Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-21
NARIs, II has been somewhat sarcos.

hAklS, IL has been somewhat SafCos 2
" tically said, Is the dramatic center
Of America. In other words, the
vast majority OF plays that have
successful runs In the United states are
I brought over from the French capital.
I Indeed. one has only TO glance back
over the list OF successful plays OF the
Z last two years 20 see a striking demon
stration OF this fact "CyTano de Ber-
rerac.' "R0bespIerre" and For the
/ Grown" represent ne better examples
Of French dramatic art which have been
taken up IN this country, while such cree
ati0ns as Mile. Fln" "Zaza." "rhe Girl
From MaXlm's" THE Cuckoo" In Par.
| adIse' and "Sapho' represent the less
artistic and more llbidinous dramas
which have enjoyed a greater or less de-
gree Of success on this side Of the At
lautlc.
The theaters Of Paris IN which most
Of the most popular successes Of the
day are first presented are the Theatre
Francois the ComiqUo and the Odcon.
This trio OF famous houses may be CALI
ed the fountain head OF the French
I
interesting and I'm a way, the most I'M
portant theaters In the world. The
Odeon, like the Theatre Francois, is a
subyontoned house. and at Il there are
three classes Of representation given.
Monday evenings, strange to say are
devoted 20 the classics: Thursday after
Moons witness a matinee and lecture,
while every evening excepting Monday
is devoted 20 the ordinary rcpertory
The director Of this theater CAT present
NJ. Paul Glnsty) Is a state official, and
any one who imagnes his position 10 be
sinecure would soon find his mis-
take by a glance at the many details
and the important affairs with which be
is intrusted. He is. Tor instance in
very different position from that Of the
ordinary New YORK. manager and pro-
duoer Tor the ways Ia which he works
and the methods which he must adopt
are unknown In the new world The
French manager Of subventionei
house, such as the Francois or the
Odeon, IS not allowed to undertake any
other enterprise either lyric or theat-
rical and cannot renounce his position
until the end Of his term, IN default Of
from 10000 10 $4,000 francs lie must
also carry out the different engage
ments made by his predecessors with
artists and employees, while all treaties
entered upon with authors must be
strictly adhered TO. And at the end OF
his term ne Is obliged 10 restore the en-
terprise exempt from debt, obligation
or charge The state has constant sur
vel.Iance Of the workings Of the theater
by means Of commissionalre Of the
government who IN Paris Is about
what the dramatic censor Is in London.
The manager must have the authorize
ton of the minister Of plays TO give a
foreign piece under the head Of new"
Every piece which Is not a fat failure
must have al least y performances,
while at least six works Of ancient rep
ert0ry must be given IN every season.
Nor can new play be accepted without
meeting the approval Of a committee Of
three or five members appointed by the
minister Of plays All this sounds very
strange 10 the American who has never
been Taught TO look upon the drama as
a fine art for one instant worthy the at
tentlon OF grave and august admins
tration at Washington.
The French state theaters have the
salaries arranged on the annuity plan.