The sun., 1903-12-25
YHEI I|'' STAGE 1 HERE AND ABROAD.
PREDICTION IN REGARD no
BUSINESS IN 1904.
Anti.Sen,itism in France and Anti-Nili-
tarism In Germany Ruling Popular
Taste-La ment OF Mrs. HObbes.Craigie

luStt-ANh VI WIFE, HnOuDCssStulBiC
In rendering to-day to the members of
the theatrical profession the compliments
Of the season, We wish to add as a prediction
that business will be better during the next
and fast approaching year We believe
this on the principle that 1t cannot he much
worse than it has been.
Maurice Donnays 4Le Retour de Jeru-
salem" is drawing big audiences at the
Gymnase, Paris. It's appeal Is to the basest
Of race prejudices, and its success at the
very time when the Dreyfus case is being
reconsidered is significant Of the intense
public feeling in regard to that unluoky
man Whether he IL cleared or not, the
popuace will swear that he was guilty
because he was. And the playwright has
worked this antipathy 80 cleverly into the
pattern of his play that its every perform
Ae case when Octave Mirbeau's Business
e Business" was played at the Francaise.
In Germany party feeling usually runs
high when the army is attacked, for attacks
levalled at the sacred person of the Emperor
never see the footlights, though they may
creep into view, once only, on the pages OF
newspaper. Lese-maj jeste Is the threat
which clubs into subjection impertinent
authors, artists and playwrights who dare
TO think aloud. Only recently novel was
suppressed because it dealt with too free
hand with the subject of military brutalities
Yet a new play, called 4Zapfenstreich"-
sThe Tattoo has had much success.
while it really contains covert criticism
OF the army. Its author Is Herr Beyerlein.
who is also the writer OF military romance
entitled Jena or Sedan?" Beyerlein, who
10 quite young, Is immature as an artist.
Briefly. the story Of -The Tattoo IL ef-
iectye. 1t occurs in the barracks OF
provincial Alsatian town, not far from
The frontier. A sergeant's daughter,
Kidrchen, is discovered late one night In
the room OF ron Ldufen. Lieutenant,
by her sweetheart, Helbig. who is only,
sub-sergeant. He is not betrothed to the
girl, but she has given him a half promise.
Helbig strikes his superior officer, with
the result that he is court-martialed. The
trial scene is engrossing in interest.
The girls name, by common accord has
been kept out of the affair and the Judge
is at his wits end when kldrchen appears
and asks that her testimony be accepted.
She oonfesses everything, thinking thus to
save the accused from dire punishment.
But she only complicates matters. Her
daughters seduoer, forgetting in his just
wrath that he is an inferior officer Laufen
cannot fight with him, for military laws
forbid; but he offers his life as a recon-
pense-his one act throughout which is not
declares that she alone is to blame, that
she began the affair And then her father.
in his fury, shoots her dead. 1t seems
to be the true outcome Of such sordid
ENHANCEMENT.
LauRen has been accepted by Germans
as the typical lieutenant-which Is rather
pitiiul This Ldufen when asked by the
regiment to resign and marry his victim,
replies that he has no objection to her; it
Ia her vulgar family that he cannot endure.
The sub-acid irony of the piece has en-
deared II in Germany, especially to the
social democrats, who joyfully hall any
depreciation of the army.
It appears to us that Erich Hartleben's
.4Rosenmonta9." despite its sentimentality.
ist,etter wit than Beyerlein's melo dramatic
pictlre. Mr.. George Alexander will play
the unhappy hero in the Hartleben play
in London-a part which would suit
Richard Mansfield. The Conried company
II il still favorite in Berlin, the Emperor
having honored 10 with his imperial and
indisputable approval
John Oliver Hobbies laments the dsap-
pearance OF the jeune premier in modern
plays. He was absurd perhaps, viewed
with the cynical eyes Of our own day. yet
he was a Joy, comfort, even delight
to romantic women-and others. Mrs,
Hobbies Craigie believes that the thrilling
speech Of yester year, Better death than
dishonor!" would be laughed now out of
the theatre. Worst of all, the leading man
to-day, still tries to look like a jeune
premier. And, asks the critic, in the Lon
don Academy, can one talk like domesti-
Gated poodle and pass for Prometheus?'
James K Hackett will produce the new
Broadhurst play, THE Crown Prince in
Springfield this evening
It ia safe to wager that David Belasco
will give the world religious play some
day. He saw "Parsifal' rehearsed and was
impressed by its potentialities'
What we wonder at is only why composers
have failed to seize the operate quality
Of Maeterlinck's "Monna Wanna" and build
a score about 1t. The play lends itself
readily to music, for it is all color, while the
action moves sluggishly, giving plenty of
opportunity for musical embellishment
Here is a magnificent cast suggested by a
busybody. for Monna Wanna: Edna Wallace
HOPPER. Wanna; Willis Sweatpam, Guido;
Franz Ebert, the venerable Colonnd;
Tri,ulsio Oscar Hammersten; Prinseralh,
JEFF. de Angels.
August Strindberg's historical drama
Gustav Adolf" has been produced at the
Berliner Theater, Berlin.
Ellis Jeffries is finally divorced from
her husband. the Hon, Frederick Graham
Curzon
Alexander Bison does not seem to have
scored his usual success in his new comedy.
LES Apaches," at the Palais Royal. Paris.
Mate mite" by M. Brieux, at the Theatre
Antoine, is more of problem discussed
than a play The author practically de-
clares that while it is all we'll enough to
advocate large families in France, maternity
does not always command respect. MA
ternity disgraces the poor girl who has
been seduced and, consequently, cannot
obtain work; the workman encountered
with honestly begotten children cannot
look for assistance from the State. In
word, maternity, except with the COM
Portable Glasses, not only leads to misery,