New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
MUTINY IN THE COMEDIE
NJ. LIE BARGY LEADS A REVOLT AGAys
NJ. CLARETIE
CHARGES OF NEGLECT OF TIE FAMOUS TIE
AIRES INTERESTS
Paris correspondence Of The London Globe.

Paris cOrTesp spOndence Of The London Globe
The periodical revolt has broken out in i,
Coincide Francaise. 1t is led this time BY
lie BarEy the ''jeune premier upon WIS
shoulders has fallen not unworthily the maus
Of Delaunay. He charges NJ. Claretie with o.
indulgence in granting leave OF absence 10 -
s'societaires' and general neglect OF the manags
mcnt of the house" He IS even bold enough
assert that the theatre is menaced with ruin
He has withdrawn from the committee an
handed in his resignation as 'socletalre-" T.g
resignation is not final according TO the r5ga
latiOns which govern the Coincide FRANCIS
unless il is repeated after q lapse OF six months
He has therefore, SIX months in which 70 cCE-
slider his position.
Whether NJ. lie Bargy when he prOphesies rl-
alludes to the histTiOnic or the financial cre1-
of the theatre is not clear. but at all events 81
Claretie has already made prompt and aHa
getic answer upon both grounds. How could
refuse, he says, 20 grant leave Of absence 70 Il 4
leading actors in order 10 enable them 20 tax
part in the classical Tevivals at Orange an
MarSeilles? Has it not always been the gaT
OF the COmedie to take a leading part in sue
festivals, charitable rationale What as
QuaintanCe can NJ. lie Bargy, absorbed as he
in his art, have with the complex duties OF th@
atrlcal management more mul-ItarIOuS ar
harassing than ever in the case Of STAT
supported theatre OF the COrreSp p0ndenCe an
allotment of places to the ever flowing streaz
of subscribers the examining of new Play
and interviewing authors; the settling accounts
allowances, salaries and pensions Of the 'socr
talres" and ''pensiOnnaires" and the th0usar
and one details of management outside the daIl
round of rehearsal and perforuacce-
As for material results the figures speak 70
themselves The gross receipts have Steadl
increased during NJ Claretie'S aduiniStrat05
The salaries paid by the COm6die amount tO-ds
to over I.OUO,O0O francs year No other ths
atre IN France can approach these figures. Leas
of all can NJ. lie Bargy complain ON his own
count He received his share of profits
1897 more than $4,000 francs, and in 1895 mOr
than $4,000 francs. And in case he maintain
his resignation he is entitled. as having be-
member of the company twenty years, TO
pension, and also to withdraw his share Of II
reserve fund, amounting TO not less than J0O0
francs, and probably good deal more.
NJ CLARETIEs Defence.
Claretie's defence is marked by the emphaa
OF man sure of his position. He is clear con
pTenenSIVe and convincing. and ends BY q r
fusal to enter into an argument with an unruN
subordinate, and the assertion of a determins' .
ton to exclude him from the committee unr
after he has made public apology.
such is the gist of this little quarrel in whc
public sentiment Is generally IN favor Of Clarehs
Indeed, LIE BarSy did not improve his ease
allowing rumors to gain currency before u
actual breach came. first, that he was retrl
10 start theatre Of his own ON new lines, an
later. that ne was running a candidate Tor U
drect0rship in opposition TO Ciarete.
lie Bargy'S retirement would leave a seri01
gap in the ranks OF the Theatre Francois.
fills. and fills well, the place Of "jeune PR
mler and "aTnoureuX' as successor TO DelaG
nay, whose pupil he was. Ten years ago. p
might have been CaIed-had the phrase tha
been inVented-a FIN lie steele reiUcdrnatl0n
Delaunay. Since then his individual talent d.
developed to the point of securing for him
place apart, distinctly marked of from, but ns
l think. inferior to that of his great predeceSSe
He has not Delaunay's hOneyed accents but
elCcuttOn is always SOnOrOUS and refined AO0'
all. IN scenes where DeldUuay would nave sN
SeSted the character of a man GdilyIuS with l0t
making, lie BarSy never fails 20 strike the ~
note of sincere and vibrating passion. Ana
the more important leading parts Such as ~
de SeptmOnts in Il Etransere.' the Marquis
PTeSleS in the "GendTe de NJ. POirler, FeFdlc4
in III ne faut jurer de rieu," he has no !aCA
authority and distinction. He IS oecasVD@-tt
taunted with being STACEY and prlSSlsh III y.
Vate life. at all events. he IS true arlStocIae
the stage and he has. moreover. SOod lOOhS a.
a better tailor. neither OF which are conteiipe
BILE advantages for any actor in his departLen
In a word. he has an assured reputation Do
with the critics and the general public.
on the other hand. he himself stands to iose
good deal in case he abandoDS the Frames
The Theatre FraucajS appeals to such seq
public that the secession of an actor ana =
appeal to a iiffereat-I viii not say a less dS
CriminatiuS-pUbici is q bold experiment ~
successful If COQuelinS reputation h-lS y
increased since he started on his own ac,u,,"., u =
is the author OF "CyTano De beIScI>ic = "A
COqueliu, who is mainly reSpouSlole lot It- 80 -
Bernhardt's transCendent genius is the -
tiCn which proves the rule AnG \et even. .' -
case her support is lJmeutahly ln-ils, i. 49,, y
those Of us who were privirsed 20 see her az A. =
Francais often long i'm vain to see her uT.N
again. played up to but not outpIaSVu -
stiu matchless troupe
LIE BARGY'S FUTURE
An actor in lie Bargy's position on tt Le-N
Francais has practically only the ailg'i,.-'s -.
either starring or maragjnE himself. III -.
case he risks CommittinS the error ~ In -
his line beyond his capacity. and lillus ,.'4 -