The record-union., 1899-01-15

q deserved success, cannot but think
that, as in the past, SO in the future,
the best plays will still come from the
where most attention is
paid to the old-faskioned principles of
logical sequence and definite design:
Construction has been ecolded for sister.
Conventions faults, which is hardly
fair"
New York Post: "A question of some
London Daily Mall" "in what may be
called THE Strange Case of "Cyrano
de Bergerac." Hitherto it has been
tacitly understood that the eulogies
heaped upon M. Rostand's brilliant work
were only the need due to a remark
able original effort. But a change has
lately come DER the spirit of the scene.
It is alleged that the author found, not
only his inspiration, but his scenario,
his characters and the very core and
pivot of his play, in an old French
drama. This drama long ago came into
the hands OF one of the foremost of
our dramatists. He worked upon it,
with a view to its adaptation and pro-
duction in this country. An English
version, however, was eventually COM
pleted by another playwright, who, in
utter ignorance that 'Cyrano' was
identical in spirit, scene and story, duly
protected his work by performance and
consequently has established certain
rights. How far these affect Sir Henry
Irving, to whom belongs the English
version of M. Rostands alleged color
able imitation the lawyers must settle.
The font from which it is alleged that
M. Rostand drew Inspiration for his
'Cyrano de Bergerac' is a four-act COM
edy-drama, entitled 'Roquelaure, ou
l'homme le plus laid de France The
work of three playwrights, it was pro-
duced as long as sixty years ago, and
till comparatively recently would ap-
pear to have escaped the eagle eye of
the adapter Copies of the old piece are
rare and difficult to obtain, but Sydney
Grundy, it is understood, possesses one
and an English version into the bar
gain
1t is very seldom that the London
they are in the case of Cupboard
Love-" the new farcical comedy by H.
V. Esmond, recently produced in the
Court theater. It is the tale of con-
spiracy between a number of young
men, who disguise themselves and pay
nocturnal visit to two girls, with the
object of preventing them from mar
rying two elderly suitors. Their con-
duct is such as would certainly Justify
the young ladies in thinking their old
and staid adorers much more agree
able than their juvenile rivals The
piece seems to be innocent enough, but
so wildly preposterous as to approach
very nearly the confines of stupidity
The general verdict is that it is an un-
fortunate mistake.
Catulle Mendes wrote LA RENE
Flammetta," an ultra-romantic piece,
for the old Theater Libre in Paris, and
with Victor Capoul, essaying role in
spoken drama for the first and last
time, as the hero, Danielo. The play
has just been revived at the Paris
Odeon with Nine. SegondWeber in
that role. The heroine is the Queen of
Bologna, and her arch enemy is Cesare
Sforza, who persuades Danielo, young
orphan, that his brother has been mur-
dered by the Queen. Sforza easily in
duces Danielo to register afvow that
he will nun der Olanda on a certain
specified day when the Queen is to give
a court ball
Having several days before him.
Danielo fills up the time in amorous
dalliance with a blonde beauty who
calls herself Elena. in a sylvan but
retreat. The spectator knows
that Olanda and Elena and Fiammetta
are one and the same person, SO he is
not so astonished as he ought to be
when Danielo, recognizing in the Queen
the fair inamorata, lets his dagger,
raised to strike, fall from his powerless
hand To save her lover, Fiammetta,
who is more in love with him than
ever. abdicates, whereupon Sforza
takes advantage of her being defense
less and sentences her to be executed
as a hereto. In the course of a final
interview Fiammetta convnces her
lover that she is innocent of his
brothers blood, and when the execu
toner appears, Danielo snatches the
ak out Of the headsmans hand and
strikes down the miscreant Sforza.
$50
An English version of the successful
German comedy, AT the White Horse
Tavern" has been made by Sydney
Resented, and will be produced by
Daniel and Charles Frohman in Wal
lacks Theater, New York, in February.
A Geological Garden of a novel kind
was one of the features of this years
Drury Lane pantomime. The cages
are occupied by hnman beings, who
have achieved fame or notoriety. and
the spectators consist Of members of
the animal creation.
has completed his poetic play on tha
subject of "Paolo and Francesca,
which George Alexander is to produce
some day. Alexander also has new
three-act play, by Miss Margaret
Young, called THE Leaden Casket."
Julie Opp will appear as the Countess
des Escas in a new tragic drama, in
one act, by John Oliver Hobbies, called
"A Repentance which will be acted
next month at the St. James Theater,
in London. The. cast will also include
George Alexander as friar and H. B.
Irving as a Carlist leader. The scene
is laid near Bilboa, Spain, in 1885.
San Francisco Music and Drama:
Edwin Mayo's success in ''Pudd' 'nhead
Wilson has been unstintedly praised
in the East for the past year. The son