The morning call., 1893-10-22
MODERN PLAYS.
Napoleon the Great on the
Stage.
A PLAY IN SIXTY-SIX SCENES.
Two Other New Dramas i'm Which the
Little Corporal Is Also the
Most Important Figure.

NlOSt tAhROA
During the past year it has been the
fashion to study the great Napoleon, both
in his public and private life. M. LeYy's
book on Napoleon Intime" had an I'M
mense success, and Frederic Mason Is
now publishing in Figaro Litteraire Sc
xies of articles on the sentimental sloe Oh
Napoleon's career.
In fact, much of the literature published
in France at the present time relates 10
the first empire and its creator; not be-
cause the French people wish to return 10
the Government of the Napoleonlc
dynasty. but because the republic OF TO-
day is not the ideal of the French nation.
AS Emile Bergerat justly remarks;
"The republic of Theirs. of Grevy, OF Car
not is suitable for calm. phIegmatic p:o-
pie, like the Swiss, but not for the fiery,
ambitious French. The motto of the DEM
ocracy of to-day is mo superior! 20 great
meDP This may be democratic, but 1t cer-
tainly is not French. Glory is more neces-
sary than bread for the French, and nat
uralIy the thoughts of all turn TO the o.
Who satisfied ambition and led his people
to glory"
The theaters have not escaped from the
ge neral enthusiasm, and everywhere THIS
coming winter we shall see Napoleon l.
The great attraction of the season. an
nounced for the Porte Saint Martin
Theater. is Martin Laya's play. called
Napoleon" 1t is colossal work. and
for six mouths author, director and actors
have studied the mise en- scene.
Napoleon" is a drama of six acts and
sixty-six scenes. Among these scenes are
81 Oft of ne ~ "a
tion of Napoleon" Coronation of Joseph
inc" NAPOLEON at st. Helena" "Napo
Icons remains brought back to France"
etc.
The drama is. in fact, the life of Napo-
leon. correctly copied from history. Usually
sixty-six tabeaux would require at lea,
two evenings, but Monsieur 'Rochard,
manager of the Porte Saint Ma
tin Theater. has arranged that "Napo-
leon" be represented in the time OF an
everyday drama. And in the tableaux
the real and the imitation will be so we'll
| mingled that spectators cannot understand
the extent of their optical illusion. In the
battles spectators will see thousands of
men, but the 300 actors will be supple
mented by zinc manikins. which will walk
and turn in such manner that the
audience cannot detect the deception.
The manager has also studied effects OF
light and darkness. and has invented an
arrangement for perspective unique in the
theatrical world. In these sixty-six scenes
twenty will be devoted to conversation. to
the plot of the drama itself. There will
be numerous transform ton scenes, but the
footlights will not be lowered from begin
ming to end of the play.
Garnier will play the role of Napoleon,
Mile. Haussmann will personate Josephine
and Mile. Germaine will be Marie Louise
The decorating thus far has cost ESQ.,
francs. of which sum 100000 francs has
| been devoted to machinery.
| At the Vaudeville Theater theg are pre-
pairing I'M Madame Sans Gene" by Victorien
Sardou and Emile Moreau. One of the
heroes OF this play is Napoleon l, and the
Nine. Sans-Gene u question is the wife CT
place in Paris, 1892, and twenty years
after. the play continuing at Compiegne
and Paris.
The play relates principally to the
private life of the Emperor; Madame Re-
jane will personify Nine. Sans-Gene; to
Duauesne is allotted the role of Napoleon;
Cande is Mareschal Lefebvre; Lerand
will play Fouche, chief of police; the fam
Gus Count de Neiperg. friend OF Marie
Louise, will be represented by Grand;
Princess Piom bino, by Mile. Verneuil, and
Queen Caroline Of Naples. by Marguerite
Caron.
We shall, see besides, Duroc, Savary.
Junot. and all the celebrated women of the
Court of the TuiIeries.
AT the AlcaZar Faubourg- Poissonniere.
where Theresa found fame. M. Grand
mougin is mounting another play relating
to Napoleon the Great. so that this winter
the conqueror will be resuscitated in the
theaters at least three times.
The great opera to be produced this
season is of course "Thais," by Massenet.
The libretto closely follows the Dovel OF
Anatole France called "Thais," novel
that made great sensation in
1890. Those who have heard fragments
of this opera say that it will cer-
tainly be considered the masterpiece
of Massenet. The title role is assigned To
Miss Sibyl Sanderson. and Parisians are
looking forward TO the production of
her debut at the Grand Opera.
The time is in the fourth century, place
Alexandria, ana principal personages
That's, celebrated actress, and Paphnuce,
a savant. That's is bewitching woman,
whose riches Increase each year, and Paph-
nuce a learned hermit who wishes to save
the soul of the famous actress. He converts
her and conducts her to the desert, where
live the holy women, but-and here is the
worlds losophy-Paphnuce falls in
love with his rescued sinner, and no mat
ter how many his prayers. how great his
pentence, love triumphs.
While the angels bear away the soul of
Thals, Paphnuce kneels as her lover beside
her deathbed, and feels himself aban-
doned by God. 1nvincib]e love is the
entire theme. but the lbretto is written
with vigor. grace and style.
BARONESS ALrHEA SALVADOR.
Paris. Sept. 27, 1898.