The Detroit times., 1910-01-19
BARNYARO DRAMA
IS IN L|MEL|GHT
Public Interest in "Chantecler" Re-
vived by Unauthorized Publica-
tion of Part of the Text.


seems fast becoming a painful sub
ject for all directly connected with
It's promised production. Rostand,
hertz, CoGuelin. and Baschet, the dl-
rector of the greet weekly Journal
LIllustra, lion, profess TO feel that they
have been greatly wronged by the pub
lication In one Italian and two French
papers OF very lame. garbIed YER
sion of small portion OF the text OF
the play, and suits for heavy damages
have been begun.
The version thus given Is by no
means so convincing as the sketch OF
the play which was presented in these
dispatches two months and more ago.
It's only really important feature Is
the owls Hymn to the Night, and
Rostand complains bitterly that In this
his verses, on which he. greatly prides
himself, have been egregiously mutt
l.Ecd.
An actor. who was deprived by Ros-
tand OF the role in the piece TO which
he had been assigned. Is charged.
though not by name. with having sold
material for the article In question,
partly from spite and partly from a
desire OF gain. He denies this. and
lays the blame on another actor who.
he says, had access to his room in
which was copy of the manuscript.
or at least part OF II.
Alleged Story Offered.
In truth II seems to be a case OF the
robber robbed. Weeks ago an alleged
story OF the play with alleged copious
extracts was offered to many news
papers outside OF France for good
round price An actor was known to
be the medium through which the
material for this story was obtained.
The Hymn TO the Night" was
part of his wares. The story was not
to be printed until the day after the
first performance Of "Chantecler."
There's not the slightest doubt that
this first traitor to the Rostrand-
Couuelin-Hertz interests has been be-
trayed in turn by one OF his confidants,
the result being the abortive pLblica-
ton at Milan and Paris.
In any case. the litigation which has
been commenced against the three
offending journals is regarded here as
scarcely serious since "Chantecler'
has been enormously advertised by
this publication and public curiosity
regarding II when il had begun TO
flag had been again greatly stimu-
lated.
There is still much skepticlsm as to
"Chantecler" ever being played In pub
lie. The latest semi-official statement
regarding the date OF production
again puts 1t of another three
weeks. One Paris journal declares
that there is now "Chantecler" ques-
tion Just as there is the question OF
the far east.
Generations will have passed
away" II says. before this question
shall have ceased TO be. II st. Peter
were to quit his post OF porter at
heavens gate for vacation trip to
the earth he would have plenty OF
leisure TO deny his God many and
many times before the cock will crow
at the porte Saint Martin. II indeed
II ever does crow"
"Rut the worst blow OF all 10 the
syndicate of silence. which had been
formed around Rostand's creation.
came later when weekly review of
music and drama published, almost In
It's entirety. the first act OF Chan
tecler." Further legal thunderbolts
we're at once prepared against this
new library poacher. II Is highly brob-
able however. that the primary med
ium OF It's information was the same
as in the other instances. This text
O. the first act is preceded by n clear
explanation OF the play.
Problem Is Difficult.
AS before intimated, the problem OF
the physical proportions OF the actors.
scenery, and accessories was one OF
the most difficult ones connected with
the production. BY way of illustra-
tion, IL may be mentioned that the
blackbird impersonated by Gallipaux
must, at a certain moment, hide him.
self In the gardeners waterpot. When
T.. becomes necessary for the gardener
TO cross the poultry yard, only two
enormous legs and feet shod with gi-
gantic wooden shoes are seen. The
rest OF the figure is supposed to be
hidden by clouds and the spreading
tops of trees. A chicken coop on the
stage Is as tall as a normal man.
The rebellion OF the principal actor
against the torment OF wearing a cos
tune of papier mache and feathers
for a wearisome length of time caused
Rostand TO compose a prologue for
Guitry TO recite in ordinary human
dress. presumably comprising much