New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
lies FAVOR|TES'
Alfred Capus's Comedy OF Man.
ners OF the Third Republic.
Paris. December u.

Alfred Capus, brought out at the Varie-
tts, Is n succession Of moving pictures
OF the Partisan. world OF politics ana
Journalism pencilled with delicious irony
END subtle satire. Alfred Capus Is the
Petronius OF French dramatists. He Is
the theatrical antithesis OF Henri Bern
stein. Those who seek poignant "situa-
tons" passionate outbursts or thrilling
effects IN NJ. Capus's plays will be dis
appointed. The gossamer meshes OF his
lace are never torn by scenes OF violence
or fury To this excessive nicely and
ilncsse are due the defects as we'll as the
good qualities Of his play.
The first act opens at reception at
the house OF a mature, opulent and Wild
owed countess. Here we find. three
wealthy finsnclers. the Anglo German
banker, Baron Goldfish. and the Parisians,
Branchin and villerbois. They agree to
subscribe a million francs each to start
q newspaper. Why? Because Jeannine,
the "favorite" Of Goldfish, wishes to
secure the post of managing editor for
young man Of letters who Is her fervent
but unofficial" ddmirer. Because Mar
guerito. the pretty actress without talent
who IS the "favorite" OF Branchin, hopes,
through the Influence of the paper. to
become member of the Coincide Fran
caise. And, thirdly, because Valerie. the
"favorite" of Villerbois, who has just
been persuaded by her to marry her, Is
strenuous society climber" and as
pres by means Of the paper. to get a
foothold in the "vraie monde" We also
meet in the salon OF the intriguing coun-
tess a genial SCutherner Bourdolle. Min
lister Of Public Instruction, and an at
tractive, ambitious, clever and emanci-
pated young woman of letters. Luce
Brevin. widow of professor and
author of a treatise on the Education
Of Girls"
The interpretive psychology Of each
OF these mon anG women is presented
with startling truth and with delicious
satire. Indeed. the characters arc so
deliberately chiselled that they check the
swift dramatic action OF the play and
eliminate thrilling. or concentrated, stage
effects that electrity the public. Here is
the weak point of this comedy Of Third
Republican manners, which may make
it "caviare 10 the general" In the Sec
ond act the scenery is arranged in two
separate parts. To the left is the cabinet
Of the Minister of Public Instruction
ana to the right is the ante chamber
where the ushers and silver buttoned
receive visitors.
We make the acquaintance Of Nine.
Bourdolle the minister's wife, a fas-
Partisan woman Of extreme
boundless ambition. tact
and activity-in short, the ideal partner
for a man In political life. But there IS
no question Of love between Bourdolle
and his wife. In fact, there is a total
a absence Of love throughout the comedy.
Bourdolle returns from the Chamber of
Deputies. There has been stormy in
terpellation. The ministry survives, but
Bourdolle alone has been forced to re-
sign. His wife urges him to keep calm,
and points out that by waiting patiently
he can turn the tables on his former
colleagues and eventually become Prime
Minister
Nine. Bourdolle departs. Baron God
fish calls and offers to BCurdole the post
OF managing editor in the new journal,
Heaven and Earth" You will" God
&c, ri ''bouo f,,l rouora o,l d, l.
solute liberty to pitch into anybody you
please" Bourdole, without consulting
his wife, accepts the offer. Nine. Luce
Brevin calls, by previous appointment.
on the eX-minister with her manuscript
Of her book on Girls Education" in her
fur muff. Bourdolle is fascinated by the
piquant cleverness of Luce. He gives
her the position OF "feministe" editor
of Heaven and Earth" One readily
divnes that Luce is about TO become not
Bourdolle.
The third act discloses the editorial
rooms in the palace" of the ultra pod
ern Heaven and Earth" which are or
gained on scale Of magnificence sur
passing anything of the kind yet at p
tempted in Paris, New York or London
The triumvirate Of shareholders appear.
Goldfish is taken to task by Jeannne be O..
cause he gave TO Bourdolle the post she
wished To obtain for her unofficial ad-
mirer," the young man of letters Bran
chin is scolded by Marguerite, who has
not yet got into the Coincide Franchise
and who is vexed because the dramatic
critic describes her as "a charming ar
list" instead of "grande tragedienne."
Villerbois is reprCached by Valerie
whom he has imprudently married, be-
cause the society editor has neglected
to mention her name among the guests
at a reception at the British Embassy.
where, by the way, she had not been in
vited
Nine. Bourdolle. who knows nothing OF
her husbands intimacy with Luce, calls
with some friends at the editorial rooms.
Her suspicious are aroused when. acct
dentally glancing at a proof sheet, she
notices that in an account of a lecture
given by Luce the word talent had
been erased and genius substituted In
BourdOlle's handwriting, and she learns
the worst when she discovers Bourdolc
kissing his feministe colleague in the
sub-editor's room. Nine. Bourdolle, who
II too tacuul to make d scene" retires
with dignity leaving "A note on her hus-
bands desk expressing her indignant N
Bourdolle takes lodgings at a hotel and
continues literary collaboration with his
"favorite.'
The fourth act passes in the salons Of