New-York tribune., 1906-05-12
DON JUAN IN OLD AGE. ?
II NesU Drama in Verse Produced
in Paris.
Paris, May 1.

Paris, May 1.
la vieiIesse de Don Juan" the drama in
three acts and In verse by NM. Mounet-Sully
and Pierre Barber, produced on Friday at the
odeon, is an amusing study Of sort Of indian
summer outburst Of love IN the heart Of an OLD
man. Don Juan. wounded IN a recent duel. ac-
cepts the hospitality Of his cousin. Don Jose. a
quiet country nobleman. who. with his pure
minded. devoted wife and romantic daughter
Ines, resides on the family estates in Anda-
Iusia Don Juan, now in his sixtieth year, proves
MS gratitude by narrating in verse endless
lectures upon love. and analyses in a somewhat
Hamlet-lilxe manner the peculiar state OF his
soul. Don jose and his wife, Donna Isabelle.
listen with patience and learn that Don Juan,
IN spite Of all his adventures. has never yet
known what real love is. Don jose pleads for
conJugal love, based upon mutual esteem, which
survives the attacks of old age Don Juan eo-
quently commends sensual love, free from legal
trammels. The beautiful Ines is about to wed a
brilliant young hidalgo Don Fabien. Don
Juan charms all about him by his wit and
graceful conversation. He paints portraits of
the ladies. he recites poetry. and, although in
the twilight OF HIS career unconsciously wins
the heart Of the fair Ines who Is only seven
teen years old. Ines confesses her love to Don
Juan.
The old gallant sets forth in beautiful Alex
NAANA NSASS MS appreciation or the purity OF
the young girl and for the first time feels genu-
Inc repentance for his past crimes. He depicts
IN violent colors the infany Of his career. Ines,
instead Of being repelled by the grewsome pict-
ure. feels drawn closer than ever to Don Juan,
who with well bred loftiness Of sentiment that
the veteran roue never before evinced, repels
the infatuated young girls impulsive instincts.
Don Fabien,- arriving Unexpectedly puts a
wrong Interpretation on the situation. and err
forgotten himself to show want OF respect
to the girl whom he is about to we'd Don
Fabien attacks Don Juan. A duel ensues. Don
JUAN being much the better swordsman Of the
two soon disarms Don Fabien, and spares his
life. Don Juan is disgusted at his own bravado.
and is unable to marry Ines because his
wife, Donna Elvira, from whom he has long
been separated is still living. Don Juan, at
last repentant, unites the hands Of Ines and
Fabien. and. realizing that this is the only in
stance Of pure. genuine love that he has ever
experienced, commits suicide by taking poison.
Upon this slight theme are woven three acts
of sonorous verse. The literary qualities Of the
play far exceed its dramatic merits The part
of Don Juan is played by the author NJ. Mou-
net-Sully, dean Of the Comedie Francaise, who
by special permission Of the Minister Of Pub
lie Instruction was authorized to appear on the
stage Of the Odeon Theatre The acting is GER
tainly superb. 1t is a succession Of Velasquez-
like pictures. and is enthusiastically received
by the public, although 1t especially appeals TO
the literary amateur In spite Of the false ring
inseparable from changing the nature of popular
idealized characters, Don Juan in his Dotage -
as this new play might well be termed is a sue
cess. The hero's motives and impulses are al
together inconsistent with those of the Don Juan
Of Lope de Verga, of Tirso de Molina. OF Moliere
of Byron, of Dumas. Of Alfred de Musset, of
Gluck or Of Mozart. After all, repentant Don
Juan is as great incongruity as a tender
hearted Torquemada, a white haired cherubim.
a truthful Tartuffe or decrepit Venus
G. b