The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29
PLAY A FAILURE
EVEN BUSES ART COULD NOT
SAVE "FRANCESCA ia RTMINI."
Setback for the Poet and the Actress In
Their Attempt to Restore Classic Ideas
z OF Beauty-D'AnnunziO's Recit atiOns
Of Ills Poems In the Same Cause.

he has sought In his later work has been TO
get to the heart OF the people.
For that purpose he has been reciting
In the university towns his poems and
reading them aloud in the theatres. some
times with the assistance Of Eleanora Duse,
who even when she has taken no part in
this phase Of the poets work. has added
| the lustre Of her presence to his appear
ances as orator and reader.
His poem on Garibaldi was the first that
he recited In public and with none of his
other efforts was he able TO arous the
Italian people who heard him TO equal
| appreciation Of bis efforts and his political
| theories. Even with that poem, it was
| largely the students who received him
with the enthusiasm he has been seeking
70 arouse.
The theories that he has sought to I'M
press on the people are those that urge a
return to the classic ideas Of beauty, and
I'm this endeavor he has had the cooperation
of Eleanora Duse throughout. Their ef-
forts have already created a following
for them among the wealthy and cult
waited classes of their country. Only the
great public has remained aloof.
II was with Francesca da Rimini" that
they thought to awaken in the heart OF
the public the admiration and love Of the
, new Hellenic ideals they are struggling TO
raise again in the world Of art and literature.
In order that the people might be adj
mitted in large numbers. the actress and
tho poet decided 10 perform tie new love
tragedy in the largest Of the Roman theatres.
II was tho poet, and not the actress, who
| spent more than 10000 OLA the scenery
and costumes of the play.
The scenery was painted in Venice by
the best Of the artists there and the inrnl-
ture of the period was copied In carved
wood by the workers of Florence who are
considered the most expert in Italy, All
the arms and weapons used in the play were
also copies of the best of the period. In
Italy, where the stage accessories are uhu-
ally Of the most economical character,
these expenditures excited unusual coin-
ment.
The author Of the play has said that he
read in his preparatory studies for the
drama more than 200 books on the suOlect
of the two lovers and their times Inc
fabrics for the costumes were bought
from antiquarians when possible and II
they were not 10 be f,und they were espe-
cially woven. A Venetian artist of reputa-
ton painted "A drop curtain to be USED Tor
the tragedy.
All these efforts TO make the play realize
the art ideas Of the author and the prnci-
pal actress were carried GU with the hope
~ interesting the people in the tragedy
| and the great theatre was engaged ina
there might bee places for all who would
| come The people came, but rejected
the play 80 ~ sitively that the rich and cut
tiVated persons who occupied the more
costly places had TO hiss at the crowd To
keep il silent during the drama.
III auOra Duse had the assistance OF
Gustave Salvini, who II the second son
Of the great tragedian, still remembered
In this country. lie il now accepted with
Ermite Novelli and Ermite Zacconi as one
Of the best Of the Italian actors.
But IL the fame Of Duse and d'Annunzio
could not make the audience treat the play
with respect II is not 10 be supposed that
the actor could. 50 he was part Of the
failure IL IN" play, which was Complet"
on the first night The audience, not sal
isfed with kissing. groAued and gruut"d
viii disfavur nj the production prepared
with such trouble for them.
But the friends 81 the poet do not i've
lieye that this reception will prevent TIN
ultimat" success of the play. whiCh il re
CARRIED A. too great "a specimen Of dra-
matte aud poetic art To be- crushed bv the
attitude Of Its fret audience. hostile a.
II might l~ II Is confidently expected
that the play viii ultimately triumph
B'Auuun1io wrote the drama lu forty
eight DAYS after be- had absorbed ~" com
TENTS 81 10" 30 volumes and worked from
twelve 60 fourteen hpur- every day His
preparation Tor the Work lartt-l Tor "A year
and a half. The story follows the account
Of the tragedy a. given Nv BOccAcoIu, ~
Cept tha' he OUNCE ~ the thp-' brother,
and luf "a servant. i- mai" the means -
exposing tho lovers nud ~pr,oIptatJg
the climHt Il the play
The -uhJrSt hh- long hs-ru attractive
90 Italian writer's AID cuupO--r-. and
among tho pO"t- shp haN" used the ina
t"uai there ~ 80 ho nGnIsSl SllNlp irliro,
Whp wrote the most pupuIaI version, aud
uIr that kl-tYu 4-svl 90 play rI frul4'lilY
utarr- vote bland and ls.ri h,tou. Who
translated the ulaN II lrlICU. IslFh Hunt