The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12
A hor's Celebrated
Wife, Ceorgctte lie
Blanc, Takes Principal
Role in Charity Per-
Torrance
torrance

prince. who has found her at the for
est pool and married her in spite OF
duty to family and race. the unknown
Melisande. young. beautiful and tri-
umphnnt, Is received by the king and
queen. From the tower shines tho
light that Pelleas has caused to -
placed there to show the coming is
welcome, and preceding the couple, a
score of servants with tanning torches
march suddenly into view from a deep
shadow of n moment before, and after
the salutation is made lead them into
the house and the great doors swing
to, shutting out the night and h
spectators.
You hear the low toned "S'il vous
plat, messieurs ct mesdames" and
wake up to the reality that you are
not taking part in the beginning Of a
veritable tragedy. but are witnessing
a dramatic performance.
Perhaps you go to the pool where
Melisande. toying with her wedding
ring. drops Il in the water. There are
splashes of color abou the rim OF the
lake. scarlet geraniums particularly
evident, the moon sends a silver shaft.
and the odor Of concealed blossoms,
the sound OF rustling foliage add their
beauty.
In the great room Of the monastery.
which might perhaps have been a
library Of the monks. or their living
apartment, under a canopy Of velvet.
Goulaud, wounded in the chase, is ex-
tended on a bed of skins. You know
the story, but 1t is more than usually
effective, for to go to the scene itself
instead of remaining where the scene
is changed before your eyes makes
all the dramatic difference. such a diff
ference that a bridge seems To have
been thrown between romance and
reality, binding them closely together.
The celebrated balcony scene whore
Melisande. leaning out OF the window
let's fall her glorious hair, which
| Pelleas carcsses, and is later discovered
by the husband, who conceals his
wrath under the vague "childs play
and the scene where Goulaud holds
the little Yniold On his shoulder 10
look into the room of Mel!sande n
report wha he sees are rcpreso nted
In an angle OF the building where a
short Norman tower and q bit of the
park make an attractive frame.
The death scene is. In the great
refectory across a side and end Of
! which are the gallery and stairway
made famous by the sleep walking
scene of Macbeth" The bed IL Cov-
cred with a silken sheet and a velvet
Counterpart of purple and gold, and
hung with draperies Of the same.
When the hav drawn the
curtains and the guard repeats "Stl
yous plat" you steal away into the
open, feeling as if you had committed
a sacrllege.
The performance is over early, Nine.
Maeterllnck comes to say "Au revoir"
and receive congratulations, then autos
or voitures are taken and Caudebec
sleeps again at II.
\ word as to the costumes Of Nine.
MaeterlinCk. which We're not easy to
select. for the mixture Of natural and
artificial lights made this an impor-
tant question. For several scenes she
wore "A pale blue velvet. the color OF
which the moonlight seemed to accen-
tuate, in the other. later acts. white
embroidered IN silver. the caps, close
fitting honnets ~ lace and silver, fol-
lowed the traditional model.
Among the distinguished guests were
The American Ambassador ard his
wife, MIR. and Mrs. William Sharp:
MIR. and Mrs, Robert Bliss of the
embassy and Mr.. and Mrs. James
HaZen Hyde. Subscriptions were re-
ceived to the amount Of several Thou
sand dollars.