New-York tribune., 1905-04-14

ment- The stealthy. Jealous scarron. however.
is really wide awake. and unseen by Fran
coise watches the signal with expression OF
agony for at heart 4e loves his maiden wife.
In the third act find Scarron living with
his virgin wife in a simple cottage at Saint
Cloud. 1t is spring. The garden is fragrant
with roses. honeysuckles, HIacs and hyacinths;
birds are singing. but wolf in the shape OF
de Villarceaux is lying in wait. Scarron's pub
lsler calls, and announces that the public no
longer buy his works, which are written in "a
pure, virtUOus style. almost like that OF Cor
neilIe"-''Parisians want sparkling wit. seath-
ing satire. mingled with salacious prurieney."
Scarron is in despair. for under the pure in
huence OF Francoise the prOfane satirieal poet
has become a better man. The publisher re-
counts the rumOrs Of the intimacy OF de VII
larceaux with Scarron's young wife. Scarron
with implicit confidence In his wife's fidelity
replies: Nonsense! there is not a word OF
truth in your idle SANDER. Francoiss at this
moment is upstairs in her room sewing" Scar
ron calls aloud: "FraneOise! FrancOise!'' There
is no reply. Francoise has gone forth secretly.
Her bedchamber is empty.
The fourth, and most dramatic, act brings
US to the famous yellow ROOM in the house Of
NinOn de PEnclos who has lent her apartment
as rendezvous for de Villarceaux and Fran
coise. The lovers meet The scene is delightful
for the girl wife Of Scarron does not allow her
romantic impulse to develop beyond the platOnic
Meanwhile Searron. whose nervous system has
been galvanized by his moral shock at the dis
cOvery that Francoise, under the veil OF chastity
and lofty friendship. should harbor falsehoOd
suddenly finds that he has temporarily gained
control over his limbs. He arrives, drawn sword
in hand. az the house of Ninon de FEncIos. and
franticaIly bursts into the yellow room" intent
upon killing his virgin wife's wOuld-be sedueer,
De Villarceaux refuses to cross swords with the
paralytic old man. who suddenly drops help
lessy like bundle of wet rags, upon the floor.
The fifth and last act presents the terrific
death scene ScaTron. writhing in agony. reviles
his wife. abuses humanity in general swears
and curses at everything in heaven and on
earth. AS FRANCHISE strives to calm him. he
sings with trembling. tomblike voice a fright
fully ribald song that almost causes FRANCHISE
to faint. In his death agony scarron's face as
sumes the frenzied expression OF brutality OF
an enraged gorilla. and the final death spasm
causes contraction and CONFUSION. rendered by
Coquelin with startling realism.
The limpid purity of Catulle Ndendes's versih-
cation is. from literary standpoint enehant-
ing The stage music accompaniment, composed
by ReynaIdo Hahn, is effective and harmonious
The play is staged with charm and grace worthy
OF the poets conception. CoqueIn is an ideal
Scarron. Mile. sylvie, the tall blond actress
Of twenty three years is a delicious FRANCHISE
d'Aubigne-"the husbandless wife and virgin
widow: but none Of the characters are truly
sympathetic, and Notwithstanding Triboulet's
hunchback. and despite Quasimodos squnt, 1t
is always repugnant to the public. whether in
France OF in America, TO see human infirmity
displayed on the stage. c. /. B.