New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04
THE PARIS STAGE.
Caructeristics of Recent Popular
Productions
Paris November p.


~srisoiy efrered each autumn in the opening
yzss1tns us tho SEASON have at last reached the
more So nsiantsai course Of the years theatrical
r~pasr Alfred Cspus Maurice Donnay ana
Henry Bstaiiis-tkat trio Of dranatists whose
productions eagerly awaited by smart
Partisan eociety were the comedies OF Dumas
fis Auyler anc PRilleron thirty years ago
have each presented pieces de resistance winch
indicate the tendency of the stage and the taste
OF the French public The tendency seems TO ne
toward general but we'll hammered relaxation
of morality and the taste OF fashionable theatrl-
cal audiences demands audacities expressed in
graceful language and neatly polished dialogue.
''Notre Jeunesse," the four act comedy by Al
fred Capus brought out at the Theatre Fran
gals last Wednesday is far the most impor-
tant success Of the season. The theme is sup
piled by q somewhat misunderstood young wife
adopting her husbands illegitimate daughter.
and this is accomplished without blasts OF
rhetoric or sentimental ohraseology, but simply
and naturally. almost like an everyday func-
ton OF ultra-modern Partisan life There is a
complete absence OF the old school melodramatic
atmosphere IN which Dumas loved to place his
"Anthonies" and other illegitimate offspring.
Well bred society to-day accepts with a COM
placent smile a situation that the more rigid
and more hypocrttical morality Of the last
generation Of Parisians would never have al
lowed to be presented 10 them AT the Coincide
Francaise, where they are accustomed to pass
the evening at least once a month with their
wives and daughters.
'HSotre Jeunesse' marks the advent OF Alfred
Capus at the Theatre Francais-the dramatists
last station before arriving at the French
AcadeHy-and the success is so great that the
play viii in all probability be given next season
in New-York and IN London. The story is sent-
timistic. Nine. de Rome is a benevolent. kind
hearted. broad-minded widow of fifty. She and
her bachelor brother. Charter are passing the
summer at their cosey little villa at fashionable
Trouville. Their guests include the Briant
family, Besancon manufacturers consisting Of
Briant PEREZ his son Lucien. and the latter's
charming and attractive wife, Helene who. mis-
understood and neglected by her husband, leads
q lonely existence amid uncongenial surround
ings; for besides being bullied by her
tsnkerous. despotic old fashioned father-in-law,
her marriage is a childless one 81 have been
irreproacha BILE wife, she excains, and
what is exceedingly dangerous just begin
ming 10 find it OUT"
Charter is old college chum Of Lucien
Briant, and they chat familiarly together Of the
gay escapades of their student days in the Latin
Quarter. Lucien is q pessimist. He is sad and
suspicious, and is under the complete domination
Of his tyrannical father, who awes him by his
continual contempt Of modern people and of
up-to-date ideas. The sojourn at Trouvile is a
rare bit Of sunshine in the existence OF Helene
and there is a delightful glimpse of seaside
Irritation, from which nevertheless Helene
energies unscathed. It appears from the con-
versat:ons OF Lucien and Charter that in the
OLD student days Lucien had an intimacy with
girl named Leontine. The rupture which en-
rued because OF Luciens marriage with Helene
was a painful one, and although there
Legitimate daughter Lucien had passed seven
teen years without news Of Leontine. Suddenly
a young girl arrives at the villa at Trouvie.
having come from a distant village in Burgundy.
This is the daughter of Leontine and of Lucien
Briant How does il happen that the girl thus
drops into the villa like falling star? Simply
because her mother IS dead. and. left without
resources, she comes TO Charter. whom her
mother had often spoken Of "a good friend,
TO whom she might some day apply for advice
and help" The girls name is Lucienne. She is
well educated pure minded and courageous.
Can you aid me TO find place as governessT'
she asks him.
Shall speak to your father? He is here at
my villa"
no. He does rot know me- My mother with
her dying words enioined to bother him
or to cause him trouble. do not wish to
him"
Charter is charmed by the young girl and
decides to help her. He promises to keep her
secret. and 70 confde ii to one except to his
kind hearted sister. Nine de Rome. While they
are thus talking Lucien Briant the father who
does not know his daughter. because he only
saw her years ago. when she was an infant, en-
tiers the room. Not a word is uttered, but by
a simple glance and gesture Lucienne becomes
instinctively conscious that she is in the pres
ence of her father and this dumb eff
fectively closes the first act. Through the kind
ness of Nine. de Rome a place is found for
Lucienne with lady who is about to leave for
South America. the young girl having refused
TO receive a small sum from her father, who is
in terrible fright lest his wife, Helene. should
learn Of the existence Of his illegitmate daugh-
ter Meanwhile Helene complains TO her friend
Nine de RoIne of her lonely life. OF her unsym-
pathetic husband, of her tyrannical father-fn-
law. and expresses regret that she has no child
to I'LL the void of her existence, saying: "Oh!
II only had child! l have often thought Of
adopting one!'
whereupon the good Nine de Rome exclaims:
.syyhv I have one all ready at your disposal'
"Indeed?"
YES IL is q child Of your husband"
Good gracious"
Here the details OF Luciens Latin Quarter
escapade explained.
How old is the child7"
seventeen"
..Ah. that is rather too old for
"ohi but she is charming,
"Ah. It is girl, them"
Yes"
"Can ] see herr:
II is then arranged that Helene shall pass
FOR the lady who is about to engage Lucienne