The Washington times., 1901-12-13
"DU BARRY'S" GREAT SUCCESS.
Hcinsco's New Play Enthusinsticaliy
RccciNed at the National Theatre.

Hcinsco's New Play enthusiastically
Received at the National Theatre.
There was hardly a person in the i'm
mense audience that witnessed the first
presentation Of David Belascos new
drama. "Du Barry" at the National The
atre last night by Mrs. Carter and com
pany of uncommon strength, dramatically
! and numerically. but that quickly realized
why It was impossible for Belnsco to pre-
sent his work on schedule time. and there
were, indeed. expressions of wonder and
astonishment that he was able to give n
/ performance at all. so stupendous ana
elaborate was the production. the like of
which has never before occupied a stage
! in this country.
| This may seem TO the person who vas
not present at the National las. night like
an extravagant statement. but the student
/ Of the drama. the man VINO makes bust
ness OF attending the theatre, of studying
The methods Of the different players and
dramatists. he who has fairly good con-
ceptiun of what IT means to present even
an ordinary play. will agree that Mr.. Be-
lascos achievement in "Du Barry viii
stand prc-emiuent for years. 1t has never
been even approached. not even by this
past master in the school of stagecraft
himself. As production pure and sim
pie "Du Barry is the three-ring circus
OF the presont-day drama in the matter
Of overwhelming immensely. The five acts,
with their vast scenic equipments and in
Producing the small-sizcd army OF actors
I I NsaTaH
prove that Belasco has squandered money
with n prodigality that recalls the pro-
verbal drunken sailor. Any attempt to
describe the imposing display must rob
the mother tongue OF its stock of adjec-
tiNes and then the reader would have but
a faint conception OF the hugeness Of the
whole affair.
Belasco has not aimed at historical ac-
curacy but has endeavOred to produce
drama of strength, clinging TO verify as
much as possible, but departing from fact
when he considered the play demanded it.
He has made no apparent effort to turn
out a finished literary product, but has
snapped his fingers at literature and his
tory and written play that will imfie-
diatoly establish him as another Sardou.
a dramatic composition that teens with
emotional interest. peopled by men and
women OF flesh and blood. play that af-
lacking even IN "Zaza.'
The audience that saw 'Du Barry" last
night was one OF the most representative
aEsemblagos that has been in LEGAL the
atre for some lime: that it liked the play
and the Interpretation nightly almost
goes without saying. There was an
abundance OF applause, not the forced
sort OF hand-clapping. but evidences Of
encoura gemen, and appreciation that
were unmistakably genuine. And while
Mrs. Carter came in for a most liberal
portion of the praise, nobody for a mo-
ment forgot the modest. retiring little
man with the mass Of mussed iron grey
hair who is responsible for the shaping
Of the characters. the laying out of the
story. the devising of the numerous ef
fectiye scenes and situations. the drilling
OF the players. the artistic settings of the
stage, the light effects, the master hand
that refused to permit the curtain TO be
lifted until he considered his work worthy
OF a public view-this wonderful man,
David Belasco. The audience called time
and again for the dramatist-producer-
manager in the hope that he might be in
duccd to say that he. too. was well pleased
with his effort, but beyond a few words
Of thanks Belasco remained silent dur
ing the reception accorded TO the drama
and its chief interpreters.
Mr. Belasco commences his story OF
'Du Barry" in Labille'G millinery estab-
lishment in the Rue st. Honore, Paris.
The scene at the rise OF the curtain is a
very animated one: the shop is filled with
employees. while customers come and go.
Among the latter is the Marquise De
Quesnoy. known better as La Gourdsn."
She Is the keeper of n gambling estab-
lshment patronized by royalty and The
like, and is in search OF a pretty face to
od fo ha ~ of
Cosse- -Brissac. in a very pretty scene,
tells Jeanette Vaubernier Mrs. Carter) of
his love for her. She ia a frou-frou-ish
sort OF creature. light, airy. frivolous
irres sponsible, trife vain and deiightiug
in admiration. COsse is aware OF the
fact that Jecnette is passionately fond OF
vlolets and brings her some. Jeanette
promises to go with him to the fields
the following day and gather more Of the
flowers.
Suddenly music Is heard on the street
outside. The King is passing. All the
employees OF the millinery shop rush to
the door-that is. all save Jeanette. She
fingers a moment to pick out the pref
test hat in the establishment that her
beauty may be the more accentuated. !
Jean du Barry happens In and is quick
to detect the vanity of the girl. He in
vites her to the balcony In front OF the
Marquise de Quesnoy's gambling resort
that she may obtain a better view of the
King. and she innocently accepts She
becomes an inmate OF the establishment |
Two of the Kings minister's the Duke !
du Richelieu and Terray. conceive the |
idea that Jeanette's pretty face and in
genuousness will appeal to the fancy Of |
Louis, and they arrange that he shall |
visit the place incognito Jean du Barry |
learns Of the plan, and. seeing therein |
an ultimate advantage to himself. |
schemes a marriage between jeanette and |
his brother, Count GuiIlaume du Berry, |
intending TO send his brother from Paris |
Immediately after the ceremony. She is |
quickly established in the royal favor OF |
Louis XIV. although she never once for |
gets Cosse, the lover OF her more humble |
days.
The third act discloses Jeanette. now |
the Countess du Barry, in her bed cham |
Der. After petite levee, shot IS heard. |
and Cosse staggers into the room. He |
has sought out his lover of the millinery |
shop. and in the endcavor to reach her |
chamber has been severely wounded. Jean
du Barry has seen COsse enter the room,
and informs the King. The royal voice
is soon heard even above the loud knock l
ing on the door. Du Barry is at her wits
ends to conceal her lover. She deliber-
ately strikes him upon his wound, render
ing him insensible. and she hurrledly
pushes him back upon her bed and draws
the coverIct over him. The knocking at |
the door has become more impatient. but
when the King and his followers are ad-
rnitted to the chamber their search is
futile.
After the departure Of the searching
party, Jean du Barry returns. Du Barry
realizes the Importance Of har brother-in-
laws silence, and as he has lost a con-
siderable sum al the gaming tables, he is
NOT difiguIt IN daaI with