New-York tribune., 1907-10-20
NEW PARIS PLAYS.
"I,4mOr VeilLe, "Cabotine" and
la M@treSSe de Piano."
Paris, October S.

inc
,be production of lie None ou Pon s'ennuie"
ON, of a scant and almost threadbare plot Messrs
Robert de F'Iers and de CaiIavet have succeeded
IN cutting q delightful play, which if boiled
down" or concentrated in three acts instead of
four might become a masterpiece. The amiabIe
and loquacious Marquise de Juvigny has set her
venerable heart upon making a match between
Jacquelne. niece Of her country neighbor Car
teret and her young friend and protege. Ernest
Vernet Ernest Nernet is a downright good fol-
low handicapped by excessive timidity. bv ab
sentmindedness and wrapped up in his self-iro
posed task of writing dry-as-dus essays for the
Academy Of Moral Sciences. Ernests notions Of
love and love making have never overstenped
the bounds of theory. Jacquene is a pretty de-
Hciously innocent. yet exceedingly witty and
saucy girl of seventeen, brinlful of affection and
sunshine. But the man whom Jacqueine loves
is the superb and brilliant young Andre de
Juyigny. nephew of the marchioness. who has
never managed TO pass his college examinations
but who Is unequalIed as a leader of cotiuons
and gentleman rider. Andre has liaison with
his fair and frisky cousin, Lucienne de Mont
fontaine. whose husband is travelling in Japan
In a cleyeTly arranged scene Andre swears eter-
nal fidelity to the fascinating Lucienne
Scarcely has he done so when JacoueIina n,
the most natural and artless way imaginable
and il a love passage that has the evanescent
grace and aroma of Marivaux. naTvely informs
Andre that she adores him and would like to
marry him Andre is taken aback by this frank
ness, hesitates moment and plunges mental
searchlights into the innermost consciences of
Jacqueline and of himself He accepts He is
nevertheless somewhat embarrassed on account
of Lucienne. Lucienne appears. and before
Andre has an opportunity TO explain the new
situation the impulsive Jacqueline takes Luci-
into her confidence and asks her to decide
whether she and Andre should get married or
not Jacqueline is of course. ignorant of the
liaison that has existed but which she herself
unwittingly breaks. between Andre and
Lucienne- BY all means get married" replies
Lucienne, and adds mentally, Il know I can
have Andre back again whenever I choose"
After fours months honeymoon Andre and
Jacqueline seem very happy. Jacqueline is too
sxuberant in the demonstrations of her love.
Through the idle gossip of indtscreet visitor
Jacqueline learns of the former liaison between
her husband and his cousin Lucienne. Jacqueline
irritates Andre with scene, in which she evinces
jealousy of his past life. She tells him that if
he ever deceives her she will not hesitate to in
woke the law of retaliation. Meanwhile Luci-
enne calls. and Jacquene being out is received
by Andre. Lucienne, thus coming at the true
psychological moment, soon captures Andre and
the two go off together. When Jacqueline learns
p,
but resolves to be avenged. Ernest Vernet, the
timid man of letters, who had paid her great at
ten1ion before her marriage, has already ap-
prised her that he has not ceased his alteration.
Jacqueline, who the same morning had listened
10 Ernest's declaration with disdain. now writes
4 flaming love letter to the young savant. in
forming him that she shares his affection. and
that she will take tea at his lodgings at
o'clock Jacqueline fulfls her promise, but in
course of exceedingly clever scene finds that
when the critical moment arrives it is impossible
be unfaithful to her husband to whom she is
after all passionately devoted. Jacquelines love
for Andre proves to be her safeguard. Love
wakes" and when Ernest. misled and encour-
aged by Jacqueline's coquettish behavior, which
IS only due TO pique and revenge. attempts to
kiss her the young wife regains her senses and
the amorous savant receives a slap in the face.
The authors have adopted the theory that a
who really loves her husband under
no circumstances be unfaithful to him Is this
true? Dumas fills and NJ Porto Richie in their
plays. "Francllon" and 'L'Amoureuse," have
stoutly maintained the contrary. So. too, has
Bazac George Sand and Paul Hervieu. Andre
learns what has happened. He is filled with
morse With him also Love wakes" He finds
only feeting deception in his momentary re-
newal Of the liaison with his cousin Lucienne.
The erring husband returns and the loving
couple fall into each others arms.
This brief outline of the plot conveys no real
notion of the play. which is brilliant in dialogue
and abounds in original situations. so carefully
and adroitly prepared that the interest Of the
audience never flags for an instant. There are
touches Of the broadest comedy. contrasting with
passages of refined sentiment There is plenty
Of movement and action The play is admirably
acted by Mile Marie Lecomte Jacqueine; by
Nile. Provost, a debutante, who won prizes at
the Conservatoire last spring and who took the
coquettish part Of Lucienne with remarkable
skill and tact; by NM Georges Berr, as Ernest
Grand as Andre, and Coquelin Cadet who i'm
personated q garruous but kind hearted able.
American visitors TO Paris who enjoy broad.
rollicking three-act farces will do well to see
"Cabotine" the new play by Tristan Bernard
and Alfred Athis. brought out this week at the
Nouveautes and which is full Of irresistible
drolery. The play deals with the pranks Of
smart society woman who began life
tress. In the second act the players dis
persed IN the auditorium disguised spec
tatoTs and the effect eicits genuine surprise
and much laughter. The delicious irony with
which the Paris stage, authors. actors and theat-
rical managers are treated is keeny appreciated.
La Maitresse de Piano" "A comedy in five
acts by MN. Felix DuQuesnel and Andre Barde.
produced az the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt. is
strongly composed family play that harks back
10 the romanesque melodramas Of Octave Feuil
let and d'Ennery, and comes a wholesome
protest against the excessive realism and mere
tricious modernity Of the younger school Of
Partisan dranatists. NJ Felix Duquesnel IS the
dean OF the French art critics. He was manager
of the Odeon under the patronage OF Victor
Hugo and George Sand, and director OF the
Porte Saint-Martin Theatre when Nine. Sarah