The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-20
THE STAGE HERE AND ABROAD
C0yEDIE FR4NCAISE NEEDS 4
NEW SYSTEM.
MS In Bad way. From AL Accounts-M.
Antoine suggested as the Man 20
Remedy U--Sarah Bernhardt 10 Play
"Esther"-Grossmith and the Halter.


"Esther"-Grossmith and the Halter.
The Coincide FRANCHISE is in a bad way.
,sNr.H.G. Pugh writes in the Paris " eekly
critical Re,ier. a radical change will be
recessary TO keep the Moliire establish
ment from degenersting into the third
class. The Moscow treaty. with its cast
ron Napoleonic clauses, transforms an
artist into a lifeless machine. Actresses
ike Brandes are paid ridiculously low
prices. After ten years service and In.
calculable labor she earned 84,0oO francs
about the sum. as Mr.. Pugh suggests. that
Yyette Guilbert would gather In q couple
OF months by Struggling her shoulders
and informing a song" But read the con-
dition Of affairs;
The whole character Of the house seems
gone under its present system Of govern
ment. Nominally the house is q common
wealth-a cooperative society, II you choose,
but the voice Of the artistes is very feeble
IN the selection Of plays that might have
led on TO fortune. The marvellous success
~ Alfred Capus, La veine,' was rejected.
and the famous author now treats tbs
Comedie with contempt; Rostand's sCyrano
de Bergerac' was refused, and In rapid sue
oession Hervieu. Coppte. Brieux and Pierre
Lou nave bccu WOTHh Icl uorQ tiiht Cic0-
where have spelt fortune. And what judg-
ment has been used in the selection OF the
new plays? surely Il Autre Danger Ia not
10 be held up as a triumph.
The rising school OF authors and those
already in vogue l know from many con-
Rue fippolyte- Lebar are. tired Of the
Coincide, and it is now the last house they
think Of writing for. A Paris success and
the rights secured for England and America
is practical and profitable. The Comrdie.
s c. snS Sd IL ss%srs nSs% Of Fs sy
Is not produced within. two years, and In
point q fact pays nothing II 1t docs not
produce II in twenty. All other theatres
are on terms with the authors, and 20 quote
The popular French proverb. Business is
business.
Then the Partisan writer makes the
suggestion, surprising to thoee who do not
tnow the influence Of NJ Antoine. that this
remarkable manager be put in the place
Of Ciaretie, We hear the yowls Of derision
this is bound to arouse in Academic circles.
Yet Antoine is force. He has been joint
director Of the 0deon with Ginisty, and
A. his own theatre in the Boulevard Sebas-
tapol he is the focus OF all that is modern
and powerful in French theatrical life.
sse %nn mas But whsi s'nSS os
,srsemsnu Antoine in the seats Of the
mighty-tho one who dealt the deadest
blow at the conventions OF the French
stage: We do not think II the thing possible.
out, annmic Coincide FRANCHISE to have
new blood pumped into its veins and rid
itself Of what Brand Matthews calls
lis 'desolating monotony.
Itappesrs that lie Beau Jeunie Homme,'
the latest comedy OF the popular Alfred
Capus, has not proved big success at the
Paris Varieties. Sarah Bernhard viii
produce Racine's Esther next fall. Her
version of -werther- did not turn out
very well. We hope she will give up les
eaio!ies altogether. Rejane lie said to be
amusing in the Brother Margertitte's
.Heureuse.' A curious play, full OF
symbolism. entitled LES Appelsurs,' by
us' ss !A1 scu: a. NJ, The {. % .nS
injection Of happiness lie the idea-but
according 70 the outline Of the story the
injection 10 accomplished by the usual
methods. violent death and gloomy cpl
sodes.
Lena Ashwer. the Masioua Of the London
Resurrection production. made her first
appearance In 1891 as q maid In The Phari-
see At the Grand, Ishngton.. Her lines
we're: Did you nng srf' and Yes. sir:
ore dioO WdlkeO on IN Lazy WlnOcffnefo y
Fan To-day she is "top-iner.
whitewashing Henry Arthur Jones's play
Is the difficult task Of some London critics.
London will hear II. v. Esmond's .Im-
prudence next September.
The Isle Of Champagne. Is still izzns in
England
Al recent performance of Mother
Gooee' in Dniry Lane the airship tumbled
20 The stage. a drop Of ten feet. Dan Ieno
and Herbert Campbell cndeavored to I'M
angle themselves from the wreckage, but
Mr, Leno alone emerged ITS all your
isait.' cried the nuffied voice Of the other,
responded Mr.. Leno, rather unfeelingly,
there's difference in our weights Tie
show went on. though Mr. Campbell wss
hurt IN body and mind--,he latter because
y lie partners sally.
BsI,o, la Rabouilleuse," which all
aamirrns Of the master novels, must
'eoail. with Us midnight pranks and its
cyLlcisn u e.. that means its naked truthsl,
slo b. put on a. the Odeon. The dramatiza.
non .s by fmile Fabr-.
H.i,ry. who II may he remembered made
'.oh bIg hit aS C0s psa1 Ia Il As.ommoir,
'ss"taN' tte thici Io4f ~ hhAtoh
fan" play, II Affair. Crainquebslls
lts =" vil phrase IA. idesllsts' ., /,
no ilIo h"ro is al hon.si sir,,st hawksr
~ " a"'si"d fpr obsiTuc'ins ,raffie. Ne
''s's H. y s-b',noed 10 iSo s.eks'
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