New-York tribune., 1910-02-07

Ros+snd'z ''Chantecler' is probably the
most singular production ever presented on
the stage. No human character appears in
the cast. The dranatis persona are fowls
birds and animals, and as they are neces-
ssriIy SIS large as this men and women who
enact the parts everything which appears
;,po0 The stage is on corresponding scale
Chantecler, the hero IN. Guitry), is filed
with Illusions about his place In the -werld.
He fmagines he is Master Of the Sun; that
the sun rises at the end Of night because
Chantecler has awakened and crowed- The
play dispels this illusion in the heart OF
Chautecler alone
The first act opens with the sun rising on
& barnyard. 4 mountainous manure pile is
on one side of the stage. 4 fence which
seems immense because it is in proportion.
separates the yard from a road, beyond
which is & forest background. To the
right wooden shoe, forgotten by the farm
er's wife. IS OF the size IT would appear 10
the chicken, ard near by chair completes
the scalo illusion, its legs which alone are
seen. being eight yards high In the centre
of the stage. with his companions Of the
barnyard grouped around him, chantecler
halls the sun, whose first rays gid the
scene, in q HYMN full OF the poets lyric
magnif1cenee. On the manure pile perches
the BlackbiTd {M. GsllipauZl. Jealous Of
the cock, and breaking into his noble senti-
menjs With jibes and suns after the man
DeT OF Cyrano. The Dog (Jean Coquelir)
Is the droll noralizer OF the piece. Chante-
cler falls in love with & beautiful Hen
Pheasant (Simonne LIE Bsrgy). who is
wooed by the Game Cock.
The second act is the scenic gem of the
blasted pine IN the heart OF forest, the
human-sized birds perched in the branches
The Owl calls the roll of the Birds of the
Night each as his name is called answer
ing and opening TWO luminous eyes. which
shine in the semi -obscurity of the stage
green. yellow OF blood red These birds
decleim The Hymn OF the Night" and
afterward conspire together 70 rid them
selves Of their arch-enemy. Chantfcler
With him gone. they believe the sunlight
will be forever quenched and they will be
masters foreYerInore.
In the third act Clanticler learns of the
conspiracy of the Night Birds. and fights Il
duel with his false friend, the Gamecock
killing him despite his steel gaffs and re-
doubtable skill This is the beginning Of
the end of Chanticler. The treachery OF
his friend poisons his optimism. The Hen
pheasant. the prize OF the combat. offers
the consolation Of her love in fine out
burst, and then draws his head under her
wing and bids him sleep.
When the fourth and last act opens
Chanticler. wooed by love, has slept so
long that the sun has risen without him
And I have not crowed." ne cries.
The dream OF his life, all his belief in
his wondrous power, c-unbles. So he was
not the ruler Of the sun. All the tender
ness Of the Hen Pheasant cannot bring back
the lost illusion. His hens do not know IL.
The birds OF the night still believe in him,
He has his followers and his enemies q
before. The sun still rises when he. Chan
tecler, crows. II the Dog doubts, he IS si-
lent But the iron that has entered his
soul is the death Of the glorious Chantecler.
Rostand, in an interview, explains the
history of mis- conception of ChantecleT.
In lsol.'' said he. while taking a walk
humble farm, when 7 suddenly stopped be-
fore the barny ard. l. was Just an ordinary
hsrnyard containing the usual pigeon loft,
wire nettings manure pile, and, within the
animals, hens, ducks, guinea fowl, geese,
turkeys. z cat asleep, dog wandering
about: IL brief. z very common spectacle.
Y watched With interest. when suddenly
in staIked the cock He entered proudly,
toldly, ike g ruler. with disdain in his eve
and certain rh~thnlic n1ovensnt Of the