New-York tribune., 1908-08-03
SUMNER PLAYS In PARIS
Outdoor Representations = Produo-
tion of Beauty and the Beast
Paris InIz a


parks. forests, seaside resorts, in the ruins OF
Roman hIppodromes. as at Orange. Bezier and
IilIebonne: In Norman orchards as beneath ths
cbr,rcb chimes at CorneviIIe on former bat
t,eaeI5s. as al Champigny. Not for many a year
has the passion for the theatre. ever latent IN
the Partisan feminine mind. found sucn fsrrils
and brilliant development There IL scarcely
Young married woman or a girl IN smart society
hut who secretly yeerns to act IN comedy before :
a genuine audience. AZ the last entrance exam
,nations OF the Conservatoire 157 women candi-
dates competed for nine vacant places Iha
most successful form Of entertainment offered
bv opulent chateaines IS that Of private theat-i-
calls given on electric lighted terraces or lawns.
AT versailles the Baths Of Apollo. the famous
roIo,rada Of Louis XIV the Grotto OF Thesis
GA +ba Grand Canal served the stage and
noise-en-scene for a superb revival OF the gala
performances OF the ROi SoleiL The Comtesss
de Grefrulhe In her capacity as president OK the
Grand Additions Musicales, transformed the park
and terraces into a vast open air theatre Ths
alectric lights were shaded as TO have ths
soft effect Of orange colored lamps and torches.
The spectacle began with minuet danced by
the corps de ballet OF the Opera 70 the music
of Cyluck. This was followed by selection OF
scenes from "Orphee" Then came a delightful
sar,ss OF dances. including those OF ancient
c.rsscs Persia and Byzantiurn. "Alceste" was tnsn
y,ven- and Nine Felia Litvinne sang The Dtv1n-
itss DIN Styx" Never before had her voice
sssn,ss so thoroughly pure. powerful and hrnpid
As Mounet-Sully recfted Victor Huso's -ocesno
vox" slight ripping noise was heard In one
Of the pauses The cause Of this was thai IL
Brteux- the dramatist. had slipped on the moss
covered border OF the Baths OF Apollo. had
gI,ded broadside into the water. and had taken
an involuntary bath in evening dress.
The sets Of Apollo was now ended and that
Of the coIonnade began. The women were
seated on the steps OF the eoIOnnada and ths
men behind them in chairs Here were given
the first act Of ''FIippoIyte et Article" an art
from Psyche" and dances ot the periods oe
Ioui. XIII and Of Louis XIV. The entertain
nent concluded at 2 O'Clock in the morning
with the illumination OF the Grand Canal and
of the fountains and displays OF fireworks 40
admirably arranged by NJ CASTOR Ia Toucne.
.ba artist that one seemed 70 feel II the old
elories OF versailles had been evoked The
aborate white gowns and plumed hats OF tns
most tastefulIy dressed women Of Europe were
seen TO the best possible advantages. and this
historic revival was one OF the most memorable
events Of the wear II was an ideal summer
night. Nine. de GreruIhe's guests. close upon
a thousand in number. came mostly from Paris
IN automobiles Never before were 50 many
motor cars assembled in the Park Of Versailles.
7,-bicb has the reputation Of being haunted BY
,be ghost Of its builder. Louis XIV. who, u
provling about In the shrubbery- would Ger
tsinlv have experienced a shock ron sLarlns
.earchlights rattlng clutches. Kissing motors
and braying signal horns.
From, a purely dramatic point oS vtav the
most successful open-air entertainment was the
production Of The Beauty and the Beast at
the summer residence Of Comte Robert de Clsr-
2 ~-rr1f
naive nursery tale has been adapted and de-
veloped into a fairylIke comedy, with full
share of twentieth century philosophy. bv NJ
Nozters the Partisan critic The representation
took place IN the Cornte de ClerTnont-Tonnerres
open-air theatre. It was played by NM Des-
sonnes Jean Worms and Guilhen and by Mines
Nelly Corrnon. Blanche Toutatn and other tai
ented actresses. and the dances were executed
by Mile. Sandrini. OF the opera and thirty cory
phees The Beauty and the Beast Is TO be
given next season at the Theatre Francaise, and
will be produced IN Berlin. and probably also in
New York and London The story IS simple
and effective The dialogue is replete with
delicate irony. and the action IS spirited and
logical
NJ de ernont-Tonnerre regales his friends
by Offering them works composed. mounted and
acted especially for them In the drarauo
skits OF VoItafre and Of other eighteenth CEN
tury philosophers it is well known that Baby
lon meant Paris. that the Commander OF the
Faithful was Louis Nv. and that the tIrsnd
Vfzier was the Prince de ChoisAul NJ Noztere
uses similar device. In his fairy characters
one finds men and women Of fashionable PARIS
of to-day This IS the tale: Msnsour. faou-
lously rich Arab merchant. has three daugh-
ters Rubis. OpaIe and Turquoise Rubls and
Opale the two elder. have plunged into des-
perate 1irtations with men who conform 10
their tastes and fads Their father is absent
on a Journey Of pleasure. tt Is high tina tnar
he should return Rubis is ambitious fOr
wealth, power and the complete satisfaction OF
her worldly vanity. She becomes engaged 70
her admfrer Rock. a rich stock broker. WHO
covers her with Jewels. opale. who IS highly
sentimental. has fallen IN love with a youthful
poet who dreams of ethereal love. and eXpa-
tiates in AIexandrine verses on his virsInal SOUL
Turquoise is only sixteen. She has vague girl
like curiosity and yearns 70 become acGuainted
with the unknown and with mystery. her
thoughts are mostly about the return OF ner
father She is beautiful and blond. and IS con-
fident that in love she will some day ma su-
preme happiness.
MansOur at last comes home. but not alone'
He is accompanied by a fascinating young r.
male slave. Miss Violet. who fuldls the func
tions of typewriter. The three daughters heS'-
tate as to their reception of Violet IN the noihS
circle. The fairy Indulgence. who ENJOYS o7
attribution of accomplishing universal amnesty
for human frailties appears. and the DANNY w
tie Violet. much TO MansOurs delight IS "eI
coined TO the family freside Mansour IS "po'
ulistic and benevolent He makes precious sll''
to his daughters To Rubis he brings pf'-el7S
jewels To Opale he offers an essence that mas
o~,E