The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-30
NEWSOFTHE STAGE ABROAD
THE PRESENT CRISIS At THE FIRST
THE4TRE or France
Has tho Coincide franchise Deciined?-
Both sides of That Question Discussed
New PIRys by Two German DrRmatists.

Has the Comedis Franchise Deciined?-
Both sIdes of That Question Discussed
New Plays by Two German Dramatists.
The troubles at tho Com6lie FRANCHISE ap-
near 10 be the result Of Ie Bargy's dissats-
faction with his own situation there. and he Is
said to have his eye on the directorshtp In case
he Ia able with the assistance OF powerful
friends t. dis lgt Caretie, who has recently
answered the charges against him by showing
that every one Of his pre- locessors in recent
years had been Just MS much abused. and
attributing some OF the present feeling against
him to his utterances on the Drcyfus ques-
ton. His strongest proof Of public salts
faction with his methods IA the increase In the
reserve fund OF the theatre. whcn is now
twice az large as II was when he assumed con-
trol. II amounts now 10 more thnn 100000.
Sympathy with the complaints against the
present regime rest chiefly on tho scarcity Of
plays by younger authors acted there. Jules
Clarotie was recently invited to write review
OF the younger drhmatists OF France, and de-
clnsd on the ground that his respOnsibi!l-
ties at tho head OF the French National
Theatre prevented him from expressing any
opinion on the merits ~ individual writers
on whose work he was compelled to
pass professional judgment. The recent
REVEALS Of Anglers 'Maltre Guirn" and Nell
hac and Hal6vy's "Frou-Frou' added point to
this argument against tho theatre although 1t
could nor have influenced Ie Bargy VINO re-
CARDS as n grievance Claretes re 'uSRl to allow
him to take the leading part IN the latter
comedy. The opponents 81 the theatre on this
ground admit thaI me "2rks Of H"nSro' IA
other standard dramntIsta ara sum ent ground
on which to form theatre. although they can
not serve a. tho basis N which to maintain.
young authors such "a J.:fvc AN and Donnav,
which have proved profitable to the the
atre. Tbs prrctica answer to this is
play that has succeeded there have been too
many failures to make such experiments pos
sibIe. Il i.prohahie that lie BarGI's ressna-
tl1 1il and the diSrussr"n '.at mas r4I1%od II;
tho activity Of tho direction which Will OF
course DO benencla, to tho theatre, friends9 q
the execution 81 10 Ear9y, al! tho retiring
actors had reached an age which made their
do not hold him responsible for the poor acting
OF the sOciFdireS. who wore in the company
long before no was ever connected with the
theatre.
The Theatre Blanc which was organized
several years ago in Paris to perform plays
which young girls could see without impro-
prIety. is continuing its career prosperously
Six performances month are given and the
repertoire Ia selected from the works OF such
authors as George Sand. 1.abiche. Sardou.
Halevy and others. Yvette Guilbsrt seems to
be as popular as ever in Paris. She is the at
traction OF crowds which are TO be found every
night at the Folies Bergere. Tho Coincide
Franchise 10 to establish museum in con-
raotion With the tb.,+re which will ha rs,dv
.o.h" WV" ate ,H. Ex,,,ia v,.itor,
Iit,ft smmmsr ,Go1stant t2Iue,.n IS having having
said that he looked ike trained poodle
IN the coronation scene Of tiHs que
Refine" and now the critics find little to
praise in hi. periorm4neo Of CHRIST the
soreau. IbsenS"A Enemy o: The Psouls"
and builder so!nsss. as II called IN French.
are to be the nrinclpal p'oducl OF the year az
the Iheatrr oonEre n iaris some OF h!@ern-
aon pIays WI Also no GI.sn agnes hGrma
10 distressed at tho rumor that she has aoan-
d%ned her Plan to L'ay IN Lars ana d t'Iit
series OF Germ an nerioinances during the ~
position Ste viii probably regret 1t. as her
talent is not strlEin enough 10 win uEder ths
adverse criticism when WI surround hsr.
second company to play the German classics
will also 20 to Paris for a short season.
Felix Philippi. the German dramatst who
bases most OF his plays on some situation in