New-York tribune., 1909-02-07
THE MATINEE TEA
Paris Theatre Manager Finds NoreI
Form of Entertainment Successful.
Paris. January 20.

Paris January 70
The very latest idea in the way Of entertain
ment Is the matinee tea 1t has been evolved by
the manager OF the newest and most chic Of
playhouses in Paris, the little Theatre Michel.
and is designed for the "elegantes" OF the cap
itaL Ticket holders were served the daintiest OF
refreshments ct charmingly set little tables IN
the freshest, smartest and prettiest Of salon
foyers" with Louis XVI decorations and a bar.
The other part Of the programme was happy
combination Of the literary and artistic, which
introduced TO the Partisan audience volume
Of animal dialogues fresh from the press, signed
by name we'll known in the capital. You
could take tea first or CoIette Willy first, which
ever you pleased, by timing your arrival care
fully; the latter was announced for $3.50 o'clock.
the hour for social engagements, and there was
an intimate sociable air about the house and It's
gorgeousIy dressed occupants that made you feel
as though you were in reality assisting at pri-
vate reception.
4 matinee tea is in truth a brand new title
for new entertainment, but reflection It
bears a striking family likeness to that popular
village show OF early Victorian days known as
penny readings. Instead Of the squire and his
lady the little platform Of a village hall We
had, however, for our readings. the leading ira
gedians and comedians Of the Paris stage, and
they acquitted themselves OF what was in reality
q delicate task with great "eclat" and. OF course,
their efforts resulted in triumphant success
The delicacy sprang from the fact that the
author of the book to be considered was
woman who has FOR some time been IN bad odor
in the capital
She was hissed OF a music hall stage not very
long ago for filing a role IN which her public
thought it saw some relation TO certain nauseous
scandals that had been whispered about her
private life, and Paris felt its sense Of morality
cd brrf 6f9
did not prevent the same public from bringing
an unbiased mind to bear upon the same
wOmens latest literary efforts as delivered 70
them through the medium OF masters in the art
of defamation.
So the pretty foyer was crowded; innumerabIe
cups of tea were drunk and amid much laugh
ter the picture postcards lying on the dainty
tables were written by minute pencils in
white gloved hands. and then Ieisurely move
made for the stalls and boxes Groups OF
self sacrificing men planted themselves on the
strapontlns. flap seats round the aisIes. and
punches stood in the doorways surveying the
wondrous millinery and costly turs that liter
ally filled the house. There were some bright
particular stars Of the social and artistic frrna-
ment there, too; charming Jeanne Granier, IN
black, with her beautiful rope Of milky pearls
round her throat, looked on from a box, and
the microscopic Polaire peered up from the
stalls from beneath what certainly the
tiniest cap in the house. made of black velvet
with large fat chrysanthemum placed exactly
over her left eye.
1t was soon apparent that there would be but
little lecture and much illustration this
sion, and the illustrators all selected
from the most illustriOus Of Partisan actors and
actresses you may think that the performance
would be OF the best. Colette WHY'S book is
still wet from the printing press. and the idea
of presenting It to the public in this vivid living
form was certainly novel The work proved.
naturally, to be psychological. 1t might have
been worse-it might have been pathological
but It turned out to be the psychology OF do
mestic animalsl and. If at times highly realistic
it proved to be clever. witty. well thought out
and closely observed.
De Max. with his strange, dark semi-OrlentaI