New-York tribune., 1900-12-09

associated with the wittiest productions or Nell
hac and Lavedan. and possessing an excellent
stock company. including such artists as Bras
seur. Noblet Guy. Simon. Giratd and Lavalliere'
should bring Out a play which depends for It's
success upon spectacular pagesnts luxury OF
stage settings ard historical costumes. Mile.
George" stin another Napoleonic play described
IN the bills as "comedie-operette" in four acts
by Victor de Cottens and Pierre Weber, with
music by Louis vsrney, which is mounted with
extraordinary expense at the Varietes. recalls
the retrospective features Of the Exhibition. II
presents a series Of living pictures Of the Con-
sulate ana the Empire. One act shows the
greenroom OF the Comedie Francaise in 1904,
during the debut Of Mile. George as Phedre on
the eve of the proclamation OF the Empire
Among the personages are Bonaparte. Talma,
Mile George. who includes the First Consul
among her admirers; Mile. Bourgoin and groups
OF other theatrical and fashionable celebrities OF
the day. The stage setting is said 10 be his
toricaIly accurate. Another act, which passes
in the sumptuous mansion of Mile. George. in
the Rue des Colonies, is a retrospective cine
matogrsph OF costume. manners, upholstery
and furniture Of the early Empire period. and
serves as a model for the style which Partisan
professional beauties are already adopting for
their apartments during the present winter. In
the fourth act comes the spectacular climax,
consisting OF a review OF the French army in
the Place du Carrouse at sunrise on fine May
morning. BY on ingenious mechanism, first en-
ployed at Munich by Wagner with the process
sion Of the pilgrims in "Tannhauser." battalions.
squadrons and batteries appear in the distance
and become larger and larger as they approach.
until in real life size they march past near the
footlights while military bands play La Marche
des Consus" The Emperor in gray coat aP-
pears at a window in the Pavilion de Flore, and
raises his cooked hat as the color bearers lower
the standard while the artillery at the Invalides
booms forth the salute announcing the creation
OF the Empire.
All this is magnificent but IL is not dramatic
art for IL is but nimsy. illogical thread upon
which these superb canoes are strung. Var
ney's music. however. is melodious. containing
captivating songs and airs.
In pleasing contrast with all this spectacular
fuss and feathers is a bright little comedy in
four acts by Alfred Capus. called La Bourse ou
la Vie" successfully produced at the Gymnase.
II is the story Of a light minded pleasure loving
but virtuous young married couple. devoted to
each other whose only fault is that the pace of
their Partisan life has outrun their income. L
adore" says the wife, starting out in the morn
ing with lots Of money in my pocket buying all
sorts Of pretty things. having a glorious time
and coming home without a cent" Mon Dieu!'
replies the husband. Il could not very well ask
you 20 start out without cent and come home
with lots Of money! remark which gives the
clew 10 the moral texture Of this sparkling
comedy. abounding in crisp dialogue and uneX-
pected t;lrns Of thought. There is a clever char
acter sketch Of company promoter. sort OF
up-to-date Mercadet The young husband has
a brief prison experience which gives occasion
for a highly amusing scene. The true inward
ness Of Partisan club life is portrayed with Vol
tairean sarcasm. This comedy, or rather farce,
promises TO have long 1t is we'll acted.
especially by Mile Jeanne Rolly, in the char
acter OF Helene Herbaut, the frivolous but Writ
uous young wife; Mile. Jeanne Rolly is Pa
risian and pupil Of Larcher. She first appeared
at the Dejazet Theatre, afterward travelled in
China, and on her return was selected by Ros-
tand 10 play Roxane in "Cyrano" at Marseilles
Toulouse and in the provinces She has now
made such decided hit in the principal part OF
La Bourse ou la Vie" as TO acquire the fore
most position among rising Partisan actresses.
According to the graceful tradition Of the
Theatre Francais, each societaire before retiring
into private life appears in those parts most
closely identified with his fame. Gustave Worms,
who has warm friends and several pupils In the
United States is now giving hts farewell per-
formances. Seldom has any play been acted
with such consummate art as Victor Hugo's
Hermann" given this week by the Coincide
Francaise al it's temporary quarters at the Thea
tire Sarah Bernhard Charles V in Hermann"
part in which Worms showed extraordinary YER
sstility. moving with marvellous skill from the
T. ght comedy atmosphere of the opening scenes
q deep soemnity in the cathedral crypt speech
Of Don Carlos at the tomb Of his ancestor.
Charlemagne perhaps the most difficult in the
whole range OF drama, was superbly rendered.
and called forth an enthusiasm rarely witnessed
at the Theatre Franeais. II is certainly the
finest acting just now 10 be seen at any Paris
theatre. c. /. b.
FORcED 10 Place ORDERS IN AMERTCA