New-York tribune., 1910-02-06
THE FRENCH STAGE
Neu Plays by Andrc Picard,
jean Pasaer and Edourd
BOurdeI.

Paris. January %.
"L-Anse Garden" comedy IN three acts
b. NJ Andre Picard. brought out a. the
Theatre Antoine -Gernier, deals with young
widow of austere character, virtuous. but
with a sort of Becky Sharp malice Iherese
Duvigneau, the guardian angel widow, Is
living in country house jointly rented by
her cousins, the Trelarts. Therese watches
over the morality of the young and frivo-
IotIs Nine Trelart, who she discovers dlrtlns
with an attractive young artist named Char-
f,lier. Thfrese threatens TO warn the huS-
band unless the Taison is broken off The
,ase saws she does this because she IS
paragon of virtue. Her motives, when ana
lvzed. turn out TO be malice and, above all
jealousy, because she herself Is IN love WIN
the painter The volatile Nine Trelart Is
not denounced" Scandal is avoided
Why? Because Charmier has more tnah
the courage Of his opinions. and pIunseS
into furious Irritation with Therese- NJ Paul
Picard who is disciple OF VI. de Porto
Richie. has managed upon this scant theme
T, weave a play not devoid of interest The
dialogues are bright and sparkling. but
lack the, finesse of those OF NJ Maurice
Donuav or NJ. Alfred CapuS- The play Is
we'll acted by NJ C;6uier and Nine MeGar4
lie Monsieur au Camelia,' d one-act play
bv NJ. Jean Passier, successfully brought
out at the Theatre Autoine-CiemieT. IS
clever and amusing development OF the
thesis of the Dame aux Camellas OF
Dumas nils. \ granddaughter OF the Dame
aux Camelias exercises her fasclnatiohS
over the venerable father Duval, who has
called upon her according 70 Dumas Ills
tradition. 10 release from her spell DuvaIs
son. Armand The son is released, but the
father is captured. The conversations are
witt and contain grains Of salt al once
ironicaI and philosophical
". Gabriel astruc has at last succeeded
IA obtaining site for hjs proposed theatre
aud concert hall near the Champs-E Elysees'
which does not encroach UPon the gardens
and opeu-air recreation grounds for chill
dreu. The theatre Will be built in the Ave
uue Montaigne within stones throw OF
tie Eoud Point Of the CbamPS-Ely sees
The capital subscribed amounts 10 upward
of $7nooe. The site comprises 16.oe0 square
feet. which IS more than double the area Of
the opera Comique- The building Is 20 be
begun in the spring, and the plans some
what resemble those of the Prince Regent
Theatre. in Munich. Among the American
subscribers arc J. Pferpcut Morgan, James
Gordon Bennett. William n Vanderbilt
and James Hazen Hyde
Great expectations are raised here by
the forthcoming play by NM d Flers and
&c CaiilaVCt which Is 70 succeed I'm
Ange" at the Varieties. and in which the
leading part Will be played by Mime. Jeanne
,iranicr-
The play thai is just now most talked
about and which draws the most fashion
able audiences. is light, sparkling three
act comedy. 'Lc RubiCon," written by NJ
Edouard Bourdel- a dramatist twerty-:our
years OF age, who has hit upon a new
formula for presenting and developing a
delicate and indisCreet love taIe-a sort OF
conte gallant de CreoilIon-with marvellous
dexterity, and So effectively as 10 capture
the Partisan public. NJ. Edouard BOurdel
has TO Z degree unsurpassed by any of his
colleagues the rare gift OF theatrical color
sense. lie is 4 born dramatist and during
the next few years we shall hear a great
deal about him. IL is q pity that in his
maiden comedy lie deals with a subject
so daring, so intricate ana SO subtle IS 10
almost defy description. Suffice 10 say the
second act OF LIE Rubic0n" contains a love
scene between a newly welded couple. who.
owing TO a dangerous but innocent fiVta-
tion of the bride with a former comrade.
are now for the first time enabled 10 fully
appreciate and measure the fun nature OF
their passion VI. EdOuard BoUrdel is en-
dowed with masIerful deftness Of technique /
and has the faculty OF arranging in rapid /
logical sequence events and situations that /
mold attention with magnetic force. Tie /
author OF lie Rubicon" has the secret OF /
establishing between the public and the /
actors and actresses who play his charac- /
ters sort of electric current that insures |
success from the outset. 'Ls Rub.con" IS 7
q daintiiy coiOred. delicatcly outlined pict- !
ure OF fashionable society OF to-day. No
"here' not even in Molierc, Marivaux. /
Fdlileroh Meilhac or Paul Hervleu. can |
one md more subtle diagnoses OF the !
heart and temperament Of a young lady
curing the period of elaboration that pre-
eedes the bursting forth from the envelcpe I
OF the chrysaIL. Is