Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09
LONDON THEATER GOSSIP.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, June "a, 1905
1t seems after all that 1t is not absolutely
certain that Coquelin will be able to pro-
duce Rostand's new play on his return from
South America next fall. NJ. Rostand him
self thinks 1t highly probable that he VIII
find the work so bad that he will consign
il to the waste basket-or, at least, pigeon
hole it indefinitely. The author of "Cyrano
long has been known as about the most
conscientious of dramatists, but he has sur
passed himself in consciousness in con-
structing his latest play.
This is, of course, the remarkable bird
drama, "Chantecler," on which he has been
working for so long. and which, 1t can be
stated now was inspired by the old French
fable, "Reynard, the Fox" At first Ros-
tand felt grave doubts as to whether play
wherein all the characters were birds or
animals could be made acceptable. Then,
however, 1t occurred to him that Aristo-
planes had a certain amount of success
with similar material, and reflected that, at
any rate, he had the advantage of the cias-
steal Greek author in the modern stage eff
fects at his command. So he set to work
planning the grouping of his characters
and building up his scenes, all with wonder
full pains and simply infinite attention to
details.
For many months he has given himself
up entirely to ''Chantecler." abandoning en-
tirely his ordinary practice of working on
another play at the same time. The drama
is now practically finished, but the author
says he doesn't know about It." He
thinks that the work OF imagination, like a
bottle Of wine, should be left to mature.
So he is going to put the piece away in a
drawer for at least three months, trying
pxx,b1l IN oil al
at the end OF that time to scan 1t with
the critical eye of the spectator. And, as
observed already. he believes II quite within
the bounds Of probability that he will then
vote the whole thing absurd and condemn
1t, in which case his admirers will have to
manage for at least a couple Of years longer
without new work from M. Rostand.
IT am over here for business, not for a
holiday" said James X. Hackett to the
| writer when encountered at the Hotel Savoy
night before last. To begin WITH Mr.. Hack
EFT Is making arrangements for the produc-
ton Of sutros piece, THE Walls OF Jeri-
cho," with which he will open at the New
York Savoy on September %. Arthur Bour-
CHER played the piece for the 25Oth time
at the Garrick a few nights ago. Hackett
has also been seeing the two plays by James
/ Bernard Pagan. Hawthorne, U. 8. A." and
Under Which King" recently produced in
London. on both Of which he has options
| for American use, but 1t is rather doubtful
I II he will decide to produce either, as both
have proved failures. The actor leaves
London almost Immediately and goes to
Paris. where he is to have an interview with
Pierre Woln, who wrote THE Secret of
Polchinelle," which Hackett played in the
United States last year. Woin has a new
play in hand upon which Hackett has an
| option He expects to return to London
and then to sail for New York incidents
| ally, he is taking the manuscripts OF no less
| than five other plays which he proposes to
read on board the steamer.
u
: What is an undeniably novel, II not q
highly successful experiment, has just been
tried in Paris-nothing iesR than the pro-
duction o. an opera entirely made up OF
Chopin. George Sand, II may be rememr