New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-12
.I.A DAME DE CHEZ MAXIM"
GEORGES FEYDEAUS NEW FARCE
WHICH TIE FRENCH CRITICS SAY
IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST
PLAYS EVER PRODUCED
IN PARIS.
Paris. January "a

Paris. January "a
81, Dam, DC chez Maxim" thrcc-act farce
D.. c...r,.os rcvdc1u. ust brought out at the
shtatrc dos Nouycautts, IS pronounced by 'he
1eadin. Partisan critics TO be the most brlihant
piece Of broad comedy produced for many
year. It is the latest effort IN the art OF manu-
featuring gaycty Ivy a mechanical process ana
with the same materials that have been en-
1loycd Stree the days OF Marvaux. Francisque
sarcey. in critcislng La Dame de Chez Maxim"
says: Since 'Champigno Malgre Luz nave
never laughed so heartily. In It's fertility OF IN
venting and developing episodes OF extraordinary
drollery. In its perpetual cascade or uneXpected
eouivo1ucs and In It's inexhaustible wit ana
humor of dialogue Feydeaus new play is SUI
perior to all those he has previously written
The young dramatists masterpiece is so charged
with life intrigue and action that 10 descriDe
Il I'm detail would be like attempting to dissect
q waterfall.
The first act is long Dr. Petypon. married.
middc-a aged and usually sedate physician. mas
been induced by his colleague DR.. MongcourI
70 celebrate successful surgical operation by
passing the evening at Maxine" restaurant
renowned for the gayety of its supper paruea
The contagious frivoty Of the SURROUNDINGS
accentuated by an abundance or champagne
has completely upset DR.. Petypon's mental ana
moral equilibrium. When the curtain rises ne
IS discovered in his bedroom doing beneath an
overturned sofa The austere doctor has. more
over, SO unwittingly compromised himself with
La Nome Creyette, q terpsichorcan celebrity
Of the Moulin Rouge. that by an extraordinary
combination Of circumstances he is reduced to
The necessity OF passing off that risky young
lady as his wife 1t is in this capacity that
Ia Nome Crevette is introduced at the chateau
OF General Petypon du Grebe, an uncle. who has
long been absent from Paris. and who has come
to ask Mime Petypon. whom he has never before
met to preside at a house-party TO celebrate
the betrOthal of the Generals adopted daugh-
ter. Among the episodes OF the first act are a
duel. a resurrection OF the Angel Gabriel and
an anRsthetc chair worked by electricity, In
vented to facilitate surgical operations. in which
nearly all the characters OF the play are one
after another subjected to frances under the
drollest circumstances.
The second act passes at the Generals chateau
in Touraine. La Nome Crevottc, in the gulse
OF Nine. Petypon. is welcomed by the provn-
cal danes the latest type OF the true
Partisan lady Of fashion Her luxurious gowns
and jewels are greatly admired Her manners.
gestures and extravagant expressions ini-
tatcd I'm the most natural way in the world
and with telling effect. The arrival at the
chateau of the real Nine Pctypon gives
rise to daring blunders, none OF which. how
ever, exceed the bounds Of logic or probability.
The Duchesse de Valmonte begs the Nome to
sing. She sings a captivating MOntmartre song
called Ma Marmite Saint-Iazare." Fortu-
nately none Of the guests understand the true
meaning OF the Moulin Rouge slang and innu-
endo. but all are enchanted by the music and
especially 50 is the genial curatc. who plays the
plano accompaniment