The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
INDECENCY ON THE STAGE.
a NEW TORH MANAGER TRIES
FRfNCH rINTOMIME.
One or Inst winters Sensational Pnrisinn
Exhibitions Chosen ~ the FIRST Rcprc-
s~entHtiun OF that sort on ~ New Hork


Exhibitions Chosen ~ the First Rcprc-
sentatiun OF that sort on ~ New York
stage 60 An Anront TO ThentreGoer-.
A phase OF Paris nns,lness that was new to
this city until last Monday has found n place on
the New York stage. For n year or morethc rage
for undressing in plain view has ilourished on
tho French stage. In the music halls, In the
theatres devoted to comedy and lighter
entertainments and in whatever kind OF per-
furmancC In which a woman could he intro
duced and find some reasonable %pretcSt for bar
ing herself rs much rs the law allowed. this
popular feature has been presented. The
woman who appeared ALREADY stripped had lost
her novelty. An exquisite refinement for what
was vicious demanded that the sensa-
ton Of pleasure which can't from view
ing the spectacle 10 aggravated md
intensified by witnessing the process.
| slowly. gradually. and naturally revealed to the
audience. ono of the recent Paris plays began
| with IL scene laid In n fashionable dressmaker's
fitting room. AS the women prepared them
selves for the tallor's hands the audience had
another pleasure keoner than that which came
from It's own satisfaction at viewing the sight.
The spectators could sec n number OF senile
peppers stationed behind screens on the stage,
who, prurient with the hope of sensation, Eazed
at the disrobing women. Tint touch which
gave the spectators the pleasure of witnessing
llc CIV N''A pNN''s 'N'N'S N'"-N
with expectation was distinctly Partisan, and It
was voted the last word In the undressed drama.
Before this there had been the "COucher
d'Yvette." In which n girl came into her room
In street dress and went through every prepara-
| ton for bed and nestled under the covers as the
curtain fell. There was a sequel to this which
showed the girl In bed as tho curtain
rose. Then she carefully made her morn
Ing toilet, and when she was finally
--.1, Co. ah, eNennN cha MIA NEna
finished. But that piece was voted dun. Paris
ians did not take an interest In what was going
to happen to the girl after she was clothed and
went out into the street in the morning light.
There was none of the mystery and uncertainty
which began in the going-to-bed play, only
when she blew out her candle and turned
over IN tho dark. There were her dreams,
her reflections in the dark It half
dozen different things that the Partisan mind
knew might happen to her when she was in bed
with the light out. But to have her boldly walk
into the morning air. put IN end TO such aliuring
possibilities. So the public lid not care for the
piece in which the girl got up. fond rs it grew CT
the one In which she went To bed.
The public grew 90 enthusiastic over this that
there was scarcely a music hall in Paris last
winter in which a girl did not go to bed some
time during the performance. In one place,
after the bed business had begun to pail n bit, n
girl-an American, tOo-came on the stnGe
in a mans dress suit. In the first
verse she expressed her disgust of masculine
garments. After the second she took Off her
coat and threw it aside. The third verse peeled
off her waistcont. and there were enough verses
In the song to leave her standing, with only q
short shift on 0y the tlme shs ilIhon n ,o,,d 90.
It's taste of this new phase of Paris diversion.
The only question was Concerned with the spot
In which. II would break out, II came here,
possibly. because the sho" needed something 10
boost it into popularity, and the chance, of a full
aCer. Certainly the pantomine has served
its purpose in this rsSpeGt. It d0e'n,t CON.
the house was crowded. and possibly for the
first tsne in tho experience OF a thIrty.cent
The manager nevc- lad half as many people
in his theatre before ~ Orange blossoms" is
drawing there.
Tho piece now on the stage Is a variation OF the
simple play OF tine girl going to bed. II has the
piquancy, of revealing This interesting perform
auCe on the night of her marriage. 1t illustrates
the situation with the addition of every salacious
and Indecent detail the public presentation OF
that could throw these features into bold relief
is neGl"ctsa; Whatsvsr the purpose OF the
French ~ Couehsr ds i Mari<e;" which
1t was what the original name did not Indicate
the first time she die it as a married woman.
until the pantomiIae commenced. The srecta;
tors filed every sent. SAT on the stairway, stood
several srI a pqwi deep iLr,r at n ,he BACK *. OF the s,rh h3u1 &C;
The stage. When The curtain rose they
saw a bed ehambsr fitted up in the Frsnch h
i P"iS blue ilHcI Xix lounge. Fut these were only de:
tails of the, scene. The central object was a
for sp.edy occupancy: with ErSa,
back the coun;erpanc ard sheets, uatted the pill:
lows. and smootlied the covers. Then she held
up Il dlaphanou, silk night drr9s trimmed with
| milo blue ribbon bows, First she placed one
pillow on top of the other. Then she Withdrew
a few steps, studied the effect for a moment:
thought decided her to place one by the side of
This satisfied her. and the bed was arranged
when the bridal party entered the room. They
were the bride and, groom and the brides
clearing the room of everybody but his wife. lie
got rd Of the maid; but the mothe5 and dangh;;
and parted, only to fall again into each others
arms. The mother wept and the father tried
ton began to yawn and stretch himself and in
diCat" in various other, pantomimic ways thGt
had tie aonecf on the parents, and after another
fearful embrace the mother retired with her
husband, leaving the Young peGpiG alone ,,o
wife, as he Ind To- her parents, that h" was
sleepy and was ready TO retire; she gave him
room. lie smiled AID pointed at the ne ring.
She poutcd and once more pointed to the door.
II" moved toward IL with nh ir"f surrender, Bat
aa he left the room he held mp his five fingers
to Indicate that he would return in as many
minutes, She smiled acQniescence ard he left
her alone.
Tho interest Of the audience was now at its
height. Everybody stared txcdly at the woman
who was alone on the stage. There were Il few
women in the house. hut the men were, over
whelmingly in the majority. In surprisingly
large proportion were a lot Of boys. APPARENT
ly rs or years old. Ono little girl under 10
was seated near the stage. The spectators OF
every ngr were intentlv watching the bride,
who was standing, in front OF a mirror looking
At, her long white satin gown and her
softly, and then, looking down, at the
wedding ring on her finger, smiled, sud
dcuIv She stood upright. inc piano plaved a
rapid stnccato air. md -" began 10 unhnok the
front of her dress. NhCH this was accom-
plislcd she took ont y half dozen pins. md the
bodice was lore, She stepped ont OF &, quickly
took oil heg veil, and placed both on tine sofa.
Her cor, eta were pale blue. and for n second she
surveyed herself IN he glass. Then she unhnok-
ed her skirt, aud that Dropped TO til" floor, With
II gesture. She freed herself and stepped out Of
the satin skirt, which rcmnincd wing on the
floor. Nv this time shn was revealed IN a white
null Ynttip,nt unrpiAhpl with Enull tunta az