New-York tribune., 1900-12-28
/" MILE. GEORGE"
THE NEW NAPoLEoNIC VAUDEVILLE
THAT HAS PLEASED PARIS.
Paris. December

The Partisan taste for the style and literafura
of the Consulate and Empire revived some wear,
ago by the publication Of the Memories de Mar
bot and other captivating "chroniques'' OF tboss
picturesque days. and since fostered on ,ba
French stage by brilliant series OF plays Sucb
as Sardou's Madame Sans-Gene" bv .sIA pot
de Rome" PLUS que Refine" Colonel Roopa-
brun," L'Aiglon" ''Sylvie. on Ia C1,r,srsa
d'Amour." shows no signs OF abating The ponn-
lar craving has. indeed. become so pronounce,
that some of the republican physicians descr,ba
il as an epidemic. to which they give the nana
OF "Napoleonite" glance at the theatrical
posters in the streets this morning reveal. ,ha
predominance OF Napoleonic dramatic Literature
"Sylvie" continues to draw fun houses at the
vaudeville; Madame la Marechale" Is havfn1
good run at the Bou<es-d -du- -Nord; ''Mr,e
5 SEnchaine." burlesque OF Sardous historical
drama. attracts profitable audiences al the
Scala; Madame Bonaparte." a grand spectaeu-
lar "oallet-pantornime." brings in maximum re-
ceipts at the Folies- -Bergeres. and last SUNDAY
December 2-the forty-ninth anniversary OF the
Frinee-Presidents memorable coup detat-was
celebrated by the production OF still an
other Napoleonic play called Mile George"
comedle-operette' In four acts and five tab
leaus. by Victor Cottens and Pierre Weber WITH
music composed by Louis Yarnev
The term "comedie-opereste" applied 70 ssNrra
George Is misleading, for the new play beIong.
TO the class Of good old fashioned vaudeviras
which made the success OF the Theatre des Va
rietes in the haIcyon days Of Nine Anna Jud,.
The authors have taken Mile. George. the beam
tiful actress Of the Theatre Francois. who IN
cluded General Bonaparte among her ardent as-
mlrers and have surrounded her with an en-
oroidery Of imaginary episodes picturesaueIv ar
ranged for stage effect The play has made a
decided hit, although it scarcely has SUFFICIENT
backbone to support the spectacular pageantrv
with which it is mounted
The scene is laid in 1904 Just as Bonaparts 20
about to burst forth in imperial purple from the
consular chrysalts Mile George and Mile
Duchesnois are the two great rival tragedi-
ennes at the Comedie Francais and Paris al
though dancing on volcano. is divided into
two factions-the "Georgiens" who acclaim Nile
George. and the "Carcassiens" who remain
faithful to Mile. Duchesnois. who Is "plene de
talent but who has only a thin ''carcasse" to
oppose to the ~charpente tragique" OF her more
beautiful competitor. These quaint expressions
are taken from the gazettes OF the period The
11th Hussars. regiment just arrived in Paris
is also divided into two factions The officers
are "Carcassiens." while the troopers from a
sense Of opposition. are "Georgiens," although
neither officers nor men have had time to go TO
the play and judge for themselves The enlisted
men have raised 1000 francs by subscription to
purchase a present and bouquet for Nile
George. One OF their number. to be selected by
drawing lots. is to have the privilege OF present.
Ing the regimental gift to the pretty actress .
The lucky number falls to Fassinet, a corporal
and ex-pastry cook Meanwhile party OF off,
GERS OF the regiment are undergoing fortv-efght
hours arrest in their messroom on the ground
floor Of a fashionable restaurant Nile George
happens to be breakfasting in the sane restau-
rant with some friends. and throws over the
door the golden key OF her apartment. In order
to avoid the overzealous courtship OF an indis-
Greet adrnrer. The key falls in the officers
messroom- Soon afterward Mile. George. who is
personally unknown to the of1cers-whon. more
over. she has overheard praising her rival and
denouncing herself, comes in search OF her key.
The officers. seeing pretty woman, gal1antly
offer her a banquet to replace the one from
which she has escaped. They even decide to
keep her prisoner. but one Of their number
Lieutenant Merindel. releases the actress and
accompanies her to her apartment in the Rue
des Colonies. where Mile George discloses her
identity and her influence with the colonel
TO discharge the officers from their house ar
rest
This first act is a sort OF prologue It ter
inmates with very effective march which is
at first sung in half voice. and finally taken up
in full voice by a powerful chorus. This
Varney's most successful compositions.
The second act takes place in the foyer or
greenroom. of the Theatre Francais on the oc-
casion OF Mile. Georges debut in 'Phedre. It IS
extremely picturesque and curious Among the
groups Of leading actors and men OF fashion Of
the day are Talna and Mile BourgOin The
only fault to be found with this scene Is that
1t too closely resembles the second act Of
"Adrienne Lecouvreur." Among the habitues OF
the foyer is certain Marquis de RochencOurt
who. with the aid of a Royalist secret society Of
the 'TUlipe Blanche is plotting 70 get posses
sion of the First Consul and abduct him in order
to make way for the restoration OF Louis XVIII.
The third act takes place in the house OF Mile.
George. Fassinet, the trooper arrives with the
regtmental present and 5ouquet Lieutenant
Merindel appears with the golden key. Through
an ingenious but perfectly plausible combination
of circumstances the Royalist conspirators mis-
take Fassinet. who is disguised in a gray cloak.
for Bonaparte. Fassinet is forthwith kidnapped
and carried of in a closed carriage. The Mar
quis de Rochencourt, priding himself that his
agents have made away with the First Consul
is about TO shout ''Vive Louis XVIII But
Bonaparte, who was all the time at the Luxsm-
bOurg Palace. has not lost moment and in
stead of with the cries OF ''vfve Louis XVIII
the streets of Paris resound with shouts Of
'Vive rEmpereurr' and an imperial salute is
fired from the Invahdes
In the fourth act occurs a review OF the
French army in the Place Gu CarrouseL II Is
o'clock on a fine May morning In the distance
is what at first seems to be a confused mass OF
moving troops. As they approach they become
larger and larger. 1t is the same stage device