New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-09
THE FRENCH STAGE
A New Play by Rene Fauchois
Exhibits Napoleon Again.
Paris, March %.

Paris, March %.
"Rivol" the spectacular military drama
in four acts. by NJ. Rene Fauchois-aulhor
Of Beethoven" and lecturer whose terrific
denunciations OF Racine recently provoked
! riots in the Latin Quartcr-is an object
lesson of patriotism. at the Odeon, and deals
| with an heroic subject, but in n rather
/ childlike way. In the first act we see the
| i'll equipped. demoralized army of the Re
public shivering in The snowclad noun
\ tains between Nice and Genoa. Narrowing
| conveys of wounded are carried past on
mules and I'm filters. The terror of war is
depicted after the manner Of Tolstoy. Cen
erai Massena appears. and announces that
the young General Buonaparte" has been
appointed commander in chief. Augereau,
Berthier, Lassalle and Junot boil over with
| indgnation at the "favoritism' OF the Di-
rectory and complain that this promotion
| IS due TO tho fact that the young general
married Josephine Beauharnais. tho former
mistress Of Barras. This act is in prose.
The second act which represents tho situa-
ton eight months later takes place In
Bonaparte's tent The glory of Arcola and
Of Montenotte have already surrounded the
young captain with sort Of aureole and
made him the idol of his army. There is a
powerful scene in which Bonapartc re-
proaches Massena and Augereau with hay
ing sold cavalry horses and supplies and
having thereby dishonesty put thousands
Of dollars in their own pockets. We are
amid the masterful strateEical combinations
that led up to Che victory Of Rivoli. With
somewhat Ill placed romanticism VI. Eau
chois shows Us Il Bonaparte infatuated with
love for Josephine. lie sends Junot TO
Milan, where Josephine has arrived from
Paris. to ask her to come 10 tho camp.
Junot returns with the reply that Nine.
Bonaparte is not well and prefers to re-
main in her comfortable lodgings in Milan.
Although on the eve of battle. Bonaparte
mounts his horse and, attended by his aide
do camp, Sallops off TO rejoin his wife.
This act is in verse. In the third act Bona
parte arrives in the evening at the resi-
dence of Josephine and finds her flirting
with young admirer. Captain Charles.
Bonaparte Furnishes his rival by driving
him away and breaks his career by placing
him on duty with the civilian clerks. This
act is in verse. The fourth and last act is
divided into two "tabledus." We are on
the high plateau above the plains of Iivon
II is o'clock in the morning Joubert and
Massana announce that they have been
fighting in retreat before overwhelming
numbers of the Austrians all the previous
day Bonaparte thinks of Josephine The
ghost of Cesar is seen. This Is an invoca-
ton Of Bonaparte's dream. II il family
suggestive OF that Of Richard III. Cesar
has also suffered from the infidelity OF the
woman he loved. Caesars phantom pre-
forecast
Napoleonic epoch. The curtain falls. In
visible To the audience the battle of Rivoh
takes place. The realism is somewhat in
fantile, but is nevertheless effective. The
rolls of musketry, the roar OF cannon and
the music or the "Marseillaise" and OF the
Chant du Depart" resound. Drums and
flies. buges and shrill commands are heard
, The curtain rises upon the second tableau
Lassalle, the cavalry leader, naked TO the
waist. throws at Bonaparte's feet an arm
ful Of captured Austrian standards. Mas
sena, Augereau, Berther, Marmont and
Junot report TO the young commander the
victories of their respective divisions. II Is
a grand military apotheosis NJ. Desjardin,
VINO plays the part of Bonapartc, has Ma
poleonic features and figure. lie makes
most thrilling impersonation OF the young
cOnqueror, but the character Of Bonaparte
is out of tune with history, for the future
Emperor was never so loquacous nor 50
hOpelcssly romantic. This drama never
tneless aroused enthusiasm, and is Il grand
play for soldiers and children. The part OF
Josephine is well played by Mile. Luciennc
Guct. who strongly resembles the beautiful
creole. and one scene is played in a lux
l,rious bed.
La Canine" Il light sentimental comedy
I'm four acts, by NM. Pierre Weber and
Henri de Gorssc. produced at the Ronais-
sance Theatre. IL a love tale of unusual
simplicity. II is a successful effort TO
amuse the public by putting before II "a
study OF the transformation period when d
girl becomes woman. The cighteen-year-
old Colette has been brought UP In a small
Norman town by two kind hearted but big
oted aunts, VINO are about 10 irretrievably
imprison her in dull narrow minded pro-
yincial life by marrying her to II rich but
grotosauc youth Of the locality. But Co.