Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
The Foreign Stage.
specInl Correspondence of Tho Star.

PARIS. October H. 1905.
~ NE wonders if Edmond Rostand who
has just decided definitely not to
~ let his new play. "Chanteclair' be
put on the stage. can and will take the
precaution of reserving the American act
Ing rights in that already much-talkeo-
of piece Because if he doesn't, who
knows but whether after while some en-
terprising American player may not nave
"Chanteclair" done into Eng ish and torth-
with appear as the vain-glorious COCK
which is its hero supported Ly other trans
Atlantic players in the various roles OIL
black-bird pheasant. peacock and thrush?
The latter event is just possible, notwith-
standing that-as Americans may have
heard-the author of "Cyrano" and Il Afg-
lon has lust told Coquein finally that he
NAV not stage his new barn-yard drama
For although Rostand will not let Paris
see the piece. which has occupied him Tor
so long he says that after a time ne may
possibly allow it to be published-and there,
of course will be the enterprising Amerl-
can actor, managers opportunity.
"Chanteclair' was to have been produced
at the Coincide Franchise" with Coquelin
himself the cock; with Madame Jane
Harding as a dun-colored partridge Mad
anne lie Bargy in the soft piumage OF
thrush and NJ. GalpauX as beady-eyed
black-bIrd and needless to say this actual
selection of the cast looked exceedingly like
business not to mention Rostands an
nouncement a while ago that although he
was not satisfied with "Chanteclair. and
would infinitely rather lock his manuscript
away in drawer. poverty obliged him TO
let it be played. The playwright explained
that he had spent all the money from
'I'Aiglon." his last acted piece. on the
magnificent country house which he recent
~ had built-regardless of expense. at his
favorite estate at Cambo in the heart of
the Pyrenees.
X
PERHAPS Rostand has been left legacy.
He did not say so. however, to Coquelin
when that famous actor made last des-
perate journey to Cambo. the other day, to
beseech Rostand either to yield up the long
completed play TO say definitely that
he had decided not to do so. The actor re-
ports that he found Rostand practically
oblivious of things in the outside world
forgetful of the Paris press, for instance,
and rejoicing greatly in the not too lively
Toulouse Despatch" Living the simple
life in fact, and a lot more interested in
his small sons progress in English than in
anything remotely connected with the thea
tiers of Paris those in any other part OF
the world.
So when the ex-star of the Coincide
Franchise" told Rostand that he had re-
ceived an uncOmmonly alluring offer for
"a South American tour and must accept it
unless Rostand could make up his mind to
let "ChanteClair'' be played, and played at
once the poet told him to go to South
America, and added that he-Rostand-had
decided once and for all never to let his
varied assortment of talking birds and
beasts be seen on the stage.
mo 'Chanteclairr All day the visitor
to Paris hears this exclamation from thea
trical folk here, for seldom has a piece
been so eagerly awaited in the French
capital as this much-heralded spectacle
"a la Aristophanes.' of men and women in
feathers. Needless to say the moribund
animal play was more than geological ex-
addition. In describing the manners and
customs of the backyard, Rostand had in
mind to paint humanity. There a deep
meaning in the lofty attitudes of the cock,
of the pheasant, and the peacock-too deep,
perhaps for the stage-and. of course. it is
out of the question for even the printed
version of "Chanteclair'' to be put on in
Paris without its distinguished authors per-
mission.
America however is another matter, for,
yeXed as ROstands artistic soul might be
at the idea of Anglo-Saxon version of
''Chantecair" being done in the United
States, 1t is not probable that he would
bestir himself seriously against the per-
petrators of it. According to all accounts
Er Is too much absorbed in the country
mans life which he is leading at present
IN the handsome house Of his, half-Basque,
and half-Byzantine, which crowns the
heights dominating the silvery, sparkling
river \iVe.