New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-11
THE FRENCH STAGE
One of Ambrose Bierce's Stories
DramatizedA Paris Labor PLAY.


PAINTING and lighting is in Paris on the
eve of a revolution. The initiative Of this
movement. which promises TO have far
reaching consequences abroad. as well as IN
France, is due 70 NJ. Jacques Rouehe tbs
new manager Of the Theatre des Arts. who.
after careful studies of the methods in use
at the leading Dia yh0uses in MOSCOW, Lon
Con. Munich. Vienna and Berlin. has adopt
ed in the Theatre des Arts the daring and
original ideas already developed in his IN
teresting little book on the subject. en-
titled Modern Theatrical Art" The reform
is accomplished by numerous technical de-
tails that il would be tedious TO explain,
but which are based upon two main feat
ures The first Of these consists in the sim
pIification and harmony of scenery and Co.'S
tunes so as to create a symphony"
il were. between the Suggesting and the
spirit and genius Of the play The second
feature is the elimination Of all details and
accessories no matter how picturesque
they may be- that do not directly bear
upon the dramatic action VI. Jacques
Rouche. seconded by the talented painter.
NJ. Maxine Dethomss. kas selected the best
points realized at Moscow by MeyeThoId
and Stanislavsky. in London by Gordon
Craig. at Munich by Fritz ErIer and in
portant technical innovation to obtain these
results is the suppression Of the footIights
which are replaced by systems Of "eeIes-
tiaT' electric lamps. placed high I'D. just
beneath roof of vaulted rehectors that
illuminate the stage with nicely Abusive
floods of light coming from above This
obviates the grotesque shadows hitherto
cast by the actors and accessories upon
the scenery. MOreOyer-and this is the
most telling RESULT brings the public n
close touch and in the mental unison with
the actors. from whom the audience was
formerly separated By the barrier OF light
from the "rGmps.7 The uprights and side
scenes. which originated in the faraway
days of the parliamentary theatres OF stroll
ing players and which for over three cen
turies have been in use in French theatres
are also suppressed At the Theatre des
Arts all wings and panoramic illusions
vanish and in their stead are large pictures
painted on canvas by skilled artists upon
which the effects vary by means Of plays
of light and By smaller pictures, made so
as 70 revolve on their own axes Thus the
scenes are no longer in depth" but IN
bold relief" The ''stereoseopie boxes TO
borrow the expression of NJ Jacques
Rouche. that delighted many generations
blow. The actors are now pushed toward
the public so TO speak, by the scenery it.
self The harmony between scenery and
costume now accomplished at the Theatre
des Arts and at the Opera Corlique and at
the OdeoD is due to the influence Of the
Russian ballets. The Moscow artists opened
the eyes of the Partisan public to the fact
that owing TO siavish routine of the old
system all efforts TO attain realism by
methods that could only pretend TO give ap-
proximate illusions were in vain Scenery
must henceforth be In the same color
scheme as the costumes, and this IS now
accomplished.
1t is a pity that NJ Jacques ROuche did
not select a play more effective than lie
Carnival DIES Enfants'' for the opening OF
the Theatre des Arts. The author, NJ. de
Bouhelier, is poet and man OF genius"
Perhaps this is his misfortune, because me
ambitious philosophy of his conception does q
not lend itself to dramatic Development It =
is the story of a beautiful refined but way
ward girl. who has gone astray in Paris .
and upon her deathoed is insulted by her s
hypocriticaI and brutality ascetic sisters
from their native village. The Suggesting Il
Is the greatest attraction of the play. The
scene wnere the silhouette OF the expiring
invalid, vaguely perceived through a cur
tanned glass door, while drunken uncle IS
gazing ct a group of masked children gam
boiling during carnival festivity, produced
a genuine dramatic impression
'MoRtmartre.'' a comedy in four acts, by
NJ Pierre FTondaie. brought out at the
Vaudeville Theatre. is the idyl OF Marie
Claire. captivating young lady of Mont
martre. who may be best described as
twentieth century type OF Able Prevosts /,
Manon. of Alfred de Musset's Mimi-Pinson,
of AIphonse Daudet's Sapho. and Of NJ
LC uis Codet's Petite Chiquette-" Marie
Claire meets a young musical composer al
the Moulin Rouge who falls seriously ID
love with her and who arOuses her tehueF
bur evanescent affection. The composer Te-
moves Marie-CIaire from her neretrlclOus
They live in modest hfth
floor flat, in a sober, silent Street.-The rue
lie Lille. All goes happily for brief period
but Marie-CIaire's irresistible magnetic
earning for her old haunts draws her back
to MOntmartre where. after a series OF
touching realistic episodes. she falls oy me
wayside. This play is acted 10 perfeeuOh
Oy- Lerand and by the fantastic. ardent anu
flexible Mile Polaire. ''MOntmartre -
mounted by Manager POreL "''o
has adopted many innovations in the way
- StCASiN dIG AlSibIlS, II dCCCfNetAA~~
he new school of theatrical decoration lss
Five new plays are produced ar y
Grand fuignoI. which remains under tns
nc engagement of NJ. Max Maurey- Three u
hese. Sabotage. Figures de Cire aaA
will rank among the osS
pieces brought out at this popular htl"
heStre. Sabotage is one-act SOciaiiss
tragedy. by NM. HELEN ValcrOs and d Es-
oc- The only child of working couple -
II in bed The symptoms become moro
The husband, a red-hot union
ST of the Pataud type. goes out TO attend 81
meeting. where he makes a terrific speech
hat causes a strike In his absence the
;hild becomes worse. The mother calls IN
surgeon, who declares that an immediate
'Eeration of tracheotOny is the sole means
f saving the infants life. Ii is 8 O'Clock at
light. The operation is begun by the light
" electric lamps. AT the most critical
,eriod of the operation the current sud-
enly cea Ses owing to the strike. The sur
-eon continues by aid of hastily procured
andle II is 700 late. The child is dead
he distracted mother weeps over the body
The father returns and unaware or the
ctal operation e1ults over the triumphant
trike and sabotage" of electricity. The
mother shrieks. Assassin You have MUIR
cred our childr' Sabotage" is terrible
M intensely realistic II evokes wild out
,ursts of enthusiasm each night and IS IN
nison with the popular feeling of the hour