The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-07
PLAY OF PARIS LIFE
DELIGHTS AT BIJOU
"Sleeping Partners" Is French
Boulevard Farce Which
Reveals a New Type.
ONLY FOUR CHARACTERS
Irene Bordoni as the Wife
Scores Triumph in First
New York Appearance.
ONLY FOUR CHARACTERS

Sleeping Pactners," which John d.
Williams produced at the BiJou Theatre
| on Saturday night. delighted the au-
| dienco which had gathered to revel in
| this sophisticated and modern play. The
| faroe, which Ii In three acts, belongs to
that school OF European drama which
has the effect OF transporting the spec
tator. as II were, 10 a chair in the win
| dow OF his cub to listen to an anecdote
| from the lips OF n. friend, or the piece
| might readily be q story told by one
woman to another in the progress OF n
motor ride.
According to the source from which Il
| came. Sleeping Partners" would begin
! from n different point. The man would
certainly commence by telling that he
was so Mustered when the lady tainted
| In his arms that he really could not. BY
Jove, tell the difference between the
aromatic spirits OF ammonia and the
sleeping drauGht the doctor had given
him. She would undoubtedly start the
story with a description of her sensa-
lions when she found herself alone in q
man'e room for the first time. She could
not. for the life OF her. help fainting.
How either OF the two interested par
ties would start the story TO the hus-
band-well, there In no possibility that
either would ever try, so the manner OF
that recital does not count.
story of . Harmless Intrigue.
Sacha Guitry, the player and author
or Paris, knows as much about the
charm OF a denatured rendezvous as
Avery Hopwood. although he selects a
more modern manner OF telling II. The
wife. who IL altogether devoted to her
husband. but visits their bachelor
friend because he has gone away to
Keep q mysterious enga cement, is in
deed quite innocent. But she succeeds
in gaining q victory over the phila nderer
who 10 altogether a European character
In his single hearted devotion to the
study OF womaukind. II Is true that she
falls asleep in his apartment and stays
there all night under the influence OF
the narcotic he has accidentally given
her The bachelor host also slumbers
on a sofa near her. II Is with the morn
ing that she feels everything liz Lost.
But her husband turns up also remor.e-
ful for he has not been home all night.
lie also receives n draught OF the sleep
ing potion. but not accidentally. So
leaving the bachelor 10 watch him all
day until he has awakened. the wife
slips home to prepare herself for the
return OF the conscience stricken
husband.
This II the slight thread Of intriSue
that binds three acts OF a play first
called In Paris "Faisons un Reve" which
Seymour Hicks called in London by It's
present title. Nothing in the least out
or the way happens. although there IL a
suggestion OF harmless ptquancy In
every scene The first two acts are inti-
mate and bubbling with an intent that
seems to have the look Of the kind of
fun that formerly savored the farce of
the boulevards. but there IL no loss OF
genuine enjoyment as that aspect fades
and all that the play contains might be
expressed in the form OF a vivacious
anecdote.
Fresh Charm Is Enjoyable.
To analyze its fresh charm would be
10 decant, in the words of a famous
critic. the best champagne. The first
two acts, 1t In true, might be wittier in
language The fun of the last act,
which revolves about the sheepish hus-
band. Is. however. frankly farcical and
Is certain to please any audience For
that matter the three acts are bound by
Their originality and rare charm to ap-
peal to that part OF the public which
enjoys a departure from its accustomed
theatrical diversion.
Much OF the uncommon success OF
Sleeping Partners" came from the cap
tivating performance of Irene Bordon!,
who was thus introduced to the New
York public an an actress. Her keenly
intelligent acting and the aliurement Of
her appearance and manner In every
scene converted the evening into a little
triumph for her. She controls wonder
fully varied and eloquent facial express
sion 10 that in her speaking face the
authors intent was constantly drama
tiled. Then she took the audience into
her confidence with quaint good fell
lowship. She seemed to gather every
spectator into her intimate acquaintance
when she swept the auditorium with one
OF her knowing looks This was n most
unctuous bit Of comedy acting.
Henry Warner played the long role OF
the husband effectively. His personality
is not rich in what has been called
magnetism nor are his artistic resources
varied. but he was engaging and capa-
Bile. Guy Favieres made a really comic
figure out OF the husband, and Arthur
Lewis for the butler had the required
imperturbability. So there was every
thing done TO make the best OF NJ
GuItry's novel play. The scenes pass in
the attractive salon OF a bachelor over
looking Paris