New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-10
THEATRICAL REVIEWS.
"a Popular Feature of the Partisan
Season.
paris. November =.


Each wear. ever since the days OF MoAeIe'
che Partisan theatrical world breaks on iN'0
sort OF auturnnal epidemic with the he' "es &c
IN d'Annee" which presents go
t,sb+s the nrincipal events and eplsooes o. me
-. .,,,-oroonth Learned writer's trace
- - &c far back as Aristophanes. In
- .s..-.,, century the little open door the
=. ..uas the Pomue de Pin brought out
- -.-rstives Of the Partisan year. Molieres
- .rti.led Les Facheux" was received
-. ..bysiasrn. These popular theatrical feat
- .o,+inued during the Revolution. but were
-.ssed as dangerous political instruments
- N,snoIeon. only 10 break out into favor again
800 the reign OF Louis Philippe when carl
tourists. epigrammssts and wits Of every de-
-tntion fairly took the bits between their teeth,
sd The Cogniards and the De Clairvilles. with
their sprightly plays Of "Foire aux Idees"
ssurrage /" Les Lampions" and La Pro-
--ikte c'est e Vol" led the masses TO the
revolution OF 1S4S The curb chain OF the CEN
sorship OF Napoleon III kept the reviews IN the
BACKGROUND during the Second Empire. but with
the Third Republic out burst the reviews again.
which became once more regular features Of
the Partisan autumn
IN the month Of November. this year, eight
reviews have been produced at the various
theatres and music halls. They form clever at
Paris seem 10 enjoy them immensely Needless
70 say the reviews are acted by exceedingly
pretty women and by talented players and
sdroit singers. At the Olympia a little review
called Paris qui Chante.' by Montreal ana
Blondeau, presents the popular songs and must
cal features Of the year. including, OF course
Tire irrepressible German seesaw dItty '"Viens
Poupoule." At the Scala We have the Revue
z POivre," and this meretricious little concert
hall does not belle the title. for 1t throws at
the public such handfuls OF metaphoricaI red
pepper that even some Of the habitues were seen
10 get uneasy and blush At the first weeks per
formances A feature Of this review is q ballet
in travesty Of a sensational Partisan murder
when woman was discovered in the Seine, cut
81 pieces by some unknown assassin. There are
forty ballet girls, and eech one personifies a
member or portion Of the female form; for in
stance, one dancer represents an ear, another
an eye, another the nose, another a hand
another a foot, another an elbow, and so on
The ballet is danced up TO the climax when the
assembled corps unite and represent one colos-
sal female figure.
Al the Moulin Rouge a review entitled Ten
as u Oeili" draws good houses owing TO its
slts and hits against members Of the Cabinet
and prominent public characters. At the Folies
BerEeres there is a review which presents a
saturnaIan orgy. in which may be found sug-
gestions Of Byzantium, Babylon. Alexandra
and Rome at the period Of extreme decadence.
The most successful Of all is the clever review
n three acts by Paul Gavault AZ the Theatre
des Varieties called Paris aux Varietes" The
three acts consist Of up 10 date episodes. There
IS good natured chaf sprinkled upon eminent
Partsians. from President Loubet 10 Santos
Dumont and the Emperor Jacques Z OF Saraha-
There are burlesques Of the successful plays of
wear f~0r7 sfT 'F--Fzur IN Mira IN
versaire" and Les Sentiers de Ia Vertu" The
leading actors and actresses are parodied, from
Sarah Bernhard down to the dancing, rum
drinking grizzly bear al the HippodrOue. There
is a daring scene representing Nile Otero be-
ing expelled from her orchestra stall at the
Theatre Francois in course Of the gala perform
ance given last spring IN honor OF King Ed
ward VII
There is a political ''take-ofT." IN which the
leading characters are NJ DeIcasse, Minister Of
Foreign Affairs; Secretary Hay and n. Bunau-
Narllla, the PauaEan Minister al Washington.
Indeed everybody comes in for good share Of
banter, no exceptions being made for the
crowned heads who have visited the capital in
course OF the year-King Edward VII the King
and Queen Of italy the King OF Greece, the
King Of the Belgians. the Queen Dowager Of
Spain nun =rous grand dukes. archdukes and
princes. The Spectator IS introduced 10 the
GUudhaII. where is seated IA fun feather the
august Lord Mayor III his official robes escorted
by guardsmen, and "Yive renteute cordiale"
cLOug live the AuglO-French Understandings
IS shouted with more or less sincerity. Alto
Eether the Partisan reviews dazzle and delight
the public, and 1t is suggested that the govern
ing idea might be effectively transplanted 10
New-york with success. provided the reviews
are cleverly written. abound with local hits and
are brilliantly acted, amustngly sung and grace
fully danced 9. / 3.