New-York tribune., 1907-10-06
PARIS THEATRE NOTES
Eight Ne5o Plays Presented in
Opening Week of Season.
Paris. SepterniDer "a.


-,-ovod az the Coincide Francaise in the re-
-si Of Alfred Capus's light and rose-colored
oudeyiIle ''Notre Jeunesse" Mile Devoyod,
,bo is the offspring of a theatrical family
,hst has supplied Paris with three generations
- artists had already won her laurels in st.
petersburg and Paris. and these have now re-
,eived the classic sanction of the house of
uoljere where she will be frequently seen in
course Of the coming winter
The most striking and certainly the most
.toarisiar" Of the new productions is lie Jouiou
rarioue" meIodramatic love tale drawn
t-on, the story of Tristan and Isolde" but the
nersonages are transformed so as to be essen
tally modern, and from the point of view of
habits, customs and vices fully up to date.
This clever but somewhat uneven drama was
vr1tten by Mile d'OTIhiac grandniece of one
NJ Balzac's most intimate friends. who has Just
attained her twenty-second year. and the part
Of Isolde is acted by the gy-psy-like Mile. Po-
laire. tack-eyed and wasp-waisted, who has
seized the occasion to give vent to the nth power
Of her Impressive emotional depravity.
Cenier. the director of the Theatre Antoine.
has had the good fortune to have brought out
La Sacrifice" a play IN three acts by CASTOR
DevOre. far and away ahead OF anything so far
produced this season. La Sacrifice" is brim
full Of genuine sentiment and is free from that
skinble- skamble eroticism that so often renders
witty OF poignant French plays impossible for
American audiences. There is a faint aroma OF
Shakespeare about La Sacrifice" Take as a
starting point King Lear. Transform Lear into
thrifty owner Of an aniline dye esta ablishrnent;
change Cordeia !nto young girl imbued with
ideas OF independence. socialism and modern
feminism and the result is La Sacrifice" a
drama which has qualities of action. healthful
dence and freedom on the part of a young girl
which appeal TO the American public. Baudri-
court, head Of the chemical dye works. and his
wife are types of the ridiculous bourgeoisie Of
the Louis Philippe stamp. not actually blind like
Lear, but lacking moral sight intensely worldly
and lamentably narrow-minded OF their three
daughters the pet and spoiled child is Suzanne
who is not q spiteful, serpent like Regan or
Goneri. but an addle-headed. vain little snob
with just enough wits to retain parental favor
iusrn u the detriment Of her sisters. The eldest
daughter. FRANCHISE, is a feeble fantastic girl
constantly absorbed in reading trashy romance.
and in the household life IS as useless as she
is in the play
The youngest daughter, Jeannine neglected
and bullied by her parents and by her sisters.
has an ardent soul and strong clear head.
She is driven 10 rebellion by sheer domestic
tyranny Although the three sisters are of
maria geabe age, Mime. Baudricourt occupies
herself exclusively with seeking husband for
Suzanne. Carried away with society climbing
Illusions, this vulgar parvenue mother accepts
as suttor for Suzanne a pudding headed
daintfy tailored youth, Julien ROizel, who wears
single eyeglass. and who, if endowed with
little more gumption. might be described as
half-Vitted. Julien's father is an unscrupulous
company promoter. who lives at the pace Of q
million francs year. and is the centre of a fast
meretrdous set. with manners Of life that
fairly dazzle the Baudricourts. The vain
bolreeois couple decide 10 strip their two
daughters, Francoise and Jeannine. OF their re-
epecuPe marriage portions in order to provide
suzanne the dowry Of a million, which they
nave managed to put aside and which was
originally intended to be divided equally be-
tween the three daughters, but which is now
exacted by the company promoter as a condition
Of the marriage.
Meanwhile. Jeannne. 10 whom none of the fam
lily pays the slightest heed, has frequent talks
with Dorville, the foreman Of the Baudricourt
oye works. This Dorville is a splendid type of
freeman, persOnifying truth, frankness and
SOUND judgment, thus presenting dramatic con-
tTast with the narrow preiudices vanities nv
pocrisIes Of the Baudricourts There are de-
L@ous scenes between Dorville and Jeannine
We see at once that Jeannine is in love with
sst his own feelings. He nevertheless Yields TO
me passionate tale Of the young girls suffer-
ihes which seem 10 place the lovers upon terms
OF social equality. Dorville is a founding who
mas made his way TO honorable independence by
ms own energy and wits. The audience feels
that Jeannine would be far happier with Dor
VIE jhan would her sister Suzanne be with the
Alle Partisan dude Julien ROizel. By-a cev-
cry thought out plot Jeannine learns that Julien
holzels father is an unmitigated swinder and
II + On Inc verge OF financial ruin, to avert which
NJ counts upon the million franc doWry Of his
hon rs hancee. Suzanne Jeannine denounces the
.I.AlieI 10 her family in q striking scene that
taxes place at the formal display Of the we'd
uiAg gowns and trOUsSeau.
n M whole family turn against Jeannine, at
tSlOlung her outburst TO jealousy, and drive
ne away She takes refuge with Dorville The
q MIX and water father-the King Lear of
ie itay-las twinge Of conscience and goes
- ~ Mo Jeannine. He discovers that she is mar
iu iaeu % Dorville and living happily. He also
+eoILs the truth about the adyenturer RoiZel
ala his son. The brilliant match is broken
vi vi ana the Baudricourt household has its eyes
usii-a ~ last to the sterling qualities Of their
souIsest daughter, Jeannine. of whom they be-
u - forgiveness, but Jeannine. unlike Cordeia
busI PARENTAL pardon and starts off with her
t.ssDaIo 10 New York. where he, D0rviIle, has
f -eu 5Hered 10 him "A position as manager of a
ti'.al establishment which assures for him
oL-iiiailt future This play contains admira bic
,fy ana forcible dialogue The part Of Dor
a1ne is taken by Gemier, and is perhaps the
S,Gi.-eest 49, and most finished piece Of character
rtr allon Of this remarkable comedian. Jean
So ne daughter driven to revolt is acted by
Nl-lls -<e!Er a young artist or brilliant
.elelts who now takes a foremost place in the
II scaool Of Partisan actresses. Altogether
hle in Paris ~ i
70 Loie Fuller has in hand what promises
81 hoFei attraction for the coming season.
~ 70 Ss leased the Theatre des Arts formerly
brf, 1neatre des Batignolles) and intends to
eys.,, out series OF plays without words not
rby-ts psntomime. but poses attitudes and
e.se exnresie movements set to orchestral music
ge,,;rs ing human passions. For instance. "Or-
ana @ Presented by Miss Loie Fuller. who
spfes5 as fun nedged peacock with tail
wo,nSIIh 80 radiant feather. When Vanity" is
c---.---l Ilc lrnIfd dron hn tn