The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-05
WEEKLY THEATRICAL LETTER
BY GRANT THURSTON

"Chantecleer" has finally reached Broad
way. This lusty fowl is now growing and
mapping his wings at the Knickerbocksr
theatre for the edifcation and amusement
OF New York audiences but its advent
did not create near the furore that it
did in Paris year ago. The reasons, of
course are obvious Paris had waited
seven years for Edmond Rostands unique
work. The reputation of the author, the
prominence of the cast and the strange
character of the piece all served to whet
the public appetite. and the night the
piece was put on in the Porte St Marti
Importance.
Then came the disillusionment The ap-
piause the feathered actors received was
exceptionally mild, and when the big
audience piled out after the curtain drop
ped on the last act, disappointment was
plainly written on many faces. The
play, however was by no means a failure
me public had simply expected too much
The literary value of the work cannot
be questioned, but as a drama It is not
convincing. Human beings in the CARDS
OF parnyard creatures fail to express
human emotions, no matter how beauti-
full the poetry is that falls from their lips.
Accordingly the American audiences
were. in a measure, prepared, and did
not let their expectancy get beyond or
binary limits. 1t was fortunate they
did not. as the New York production
lacked several good qualities Of the Pari-
slams.
In the first place, the play has lost
considerable of it's poetic beauty in trans
lation and secondly, Miss Maude Adams
lacks the necessary qualities to make her
impersonation of the leading role sue
cess. Chantecler is a loud boisterous
rooster and egotist. whose every move
ment and utterance denotes the male.
There is no more popular actress in the
United States today than Miss Maude
Adams, and none more competent But
the sum of all her qualities spell fem
inism Her representation of the role is
not without charm but her sex is an OBJ
stacle she Is unable to overcome.
As a spectacle, however, "Chantecler"
is a marvel and this fact, coupled with
the magic name of Maude Adams, will
no doubt ensure the financial success Of
the piece. Charles F'rohman has never
before staged a production more lavish
ly, and the gigantic scenic representation
of trees and flowers, vegetables, leaves
ETC, had the effect of dwarfing the bodies
of birds and animals and creating for the
play the complete Illusion of the feathered
world.
When the curtain goes up on the first
act, 1t reveals the interior of a barnyard
showing all its deniZens. Paton the
watch dog is in his kennel, and the cat
is doing lazily on the wall.
Pretty soon the call of "Chantecler" Is
heard. and in the streets this glorious
bird comes chanting his "ade to the
sum-" which is one of the poetic pearls
of the play.
The rooster is an egotst of the most
pronounced type. He even believe that
his crow in the morning caused the sun
TO rise. He is supreme in the barnyard.
and all the feathered world bow to his
will. Blackbirds, however, is rather
skeptical of the ROSTERS intentions and
quietly plots to dethrone this idol but
Patou. the dog who stands for sincerity
and faithfulness informs "Chantecler' of
the plot.
The quiet of the barnyard Is suddenly
disturbed by the beautiful Hen Pheasant,
who is trying TO escape from hunter.
Hen Pheasant is meant to typify the
modern woman with all her virtues and
faults
"Chantecler," although unwilling to adj
nit It, even to himself. is greatly i'm
pressed by the beautiful bird.
The day ends with this act. When the
curtain rises on the second act, a hill
| side overlooking valley is shown. The
eyes of 1.-The night birds are twinkling
in the darkness. The enemies of "Chan-
tecler''-the owl. the cat and the treach-
erous blackbird-meet to form a plot
against this proud bird. and to carry
out their evil designs they enlist the
aid of the aggressive Game Cocks, who
are hired to assassinate "Chantecler" at
the Guinea Hens reception on the fol-
lowing day.
The third act brings the reception given
by the vain parvenue Guinea Hen in a
corner of the kitchen garden with gigan
tic vegetables and flowers Uttered about.
Chantecler arrives and does not attempt
to conceal his contempt for the Game
Cocks who taunt and sneer at his airs
A duel ensues and Chantecler is getting
decidedly the worst of it. when a hawk
appears overhead. Immediately every
feathered inhabtant of the barnyard
flock to their natural protector. This
renews his strength and after the dam
ger is past he renews the fight and comes
off victorious.
Now that the battle is over. however,
Chantecler discovers that all his supposed
friends with the exception of the dog,
are false. and in despair he listens to
the pleading of the Hen Pheasant and
resolves to go with her into the wider
world whence she came.
This brings the play to the forest scene
of the final act and to the disllusionment
of Chantecler He still struggles to full
Ill his mission, but his Pheasant spouse
jealous of his love of duty. will allow
him only one xsong each morning. She
taunts him that the song of the nightln-
gale Is more beautiful than his He
ruefully admits 1t. A hunter shoots the
nightingale and another rises to take
| its place. He even begins to doubt his
own omnipotence. and then the Hen
| Pheasant takes his head under her wing