to give the
whole outline of the plot, but | can men
ton some of the most striking situations
he said, speaking with rapidlty which
was in marked contrast 10 the measured
Do fv,r foo hn haA tod a to
of Thermidor.
There are four acts. The first act
opens in the Isle of Louviers, which is
now in the heart of Paris, but was almost
a suburb a century ago. The women Of
the people want to throw Fabienne Lee
coulteux into the river suspected arts
tocrat. The young girl is nun. who, be-
fore taking the VOWS, was engaged to a
republican soldier FAMED Martial Hug0n.
Martial had once saved her from perish
ing, but she believed him to have been
killed in battle.
''Labussier e-yes, that is the part play
saves her, but in spite of all she is ar
rested at the end OF the second act on the
charge of having wished to assassinate the
Chief of Police.
THE third act is one of the most power
full things Sardou ever wrote; indeed, it is
as fine, as elevated, as pathetic, as any,
thing know of in the whole range of
m odern drama. LabuSsiere is employed
in the Office of the terrible committee,
charged with the classification of the dos
siers' or accusations against political pris-
oners-he is character drawn from his
tory, you knOW-and he was actually in
the habit OF suppressing accusations, IN
known to the til bunai, in order TO save the
innocent. The third act passes in the
chamber where the writs are kept.
Labussiere has received orders to
prepare writ for Fabienne's i'm
mediate execution. BE can only save
her by substituting the 'dOssier' of one of
the other unf0rtunates who fill the prisons.
Among the IL, 900 names are three other
'Lec0uiteuX'-an old man. middle-aged
woman and a disreputable girl. One OF
these three LabuSsiere must send TO the
guillotine il he Is TO save Fablenne. 1t is a
terrible situation, as he hesitates in the
agony of choosing which OF the three mus.
suffer"
NJ Coqueln, who had been speaking
with an intensity of tone and facial eX-
preston that made the tragic tale absU-
lutely thrilling and real, paused as he
came TO the narrative of Labusslere's
struggle, as though the mere recollection
of the agonizng ordeal wers painful.
"And which was chosen ?"
1.-The disreputabIe girl replied Coque-
lin. looking up quickly. but the play
hears that Robesplerre has fallen. and
thinks that Fabienne is saved. That
night, however, the prisoners go as usual
to the scafold, and as last resource
Labussere procures document for her
to sign. The same hand which killed a
woman spared her if she declared that she
was about to become mother. This dec
laration Labussiere asks Fabienne to
make, but she scorns the false statement
and mounts the scaffold. preferring death
to undeserved dishonor."
Then Mr.. Coquelin. having outlined
some idea of "Thermidor," went to super
intend its rehearsal in the mnutest detail.
The stage was waiting for him, and the
scene set, that of a quaint and picturesque
bit of old Paris, gave promise of the beau
tiful scenic effects which made the produc-
ton of "Thermidor" notable in the his
tory of the Coincide Franchise. The Pari-
sian Journals at the time were unanimous
in the statement that never before had the
Management Of the national theater pam
dered so much to the popular love of the
spectacular. We have Mr.. Co9uelin's
word for it that the production here will
be equally effective.
One of the scenes over which Paris went
into raptures was when Fabienne. alone
in her roOn. asks Gods pardon for not
sharing in the martyrdom of her fellow
nuns. Outside the sisters are being led to
execution. One hears the crowd pass the