New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
THE FRENCH STAGE
"The Footights." by Baron
Rothschld.
Paris, October ID.

dramatic comedy La Hse1iAPS
Footlights"-by Baron Henri Do hol"
schild. produced tonight with decioeo
success at the Gymnase. II Is the storS
of a beautiful and refined woman OF So
ciety who becomes infatuated with a
star actor. for whom she abandons her
husband and herself becomes an actress.
Her success on the stage is SO triumph
ant that the actor-manager, whose pas
sion for his own career before the foot
lights Is more intense than his love for
the woman who has sacrificed her social
position for him. gets irritated and
IS Jealous, not Of her affection. but
of her talent which casts his own quail
ties into the shade. The first act. which
opens on the terrace Of a fashionable
hotel at Constantinople, presents de-
Iicious scene between the two lovers,
whose honeymoon Is disturbed by the
arrival of a party of Parisians who have
come to the Bosporus on yacht. This
first act Is somewhat too literary; II re-
calls certain situations In "Amants' and
"Amoureuse." 1t nevertheless sparkles
with irony, and the satiricai reflections
of smart society upon the escapade Of its
tered leader, Nine. Madeleine Grandier,
are expressed in nicely pointed dialogue.
In the second act we are in the actor
managers room in a theatre OF the
boulevards, and in the midst of rehear-
sails OF new play written by a proni-
nent Partisan dramatist especially for
Madeleine. Here We first find traces of
the actors jealousy of Madeleine's pro-
fessional career. He even tries to per-
suade the dramatist to suppress some OF
the best lines and situations in Made
leine's part. The third act Is that Of the
first night rsrformance of the new play.
The action passes In the wings, in the
green room and In Madeleines dressing
room. Nadeieine's success is superb.
The actor Is overcome by seeing himself
surpassed by his pupil, his love Is re-
placed by jealousy, and In a despondent
mood he fiirts eagerly with a frivolous
soubrette. The dramatist now declares
his love for Madeleine. who spurns MS
advances and calls upon the actor to
como to her aid. He does so. All three
meet, and Immediately afterward de-
part. each with entirely different yet In
tense and suppressed emotions. Made
leine, now separated from her lover, had
previously signed joint engagement
with an American manager for a dra-
matic season IN New York. Madeleine
feigns to prepare for the journey. and
the actor Is to accompany her In con-
formity with the contract. But although
Madeleine still loves him. the actors af-
lection for her has vanished. Under nrs-
text OF asking the actors adyice as m
the best way to interpret a thrilling
scene In which the heroine Of the nIsv
to be performed In New York poisons
herself with aconite. Madeleine sends
the dramatist to fetch the actor SO that
he may tell her how to obtain the hest
melodramatic effects.
This powerful scene takes pIaca in
haoeieine's boudoir in her sumptuously
iurhlshed Paris apartment The actor
arranges the situation and indicates tbs
moves and gestures with minute nra-
cision. He naturally supposes thar q
vial that Madeleine, apparently bv
chance, takes from a table contains
some harmless fluid. Not SO. II ts
poison The comedian, electrified bv ,ha
absolute realism of Madeleine.s actinp
encourages her. He exclaims 'sThat ia
peiiect' Your trembling hesitation
peiore swallowing the poison is the SUBJ
hiiity or art" You will have a ire
mendous success with that scene In the
united States" Meanwhile Madels,ns
drinks the entire contents of the phial.
one becomes convulsed, and swoons.
Inc death scene is so ''masterfur' that
the actor declares he has never seen
anything like 1t. 1t Is almost miraculoua
IN Its perfection. After the death
spasH' the actor advances to aid Made
ieine 10 rise upon her feet and rehearse
the scene once more He seizes her
hands and lifts her arms, which fall
with sudden thud. He realizes that
Madeleine is really dead He calls for
help' the maid appears. and with a wall
or sorrow explains that the bottle CON-
tanned poison. The actor. whose love for
Maueieine now, but too late, returns. ex-
claims. "Ah, lie theatrew The curtain
falls. Baron Henri de Rothschiya hos
upon this somewhat we'll worn thems
woven play that begins with comedy
ana ends with melodrama. 1t Is written
IN bright, witty vein. and the Dialogue
Is replete with humor and originality
Inc part of Madeleine is admirably acted
by Mile. Marthe Brendes. Nj. CaImstte
Win makeup resembling that OF
Maurice Donnay. of the French Acad-
eny' makes an excellent Partisan dram
aust and Nj. Dumeny. as the actor
manager, ELECTED genuine apnlauss
Baron Henri de RothschiId has nor
written as has been alleged. "a plav
with key" The suggestion is said 10
oe natural because so many society
women, on both sides of the Atlantic
nave been infatuated with actors. Sew
erai prominent New York theatresoers.
Wen known In New York and Boston.
VINO take great interest I'm the stage ana /
VINO We're present at the dress rehearsal |
iast night expressed TO me their convi.- |
'ioh that La Rampe' when produced IN |
lhe united States. as IT soon will he nm
aer present arrangements. will provo a
decided success.
aosTANo's "cHANr,cIss.