New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-30
PLEA FOR BR|EUX'S WORK
Laurence Irving ExtoIs French
Writer'S Plays.

open your COiuInnS 10 rev Te0eCIiO0S a.
20 my two attempts. during the present
theatrical season. to create an interest in
New York regarding the works Of Eugene
Brieux. who has. incidentally. been called
by George Bernard Sha~-and il seems TO
me very aptIy-'the greatest European
dramatist. now that Ibsen Is dead" and
the greatest French dramatist since Mo-
Here"
When I said on the first night OF The
Three Daughters OF NJ Dupont that
granting the play be adequately pre-
sented-and I think may claim that much
for tit will now be decided for some
years TO come whether there be public
for Brieux in America" several OF the
critics leaped forward TO assure me that 1
need not worry, there was not: that the
Three Daughters was provincial" But
IL seems 10 me the provincialism was in
those who. because the debate was carried
on In francs. not dollars. and in thousands,
not millions missed the trend and uni
versal application Of Brieux's marvellous
character drawing and failed TO enjoy his
eschewal OF all the ordinary spurious COM
plications and condolences that 20 20
make up the ordinary theatrical plot But
they may well be right; and neither Amer
lea nor England may yet. be ripe for
Brieux. any more than those critics are
themselves
II seems to me that Brieux's volume OF
dramatic work is the most marvellous
since, I would venture to say. Shake
speares. II is an epitOme Of the whole he
liz modern France in dramatic form; Its
range is stupendous. Brieux has said that
his dramatic ambitions were guided and
inspired by the introduction to Herbert
Spencers synthetic philosophy; IL can well
be believed. Let me attempt to run over
his principal plays with a terse summary
OF the thesis OF each:
IL Evasion deals with the blighting ef
fects OF medical theory on the individual
and with the chariatanism that enters so
largely into modern medicine.
lie Berceau'' deals with the sacredness
Of the marriage tie and is an arraignment
OF divorce.
Les Remplacantes' (Which initiated
legislation in the French Chamber) shows
the evil and devastating effect OF the wide
spread custom Of bringing wet nurses from
the provinces for the children of Paris
ians.
Les Bienfaiteurs" deals with the tutility
Of organized charity.
.'Resultat des Courses shows the break
family through the husbands addiction to
betting.
"L'Engrensge depicts the frauds and
evils Of French political life.
lie Robe Rouge" shows the working OF
the French judicial system; how an exam
lining magistrate tries above all things 20
secure convictions. so that he may stand
EeIl with the Ministry OF Justice.
''Blanchette" depicts the conflict brought
into a peasants family by the fact Of the
daughters receiving education above
her station in life.
Les Hannetons- ('"The Incubus The
Affinity. is. as NJ Breux himself wrote
to me. "a study OF free love and OF
the misery that is bound TO ensue when the
couple have nothing in common but their
physical infatIation-
Les Trois Files de Mons. Dupon" deals
principally with the psychology Of the
marriage state when love IS not at the basis
Of the union.
lie FOf'-Br-euK's one excursion out Of
the modern life Of his own country-dis-
clIssss. under the thin disguise Of ancient
Ezypt. the whole question Of faith and the
need Of the human race for faith. whether
false or true.
And there are several other plays OF
Brieuxs.
What makes these PLAYS So wonderful 70
ne is that the presentation % his thesis
hardly ever seems 20 rob Brieux's characters
II their truth, their elasticity. they never
have TO adjust themselves to the play and
It's argument. they remain true 20 them
selves Consider for moment the characters
Of Charlotte in The Incubus as against
Julie in The Three Daughters. Pierre in
The Incubus as against the father Of the
Three Daughters" Shall We mince mat
ters and withhold the supreme title OF
genius from such a CREATOR
Tbsens characters once held the palm FOR
being ufelike. but beside those Of Brieux
they are as fish in an aquarium against
fish in the ocean sea There IS a Eray1sh.
greenish kind Of mist perpeates the crea-
tons Of the potent but morose Scandina-
Wan: YOU see or hear Of something strange
and tortuous and you say. THAT is Ibsen-
fsh'': There is an Ibsen household or an
Ibser character"
You could not say There IS 4 BrieuK
household or "a Brieux character Tor
Brieux's people are the men and women OF
real life. Brfeux goes about the world.
mixing with Il. Ibsen. at any rate latterly,
shut himself up. sewing on his own buttons
that he might owe nothing 70 others labor
II is true that his wife had. IN secret, TO
sew them on over again.
Yet New York seems rather 20 grudEe
the support that would enable me 70 draw
further on this astounding collection Of
vital mordant profound and entertaining
vo-ks Why From many of the most
eminent men and women IN the world Of
American letters I have received eulogies
regarding the play. I must not give names.
but I will quote one or two sentences.
1T is a wonderful play II has that
whole mark Of genius. the faculty Of set
ting the critics 20 contradicting themselves
and taking opposite positions All great
art does that
Then another writer says.
y believe that within I'VE years Brfeux's
plays will b. given In New York before
large and crowded suditoriums'
Within i've years.
At every performance the play IS re-
ceived with an enthusiasm / have not OBJ
served to be common IN New York. yet
the audiences remain comparatively sta
tionary In number. Why Is this
Is il that Brieux. who has always aimed
AZ arousing the conscience OF his country
men. makes even some citizens OF this
virtuous republic feel much as Hamlet
made King CIaudius feel? Is IL that
branch Of the AnglO-SaxOn race can endure
the serious debate and presentation OF
vital sex questions? II was certainly