New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-08
ola CHATELAINE -
THE PLAY WITH WHICH THE THE
ATRE DE LA RENAISSANCE WAS
OPENED IN PARIS
Paris. October u

VIII io1- 9Ct comedy, entitled La Chate-
laine," by NJ Alfred capus, author Of "Rosine."
Ia Bourse on La Vie" La Veine" Ia Pat,,a
Fonctionnaire" and Les Deux F,co1es :, ;. -.
first important event Of the theatrical seaso,
Ia Chatelaine" may be briefly described &c
rnodernized development Of the romantic draroo
Y the time Of Octave Feuillet. It is not ..Ta
Roman dun Jeune Homme Pauvre." but might
ne entitled lie Roman dun Jeune TIoDnoa
Richie, II is more serious and more sentimental
than anything hitherto attempted by NJ. Alfred
Capus' Il IS clean and wholesome; it is a play
10 when young women may safely take their
mammas' and Of all the comedies written nv
this one Of the younger school OF French 49,
atists il is the one best fitted to attain genuine
success before an American public
The consensus Of the Partisan critics Is that
la ChateIaine" is a theatrical triumph The
Figaro" does not hesitate to predict that Il will
carry its author straight TO the French Acsd-
envy ] was present at the first performance n,
Saturday night, and noted that the audience was
composed Of the nicely blended elements OF
literature tashion' bohemianism. politics and
diplomacy. Bright and captivating literary and
theatrical women deliciously gowned. that lend
character and fascination TO a Partisan ,ray,,-
iere. eFineed unbounded enthusiasm for author
and actors.
la Chatelaine," which II is stated Will be
brought out in English next season in New
York and IN London. is the story OF a man
who by moral strength and energy has re-
made his position IN the world after having in
his tempestuous youth squandered in the whirl
Of dlss patton handsome fortune left him bv
his father. Andre Jossan, inpersonated by NJ
LUc!en Guitry, has become head Of one Of the
great Industrial undertakings Of France He is
only thirty-eisht years Of age. handsome re-
fined. and with that indescribable charm reflect
ed by accumulated experience Of life and suf-
ferng. He is regarded by mothers OF mar
riageable daughters as the most brilliant match
Of the country. ". Capus has delneated An
DIRE Jossan with q frmness and strength OF out
line not found In any Of the characters in his
previous plays. The somewhat languid action
IS stoned for by charm OF dialogue that capti-
Yates and holds the audience from the outset.
The first act opens at a country house IN the
valley OF the Loire. The hostess, Nine. La
Baudiere. q sort OF Partisan Becky Sharp"
IS the scheming. III tempered wife Of a kind
hearted but weak minded old man. and strives
20 bring about marriage between her step
daughter, Lucienne, and Andre Jossan. Nine.
Therese de Rives (AIme. Jane Hading), the
heroine OF the play. is the niece Of Nine. La
Baudiere Therese is on the point Of divorcing
her husband, a worthless rake and spendthrift.
who has dissipated his own and his wife's for
tune All that is left Of Therese's once rich
dowry is the Chateau de Sauveterre overlooking
the Loire near Anglers The chateau is mort
gagged and Therese is Informed by her notary
that although the property was estimated in her
dowry al 100000, IL would not realize in the
market with its encumbrances, more than
$4,000 Nevertheless, Therese has made up
her mind 10 sell her property and settle down
in Paris with her little son jacques. and strive
% live as best she can. II has been arranged
that a divorce should be obtained between The
rese and her husband by mutual consent, and
20 this the husband. N de Rives. has already
given his promise
Suddenly Andre Jossan appears. Nine. la
I3audiere introduces him to her daughter, Luz
cienne, and seeks by every means in her power
10 bring about an attachment between the step
daughter Of eighteen and the wealthy engineer
Therese also appears and Jossan is presented TO
her Jossan has noticed the Chateau de Sau-
1eterre and expresses a desire 20 purchase IT,
lie becomes fascinated with Therese and gradu-
ally falls in love with her But the divorce IS
not vet obtained. During visit TO the Chateau
De Sauveterre, where Therese resides, Jossan
huvs the property for 100000 and saves The
rese from desperate financial straits. Nine. la
Baudiere. furious at seeing her plans frustrated
communicates with Thereses husband, who
not only vithdrawe his consent 10 the divorce
but in order TO force his wife to return 10 him.
Secretly carries off their little son, Jacques
Andre Jossan arrives IN time TO prevent the re-
turn OF Therese 10 her embarrassing husband
Nine. La Baudiere finds that her scheme IN re-
gard to her stepdaughter's marriage with JOS
san is frnpracticable and becomes more tracta-
bic In the fourth act there is stormy scene
between Andre Jossan and Therese's husband
Andre reproaches de Rives with cowardly, selfish
conduct The two men have in former years
led the same lives Of reckless dissipation but
n de Rives lacks the noble, rugged qualities
that enabled Andre TO rebegin the battle OF NE
and 10 retrieve his fortune. Everything UNDER
taken by de Rives goes wrong Everything uh-
sertaken by Andre is successful De RiVes mates
Andre and tells him so. In a long and Wen
presented scene de Rives finally sends for MS
vie and informs he that he win assent TO the
divorce and that he viii return 10 her their
child. jacques. With a disdainful bow to An
are the unsavory husband departs, and the
play ends. II is a tame and unsatisfactory con-
slusion, which the charm Of the dialogue makes
acceptable to Parisiaa public Whether this
will be true in New-York remains 20. be SEEN
IN La Chatelaine'' the characters, with the
exception OF that Of Andre, are drawn in those
Delicate gray floating tones dear TO French
painters, so effectively used by NJ. capus. 1t is
the reverse Of the strong black and white out
lines OF Brieux or OF Lavedan. Fortunately
there is room enough on the contemporary stage
for the author OF Ia Veine'' and La Chate-
aine," as well as for the author Of '"renailles"
and Of "Loi de THomme." The secret OF the
success Of La Chatelaine" is the exquisite finish
% preparation and Of detail The dialogue IS
from beginning TO end so fascinating. charming
witty, ana rich in human observation, that the
play IS throughout accompanied with sympa-
thetic ripple OF approval from the public. 1t is
he M