New-York tribune., 1902-12-15
THE PARIS STAGE.
THE PLAYS NOW SEEN.
Jeanne Gr0nie7- and Rejane IN Nee
Productlons-Ihe Middle 4 ged
LoUer TO the Fore.
Paris, December /.

H..
ss acting in Sardou's FEDORA" and rehearsing
n new drama written for her by Paul Hervieu.
Coquelin has been appearing nightly in Nos
De.x Consciences.'' a gloomy five act piece by
Paul Anthelrne, in which the versatile come
dian inpersonated conscience stricken curate
whose sanctity is such that he acquiesced in
g sentence Of the tribunal condemning him to
death rather than open his lips and reveal
secret confded TO him at the confessional. The
MAY was too declamatory, and was replaced by
Naeterlincks Mona Wanna" and by "Cyrano
6a Bergerac." La Carotte" a rnirthful old
fashioned farce with boisterous horse play, by
Berr Guinemand and Dehere, amuses lenient
spectators provided they have been previously
rut II the right mood by a good dinner.
The Theatre Francois, not being able to de-
pend upon its somewhat disappointing new
pieces-"Gertrude,' the commonplace story OF
g man who Tnarries his cook, and Rome Vain
cue" g tedious classical production. has fallen
back upon revivaIs of Paul Hervieu's 'Enigme"
Henri Lavedans Marquis de Priola," and
Duraas's Mile. de Belle-Isle." The Ambigu
can find nothing more melodramatic than Eu-
gene Sues Wandering Jew" The Theatre
Antoine Is doing well with CASTOR Devore's
strong but gloomy drama, 'Derni- -Soeurs"
which proved highly successful last year at the
little Latin Quarter theatre called Les Escho-
Hers." The Theatre des Varieties has revived
with magnificent spectacular effect Offenbach's
"Orphee aux Enfers,'' first produced at the
same house in the heyday brillancy Of the Sec
end Empire in 1858. The Bouffes Parisiens is
reduced 10 q revival of Audran's Miss Hell
yeti" The Renaissance is doing capital busi-
ness with Alfred Capuss La ChateIaine." deli
cateIy interpreted by Jane Hading and Lucien
Cuitry The FoIes Dramatiques is having
magnificent run with a frisky farce by An
thony Mars and Keroul, called lie Billet de
Iogemert,' which next week will reach its
five hundredth consecutive performance. and
Al the Nouveautes 'TLoute.' the amusing farce
by Weber and Soulie, has already attained its
220th representation. Henri Batailles dramatic,
condensed and conscientious adaptation OF Toll
stoy's Resurrection" wherein Berthe Badi has
revealed qualities OF the highest tragic force
and conception, is by all odds the strongest
play so far produced the present season 1t is
e. genuine success in Paris and made such an
impression upon Mr.. Tree during his recent
visit TO the Odeon that he has decided TO bring
a. out almost Immediately in London. A trans
Iation Of Henri BataiIle's version OF '.Resurrec-
lion" will also be given in New-York.
Great expectations had been formed in re-
gard 10 two new plays produced few nights
ago. both written by young and rising drama
fists and interpreted by the two foremost &C
1resses of comedy. who share pretty evenly the
favor Of Parisians-Jeanne Granier and Ga
brielle Rejane-
-Joujou," e comedy in three acts by Henry
Bernstein, the young playwriter whose initial
effort, lie Detour" so successful last year.
was brought out Wednesday evening at the
tlvnnase and Jeanne Granier acted the leading
character. For the last few weeks nothing had
been SO much talked abou+ IN theatrical circles
as the new play by the youthful prodigy 1t Is
= uoasterpiece," TT Will bring millions to the
manager Of the theatre" 1T is beautiful mod
err love story bright witty, and briInful OF ac-
7ion and exuberance!' All this praise brought
III luck for in truth the new play is merely
the adventure Of g commonplace pronlsa1e OF
the Casanova type, whose marriage TO cnarI1-
ing woman does not prevent him from couruis
half z dozen attractive faces wherever he mas
them Il is 2 sort Of Marquis de Priola Of the
restaurants and Of the boulevards Ihere are
clandestine meetings at the various netropol-
.tan stations Of the underground railway. and
We are presented with closed cabs o'clock
teas and all the claptrap stage mechanism or
Partisan profigacy-
Maurice Royere the faithless husband, has
wife who, 10 all appearances, ignores ms IN
fdelities But in reality Blanche is cosnlzaht
Of all that is going on. and suffers IN Silence
for she worships her worthless husband II
happens one day that Josephine, fanlllarly
called Jo75ou and who is one OF Blanche's
Irritation Of Maurice and Joujou is about TO
glide into naison Unexpectedly Blanche and
.Tou5ou exchange their thoughts. The patient
suffering wife in the best scene OF the play
orens her heart 70 Joujcu and reveals IN mar
rowing words the bitter martyrdom OF her
existence The injured wife sets forth her grim
suffering during which she had affected 10 lg-
more Mau-ice's infdelities. lest she should lose
hin altogether. The conscience of JouJou Is
stirred Her soul is revolutionized by the
tragic asrect Of her friends unhappiness, ana
she decides that no matter how passionate may
be her caprice for Maurice. she will ahanoon
him rather than break her friends heart Inc
situation Is novel and interesting, and is acueo
70 perfection by Jeanne Granier in the charac-
Ter of .Jouiou. and by Suzanne Despres as
Blanche
It is indeed refreshing TO find a Partisan play
where clandestine lovemaking is not carried
to logical conclusions. and where the faithful
tenderly affectionate wife comes of with all the
honors. but the scene is sad and gloomy The
renrnciation of Joujou practically ends the
play The author has nevertheless added q
third act which passes four years afterward at
Monte Carlo but which is absolutely needless
Joujou. sad and lonely, is living in a rose COW
cred villa overlooking the Bay ot beauheu-
Maurice calls. and again offers hirnsell 10 heI-
Joujou mindful OF her friendship Tor 6lanche
shows forcA of character and refuses him. She
at last rnarries Hubert. a fatherly adrrirer with
gray hair whom she does not love. but accepts
q refuge against rowing Maur1ces- ana
against the passionate caprices OF her thirty-
five summers. and this rather weak and uneven
comedy terminates. Henry Bernstein is a
Young man t+a has so far written only three
plays He has a keen perception OF the stage
H rFII nTlF5