The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09
BataiIle'S New PLAY.
Charles Henry Meltzer Talks of His
Writing for Eleanor Robson.

Writing for Eleanor Robson.
Charles Henry Meltzer. playwright and
critic. was among the passengers on the
North German Lloyd liner "Barbarossa.
which steamed into port Wednesday. He
had much to say about the play by Henri
Bataille, author of Resurrection"
which he is now completing for Liebler
& Co.
My interest in Bataille's new play"
said Mr.. Meltzer. lis in a measure of a
personal kind. as George c. Tyler, whom
saw several times lately in Paris and
London, has intrusted me with the
adaptation.
Henri BataiIle Is a celebrity of com
paratively recent growth. 1 had the
pleasure OF meeting him in Europe. He
is still young-under thirty, I should
say-rather delicate and studious in
appearance. and refreshingIy modest.
He is a quick workeA and seemed 20 ME
thoroughly well aware OF the differences
between drama. as 1T Is understood ard
enjoyed In America. and as II is pre-
ferred in Paris.
Apart from the fact that I mad been
asked To adapt the play. had another
reason for feeling interested, as I had
myself outlined drama on the subject
which M. Battaile had chosen for treat
ment
THAT subject is Louise de Ia VallIere.
one OF the few women in history, who.
while living an Irregular life. had by the
beauty and sweetness OF her character.
and the unselfish fervor Of her love, won
the affection and respect even OF her
rivals Compared with the Pompadours,
Du Barrys, and Diane de Poitiers OF
France. La Valliere was almost saint
like. Though she yielded to the pas
sionate devotion of Louis XIV. then
quite young. it was not without a strug-
gle of the most touching and romantic
kind. She expiated her own happiness.
by half lifetime of piety in a Carmel
tie nunnery. These are the chief rea-
sons which, no doubt led BataiIIe. as
they had led me, TO the belief that she
would be an exceptionally sympathetic
stage heroine
II have read Bataiile's play IN the
rough. and hardly see how il could have
been handled more tactfully. II is emo
tional and human. rising at several
points to remarkably strong eIimaxes
and in the main 1t Is faithful 10 history
Three women are more particularly con-
eerned in this affecting Iove-story-
Louise herself. her enemy. Nine. de
Montespan. and the Queen. Versailles.
with its courtiers and intriguers. makes
wonderful background for the action.
and allows scope for beautiful costup-
ing and picturesque scenery
The part OF Louise should be sin
suIariy well suited to the subtle and
graceful art of Eleanor Robson. who
is to impersonate Bataille's heroine. In.
eidentally, too. ] may mention that
while first and always essentially dra-
matte. the play is charmingly written
IL is both literature and drama-a com
binatiOn too rarely found In America.
+ What other matters may have oc-
cupied Mr. Tyler in Europe. l cannot
say. But he seemed horribly energetic
when I saw him last. He had Just re-
turned from an automobile ride through
the mountains OF Auvergne. where. at
La Bourboule. he had been visiting Ba-
taille. and discussing with him the de-
tails OF his play. l understood from Mr.
Tyler, that Novelli, the great Italian
actor. had been engaged for LiebIer
& Co. | have frequently seen NoveIH
act IN Rome and Venice. where he made
a profound impression on me- His
versatility is even more wonderful
than Possart's. While he has not the
overwhelming and almost brutal power
OF the elder Salvini. he has what we
loosely call magnetism, besides author
ity, an unusually fine voice. mimetic
gifts. and extraordinary skill as por-
trayer OF character
Bernhard once told me that she re-
garded NoveIli as the greatest actor in
the world. She proved the sincerity OF
her faith. too. by lending him her thea
ter in Paris for his performances. No
velli's favorite parts are Shylock, Cor
RADIO. in Civil Death and Yorick, In
The New Play
He is not confined TO tragedy. but
has won some OF his most cherished
laurels in comedy. In a far-off way he
reminds me of Irving. the Irving of ten
years ago. But. in addition to the fas-
cinations OF Irving. he has the technic
of Coquelin."