New-York tribune., 1907-12-24
SARDOU'S NEW PLAY.
"LAfaire des Poisons" Is Popular
Success in Paris.
Paris, December 8.

Paris, December 8.
NJ sardou's new historic drama, Il Affaire
des Poisons," is unquestionably a brilliant pop
ular success 1t is "'Thern1idor' in Louis XIV
setting 1t has the bouquet of romanticism. 1t
is bright, clever and entertaining. With the
first lines OF the prologue it captures the spec
tator's attention and holds it to the finish. M.
Sardou remains first and foremost, the master
full artisan of dramatic carpentry and the con-
summate manipulator of theatrical situation
The veteran dramatist has entered upon his
seventy-sfxth year. and he now produces his
seventy-sixth play. He is irrepressibly youth
full. He seems never to have attained maturity.
The methods and structure Of "LAffaire des
Posons' are the that he made use OF When
he wrote light comedies for Dejazet or Rose
Cheri in 1860, dramas for Nine Sarah Bern
hardt in 1884, or when turning out of his mar
vellous workshop plays for Mime. Rejane In
1893 In the latter half of the seventeenth GEN.
tury half dozen sensational affairs of poison
ing caused almost as much commotion as the
Dreyfus affair at the close of the nineteenth
century The plot to poison the king and the
implication in the conspiracy of the royal IA
vorite, the Marquise dc Montespan, are estab-
lished by the documentary evidence collected
by NJ Funck- -Brentano Around this dramatic
situation NJ. Sardou builds his picturesque
and entertaining play.
'I'Afaire des Pofsons" is thoroughly anus
Ing, and by means of the adrot ningling of
historical with fictitious personages lifelike
scenes and stirring episodes of the cape and
sword order, of the reign of Louis XIV. are pre-
sented with a vividness of line and color.
We are in 1919, in the most brilliant phase
Of the reign of Louis XIV. The Affair of the
Poisons' is that of the famous woman poisoner
Voisin. The prologue discloses two prisoners
escaped from the galleys at TouIon. One of
them, named Carlon is mortally wounded and
makes full confession to his companion con-
vict the Able ,Griffard He tells of his exploits
as a posoner and of his partnership with the
woman Voisin The Able Griffard. who was
condemned TO the galleys for writing Hbellous
poems about the Kings favorite. the Marquise
de Montespan. is thoroughly good man at
heart, and after the death of Carloni. who has
apprised him that the Voisin had poisoned the
Duke of Savoy, manages to escape from his
pursuers and arrives safely in Paris
The able proceeds directly to the lieutenant
of police, de la Reyne. with the object Of secur-
ing his pardon in return for the valuable fnfor-
nation he possesses in regard TO the woman
Voisn. The abbe comes at opportune mo-
ment because the police have vague traces of
plot instigated by Fouquet. the disgraced FL
nance Minister to poison the King. The Able
Griffard is charged with the task Of securing
under the guise of accomplice, full details
of the plot and the identity of the conspirators
from the woman Voisin. The abbe succeeds
admirably in his mission The scene at the
sumptuous residence of volsln is highly eff
fective The Marquise de Montespan and other
great ladies' of the court call upon the woman
poisoner for love philters. potions and powders.
"bIack mass" is celebrated. in which the
Maruuise de Montespan. wearing mask. takes
part.
The third act brings US to the famous grotto OF
Thetis. at Versailles Che chateau at that period
had not yet been builb. Louis XIV. with the
whole court, appears, and concert is given, at
which the composer Lulli executes his latest
music. The costumes and stage setting are ad-
mirable. The favorte Mile. de Fontanges.
is suddenly taken i'll. The physician declares
that she is poisoned. Mile. de Fontanges. who
has momentariy supplanted La Montespan in
the Kings heart has aroused the jealousy Of
the marquise An innocent young woman Is
suspected and imprisoned. In the fourth act We
treated to a scene which Is filled with allu-
sions to the Dreyfus case. The Ministers Col
bert and Louvois insist that the innocent young
woman, Mile. dOrmoize. must be sacrificed in
order to avoid scandal and protect the reputa-
tion of the Marquse de Montespan. Mile. dor
moize IS sent by Colbert to the Bastile
The Abbe Griffard refuses to become the tool
Of the ministers. and declares that he will tell
the whole truth to the King. In the fourth act
he does so. The Abbe proves that the Marquise
de Montespan attended the black mass at La
Vosins and that she had secured powders and
love philters for the King. which were really
deadly poison, although the marquse supposed
that they merely had charm to retain for her
the Kings love The result is the disgrace of
La Montespan. Mile d'Ormoize is released
a handsome dowry is given her and she narries
the man of her heart.
The character of the Abbe Griffard is played
by Coquelin aine. and will rank among his finest
and most subtle achievements 1t is the best
part acted by Coquelin since Cyrano GLIB