New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
THE FRENCH STAGE
Failure of Mach Heralded Plays TO
Suit Partisan Taste.
Paris. December Is.

mis- 81 Vaudeville.
ELECTED by NJ. Paul Bourgeois "Emisre' mag
rsAcenfly interpreted by Guitry at the Renals-
ssnce wild enthusiasm was stirred by M
,Re~nste!n's Israel delightfully."- rendered oy
afrne. Reiane at the Theatre Rejane Sangulne
asuirations were aroused in regard to NJ henFl
Gains ''Revoltes." strongly given at the 1hea're
Sarah Bernhardt. Roseate confidence attenoeo
the nroduction at the Opera ComiQue OF M ISL
dore de Iara's lyric drama ''Sanga, ano' ABOVE
al. the dramatic masterpiece Of the year was
hailed by eminent critics when NJ Octave Mir
beac's Foyer" was brought out at the Iheatre
Y-ancais sr.s acted 10 perfection by Nine Bar
.et and by De Feraudy and Huguenet. Most 81
these works were written ty the foremost orahi-
stisrs Of France. Never has the average excel
lence of French actors and actresses been on
higher level than that Of to-day on the French
stage. Nevertheless. none OF these plays
barring a certain amount OF success OF curl
osfty-has made the genuine paying puoiic
..,-ibrate." nor has any one of them enlisted
ropular sympathy CT hit the Partisan taste
Take for instance, NJ. Octave Mlrpeau
.F-oyer" It is a brutal. butcherike buffoonery
,,f French society. French decency and French
.elf-respect. Every parsonage is a devli lncar-
nate All the men are hell hounds, and all lle
women are hell cats. Il IS not play, but
.neuaeerie Of monsters. A member OF the ACau-
env. Senator and Baron Of the Empire teaches
the art of blacknailing to Sisters OF mercy
sends his wife to f-er former lover 10 obtain
$4,000 and behaves like the most abomlnanie
-.snacbe" The Senator's wife acquiesces in her
husbands revolving command. only regrettng
that in doing so she wounds the 'susceptlnlh-
ties OF her young. smart and passionate ad-
.rirer who for the moment happens to captiFd1e
her erotic fancy. The "ex-loTer, the dishonest
foul mouthed company promoter and glgahuc
s1-indler who disposes OF many m1ihoHs' az
cepts the proposition Of the Senator's "ife' ana
with the completely OF q vensl abbe all hands
including the Senator. the Senator's Wife the
se1acioaIs and absolutely bestial young lover and
.be denraved millionaire, start off together on a
c-7iise on the latter's yacht for honeymoon "i
shameless Byzantian debauchery- Such hiIh
,-ousAs curiosity The actors and actresses do
.5l- work with marvellous skill and effect The
,isv is both hissed and applauded each nlgh''
y g q strange sight to see this libel on French
institutions and society produced at the 1heaue
Francais. If foreigner were to utter tenth
-. - the ,-enou1ous charges made upon French
~.enac+objlitv and French institutions by NJ
Octave Mirbear he would probably have to quit
Paris II Is only fair. however, 70 point out that
Nj Jules Ciaretie. administrator general OF the
Theatre Francais. after sensational litigation IN
tl7a law courts was compelled by a judgment OF
.he tribunals 10 produce the play, because ne
had made the fatal mistake at the outset Of ac-
cepting il. although ne tleo subsequently, ~
stop the rehearsals
The -srYlsiye characters OF lie Foyer" may
have E7sd a share in predisposing the public in
favor Of "IsOiseau Blesse," the new comedy by
N Alfred Capus in which the personages are
shove all svmpa thetic, and which is produced at
the Renaissance, with Guitry in the Ieaolng
nart. admirably. seconded by Mines Megard and
Iavalliere. Taken altogether, Loiseau Blesse"
Is the most agreeable, as well as the most sue
cessfuI play just nov in Paris Il is a ilght ana
charming comedy replete with witty dialogue
delicate hurnor and dainty irony. The title Is
-alze, from one of La Fontaine's fables. de-
x,51bing how a little bird. wounded by an arrow
uDconsciously supplies its own feathers to d.
rect another arrow against another breast ana
the concluding line OF which is: Among the
children Of Japhet. one-half ever furnish weap-
one 10 the other" The "Otseau Blesse' Is
yvonne Janson, a young girl Of twenty. VINO mas
been deceived. under promise Of marriage, py q
,-eaJthv Young Parisian and has become a
mother We hnd the girl, her mother and
brother a lad Of twenty-or3e. living together in
g modest little apartment the heights Of
-Eontnaartre Nine. Janson is the widow OF a
government ernploye. and the family have only
scant means Of subsistence The psychological
snsIvs.s of the situation is disclosed with genu-
spe sentiment and subtle patl1os Yvonne faces
life with cheerful courage and confidence
Is determined TO make her way TO independence
and &c win respect The visit IS announced Of
her betrayer's cousin and his wife N. and Nine.
satviere who have come In behalf Of their rep
rebate relative TO offer Yvonne pension on
condition that she consents TO quit Paris and
live IN her-native Breton village. Yvonne proud
Iv rejects the offer Salviere, at first merely
amused and interested by the girls pluck and
originality gradually becomes enemoured Of her
His wife is also attracted by Yvonne's courage
and nobility OF character. Salviere and his wife
t,asrried each other purely for love, and their
Isfe until now has been supremely happy. Sal
Sfere tpIayed by Guitry) is middle aged man
ot wealth ard literary attachments His inti-
mate friend IS the Minister OF Foreign Affairs
and ike many persons in actual life in France
such. for instance. as NJ Cambon. III Hano-
taux. OF II. Observation-Disclosures not Of the pro
sesK.onal diplomatic career" is about to be made
an ambassador. Through Salvieres influence
yvonne studies for the stage and becomes
succe-sfuI actress. During theatrical enter
taiurnent al the Ministry CT Foreign Affairs.
fsslviAre stimulated by jealousy, tells her that
he loves her and cannot live without her. The
Inevitable happens. The wife at last learns
she truth Yvonne sacrifices herself and goes
on q dramatic tour. resolved not TO break up
EsIytere's happy home. There is profound hu-
.nanity IN this play. the fascination OF which 1t
As impossible to indicate by mere outline Of
the story.
lie Passe-Partout" q comedy in three acts
tv n Georges Thurner. is drawing full houses
at the Gymnase It is a well thought out dras-
tic sarcasm on up-to-date Partisan yellow
Journalism" The principal scene is laid in the
newspaper Office Of the "Passe- Partout," and the
siIken thread OF love tale is deftly drawn
ffoTE of