New-York tribune., 1908-11-22
AT THE MANHATTAN.


tan Opera House will be presented for the first
tim1 IN America Jules Massenet's opera lie Jong-
leuer de Notre Dame" the title role Of which.
originally designed for a tenor has been rewritten
by the composer for Miss Mary Garden. The story,
by Maurice Lena. which Massenet has set to music,
is entitled miracle play in three acts It's
scere III and about the Monastery Of C1uny,
which in the Middle Ages was famous centre
of piety and learning.
The period the opera is fourteenth century.
The curtain rises on the public square of the vii
lage side of which stands the abbey. with
a statue of the Virgin the door It is the
first May and market day. Boys and girls are
dancing the ''Bergerette.'' Market men and women
vending their To the delight Of the
crowd a strolling juggler is seen approaching.
They disappointed find him young and OF
sorry rnien. hungry looking and poverty stricken.
King Famine somebody exclaims, though ne
boldly announces himself the king of Jug
glers." makes his little speech announcing his
entertainment, which is met with derfsion by the
assembly. One after another calls for a song.
The Praise of Wine is selected by popular vote,
which Jean. the juggler after begging pardon of
the Holy Virgin, proceeds to sing in thin, quaver-
ing voice to the chorus of the villagers. Suddenly
the door Of the abbey opens. and the indignant
prior appears upon the steps. The crowd fees,
leaving Jean alone trembling. The prior de-
nounces his irreverence, and pictures the awful
punishment in the hereafter meted out to jugglers
and their kind. He advises him to renounce his
mode Of life and seek his soul by becoming
q monk. The appearance Of Brother Boniface, the
monk who presides the monastery kitchen,
mounted laden besides with choice
vands the brethren, finally cOnvinces the starv-
ing juggler that there is wisdom in the priors ad
vice. Upon the announcement that dinner is ready
all the rnonks file the abbey little Jean slowly
| following.
In the second act the monks are gathered in the
study hall Of the abbey. Each is the work
which he has chosen in his service of the Virgin
a newly completed statue of whom occupies a
conspicuous position. Around the musician mcnk
several gathered learning hymn which he
has composed in the Virgins honor. In the group
are the Painter Monk, the Poet Monk and the
Sculptor Monk. who become involved in heated
argument to whose service is the most accept
able to the Holy Mother. The dispute wakes warm
until the prior nterposes and compels them to en-
brace Nanother in fraternal love. Then all
leave the hail except Jean and the big hearted
Boniface. Poor Jean is in the depths of despair
He feels that there Is nothing that he do to
honor the Virgin He cannot sing, he cannot mould
the clay. he cannot paint, he cannot make poetry
He regards himself utterly worthless mem
Der of the fraternity Boniface then points out TO
him the virtues of simplicity and humility
posed such exhibitions OF spiritual pride as he
has just witnessed.
Boniface tells him that he himself is serving the
Virgin much the Sculptor Monk the Poet
Monk when he is preparing the Gaily meal for the
brethrens table, and he proceeds &c strengthen
little Jeans faith and hope by recounting to him
the legend Of the sage brush, the simplest Of flow
from the hOrsemen of Herod. She begs the rose
bush the roadside to hide her child. The
naughty rose fearing blemish its bloom,
fuses refuge Seeing little sage plant by
the Mother exclaimed My little sage, do thou
open thy leaves to my infant; and the little
flower unfoIds to receive and hide the Infant Jesus
while he sleeps. that the Virgin, who is blessed
among all women" added Boniface, has blessed
/ the humble sage plant among all flowers
In the third act the Painter Monk is putting
few finishing touches the statue of the Virgin
in the abbey chapel, when he observes little Jean
entering stealthily on uptoe and carrying his Jug
glers bag Hiding behind pillar, the painter
watches the little fellow remove his monks garb
disclosing himself in his juggler's outfit Jean
concluded that he, too, will honor the Virgin by
exercising the only Of which he has knowl-
edge. Accordingly he proceeds 10 perform his
tomary jugglers entertainment before the Madon-
He is in the midst of the performance when
the other monks. notified by the painter. enter.
headed by the prior. They amazed and indg-
nant at this proclamation of the sanctuary. and
about to rush upon Joan to eject him Bontface
however. stops them with q gesture pointing the
statue Of the Virgin. strange light gieans
around her fses- "A mtracisi" they ell sxcIsiua,
whtla Celestial voices heard In the air Littis
Jean however. In PROSTATE, begging foTetveness
from the prior. The latter rouses him and asks
that he. rather. pray for them The youth then
discovering the illumination OF the Virgins feat
ures becomes transhKed. At last he learns the
truth. the blessedness OF the simple" He hears
voices calling him. and as his soul passes away
the kyr1e Eleison chsnted by the monks blend.
with slleluias of the angelic chorus
The role OF Brother Boniface, the cook or tho
abbey. should AFFORD Mr.. Maurice Renaud another
splendid opportunity for the display OF the sym
pathy. intelligence and with which he invests
every part he undertakes. Louis Valles Mr. Ham
merstein's new French TENOR Will have the part OF
the Poet Monk, and the corps Of barytones In
which the Manhattan is unusually strong win be
well represented Mr. Dutranns Will be the Pr1ori
III. - osguRses ~ Ess1 11sAssS1 -. Nss51A The