The sun., 1916-11-13
SCATTERING" Revived There
After Eighteen Years, as
First Offering.
BECMAN IN LEADING ROLE
Production Will Move When
New Theatre for Company
Is Built.
"Cath.r,n."-At tho osrr,ek Theatre.

The new theatre to be occupied by
the so-calied Theatre Francois Of New
York 10 not yet completed % the
French players are temporarily quar-
tered in the little 0arrick Theatre.
which Is . home that no actor should
spurn. since It's acoustics are admirable.
and without being . little theatre" either
In its proportions or It's policy II has
In atmosphere Of suficient intimacy to
value.
There was every evidence on Saturday
night OF the kindly feeling which the
giving French plays In New York. There
was never greater prospect Of success
for the plan, since the sympathy OF this
country with the French imparts new
eloQuence to their art In the theatre as
In every other field. Quite apart from
this present sympathy. however. a
theatre devoted to the French drama
and occupied by capable actors would
receive the most cordial welcome In this
city. There would be accessible en-
joyment OF the most artistic character
apart from the educational value OF such
an institution.
OF course there could be 10 greater
injustice to the art Of h theatre In
France than to represent II here by un-
worthy examples. The play selected by
Lucien Bonheur. the director. for repre-
,s~entations during the nrst week Of the
season was Henri LAvedan's four act
drama Catherine" This work ID now
SO faded after a score Of years that
scarcely an outline survives with any
visible force. 1t never possessed any
dramatic backbone. and now Its rosy
sentiment has turned very pale.
At the same time II II such a "rwee'
little play that II Is incomprehensibl'
why 1, should not have lasted for year,
when It was acted in English. Blu
Catherine with its noble and petulan'
duke, its music teacher and her pool
but honest lover. the proud dowagel
duchess and the poor father-this com
bination was too exotic to strike deeI
root here when Charles Frohman pro
duced the piece eighteen year ago.
Unfortunately for those In the audienc'
on Saturday night II was on this sam'
stage that the English version OF Cath
crime was seen. This was not q favor
able circumstance for the actors OF tn
French company. who could not stan'
the test Of comparison. On that stag
! Annie Russell as the music teacher CAV
one Of the most exquisitely tender ant
poignant representations OF her career
and Sarah Cowcll lie Moyne acted tn
duchess superbly. There were som
other performances in that same pla!
that made the French company seer
painfully inadequate.
Indeed, II one except the acting q
Edgar Becman, who gave a fascinatin
portrayal of the young duke, spoiled
impulsive. selfish. hut at heart a gentle
man, and Marc Lomon az his plebeia'
: fathcr-in-law. there was little to admir-
II the representation. The scenery wa
better than the Berkeley Lyceum use
10 offer, and the Garrick Theatre ha
, the advant age OF possessing n res
stage. But the acting was OF the mos
mediocre quality. The diction OF tn
, ~players possessed the superiority tina
. all French player. acquire In this branc
OF their art. Nine. D!ska never RI
yealed n trace of the distinction whic
, a duchess should possess. while Yvonr
l Mirval was artificial. indicating but fe'
of the rats Of the heroine.
NJ. Becman's performance was a az
light. II would take the greatest gym
pathy with France. however. to reconci
the New York public to such a pc
formance as that Of Catherine II
unjust. moreover. to give such n repr'
!. sentation as typical OF the best In II
French theatre.