New-York tribune., 1912-02-04
THE FRENCH STAGE
"Pour Vivre Heureux" at the
Renaissance.

An original and amusing light comedy in
three acts-"Pour Viyre HeureuS'
been produced with success at the Renais-
sance. II is written "in collaboration by
NJ, Andre Rivolre, a poet. and by NJ. Yves
Mrande humorlst. The result Is de-
lghtful. The subject Is death, But 1t is
deftiy handled. and treated with alternate
doses OF satire. sentiment and fun. The
text of this frisky bit of Partisan irony
might we'll be taken from the last line OF
Sophocles' "Qtdpus the Tyrant.' mo man
can proclaim that he Is happy until his
death" The first act passes at an artists 5
Inn at Gverny-on-th Seine. Young paint
ers, ''rapins' from Montmartre, models
! from MontpaPnasse, musicians, actors, ac-
tresses and other captivating bohemians
! are having a merry time. II Is midsummer.
Everything Is bright and gay. We find
here Mauclar. painter OF talent, who is
| thirty-eight years old, and his friend Pra-
doux, composer OF music. Mauclair Is
very unhappy. lie has been foolish enough
TO marry his noisy and eNuberant model
Noeme. He IL in love with Madeline, the
charming daughter OF the innkeeper. Maui
clair cannot sell his pictures lIo is dis
couraged and makes up his mind to COM
nit suicide. He leaves n note on the table
bidding his friends farewell and announc-
| ing that ne is about 10 take q fatal plunge
IN the Seine. The second act passes In
Maucairs studio in Paris. II is draped In
black. Preparations are being made for an
imposing funeral Noemie and Pradoux,
after searching the river, have at last
found the body. mangled beyond reeogni-
Al hNrf hA lI.p Of OF N
Now that Mauclair Is believed TO be dead
every one appreciates his brilliant talent.
ChmeDe. the picture dealer, buys up his
works and makes a corner In them, The
newspapers publish wonderful articles
pralsing his pictures 10 the skies The
Minister or Fine Arts is among the pail
bearers The funeral becomes a sort OF
apotheosls OF the deceased artist As the
solemn procession follows the hearse TO
Pere Lachaise Cemetery a modest stranger
appears In the studio 1t is Mauclair him
self. who instead of committing suicide
decided at the last moment to make dying
visit to Dieppe. where he won a few hun
dred dollars at roulette, and, finding him
self "happy an Contented' in his isola-
tlon, and especially delighted at being sepa-
made up MS mind TO live. lie meets his
friend Pradoux in the studio and talks over
matters with him. and a plan is arranged
by which MauclaIr is TO let IL be supposed
that he is dead, and taking another name,
that Of Simpson, IAN American painter
from Boston," he enters upon new life.
While concealed behind the curtains OF his
studio windows he is an eyewitness TO
scenes that prove that his tumultuous
widow" Notm!e has all along been un-
faithful 10 him. He learns also that the
charming Madeleine really loves him.
With the completely OF his friend Pra-
douA. he declares his love TO Madeleine. and
the two lovers depart arm in arm for a
rural abode. 10 live in perfect happiness.
The third act comes as a surprise. "Simp-
SON." alias Mauclair, has made quick
American marriage" with Madeleine, and,
under the name OF Simpson, has painted
some remarkably good landscapes. With
the aid OF Pradoux. who. by tho way, has
become highly successful operate com
poser, the canvases are sold at good prices.
But much to the astonishment OF "Simp-
SON scores OF frightful daubs are put upon
the market as Original Mauclairs." This
fraud is the work OF Noernie, the tumultu-
Gus widow, who persuaded her lover 10
paint them and sign them "Mauclair."
commission OF experts convoked for the
purpose naturally proclams the false pict-
ures to be genuine, and the genuine ones
10 be false Mauclair Is so indignant that
'hc steps out OF his grave" as II were, and
gives the tumultuous Noemle a piece Of his
mind After which. by common consent.
he reassumes his civil status Of simpson,
the Bostonian artist" and, with his charm
Ing companion Madeleine vanishes 10 his
rustic retreat, and continues his blissiul
existence. The spectators OF this delight
ful little comic poem readily forget that
In real life Mauclair might be proceeded
against for bigamy. The concluson is eager
Iy appiauded. The play is beautifully
| staged and the acting approaches perfec-
ton NJ Abel Tarride plays the part OF
Mauclalr. and his assumption OF the role
OF the Bostonan painter with the marked
accent is keeniy appreciated. The part oi
Madeleine is cXqulsitely rendered by Mile.
Blanche Toutain. and that OF the tumultu-
Gus Noemle is acted with boisterous and
frolicsomc humor Dy Mile. Marcelle lryen.
The Theatre OF Monte Carlo has produced
with considerable success Manfred,
drama In four acts, adapted from LORD
Byron's poem. by NJ. Emile Moreau. The
play includes "A beautiful ballet, which is
so arranged 10 the setting OF selections
from schumanns music. notably the
"Olseau Prophetic La Nalse Noble
Les Faceties du Carnaycl de Nenise' ana
lie Nocturne" The drama Is played by
artists OF the Coincide francaisc. includ-
Ing NJ. Albert Lambert, as Manfred. ana
N. Raphael Duhos. as the King OF Death'
and Mile. Maille, as the Fee des Apes
G. T. u.