Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-21
How the TheaterS Of
Paris Are MANAGED.


/ Couservatolre pupils are engaged al
1900 francs a year, and no artist Ia
given less than 80 francs a month. Al.
though the ordinary debutante from the
conservatory OF acting has the right to
three debuts, the director sometimes as.
signs three additional debuls as a fur.
Their test Of personal talent BY this
plan all budding Thespians OF promise
are given a tair chance and Paris. con.
seQuently does not nurse rs hundreds
of mute, ingl0rIous Hamlets, such as
wander Tor instance. up and down the
Rialto IN New York spelling Art with a
capital A and frequentng free lunch
counters
In the Partisan theaters under state
supervision no children are allowed 10
perform, nor are artists SIN under II
years Of age. Experienced actors are
paid on an average about 800 francs
per month. some getting as high as
1900 francs per month From the
Odeon a successful actor Is passed on 10
the Theatre Francois. and there he Is
paid oorrespondIngly we'll
Paris Is a paradise for plRywrights.
This is because Of the state theater. In
America the young and aspiring
Shakespeare with O dozen dramas up
his sleeve has not ono chance In ten Of
ever having them read. AZ the Odeon
every manuscript submitted must be
carefully gone over and reported upon.
Il seems hard on the Odeon authorities.
Of course. but lis so ordained by the
powers that be. Naturally. the readers
receive hundreds Of plays Tor examlna-
ton. or these about 100 out Of every
400 are found TO be promising, or, 40
other words about one-Quarter OF the
manuscripts submitted are found at all
suitable for production. Twelve per
cent Of the receipts " every perform
ance must 30 10 the happy author Of a
play. II an accepted piece IL not per-
formed. the author receives an indem-
nifty Of 3,0O0 1000 or 1000 francs. ac-
cording 10 the character u the drama
While the Partisan plan has its OBJ
vlous advantages, there are, under such
circumstances, always immense drains
upon theatrical receipts and innumer-
able expenses unknown to the Amer
lean method Of production. This condi-
ton makes II very difficult. as Amer.
leans visiting In Paris have often found
10 their sorrow, 20 secure free entrance
into the theaters there Even foreigners
Of note and representatives OF the for
eIgn press are not allowed TO pass into
a theater without the necessary or 10
francs. But, after all. perhaps this is
the more admirable and satisfactory ar
rangement. Every free seat given by
director must be strictly accounted for.
the minister Of plays himself being the
only Individual who has the privilege Of
walking into a theater whenever the
spirit may so move him.
Owing TO the fact that a great number
Of Americans are now preparing for a
visIt'to Paris during the coming sum
mer, II Is worth taking note Of the dif-
ferent Partisan theatrical conditions,
for no intelligent visitor to the exposl-
ton viii care 10 leave the gay capital
without seeing al least one OF two dra-
matte performances a la Paree. Paris
now has about 20 large playhouses, to
say nothing. Of course, Of the smaller
theaters and the innumerable music
halls and cafe concerts Performances
begin between half past 7 and half past
g. and last, as rule, until midnight
Matlnees are sometimes given on
Thursdays and on holidays. The best