The sun., 1919-07-27
Of FRKHcEs sTRRR
Presentation of French Drama Here
in November Promises to Be the
Sensation, of the Season
BY LUCIEN CLEVES.

TOR the last twenty-five years
the French novel "Aphrodite"
has been considered one of the
greatest Of modern classics. The novel
was written by Pierre Louys Of Paris
and is partly of a historical nature
and partly fiction. The two historical
characters are Demetrios, sculptor.
whose mutilated statue of Aphrodite
still is exhibited as one of the prizes
o: the Louvre in Paris, and Berenice,
Queen of Egypt at the period of the
novel, 60 B. C.
In 1913 Camille Erlanger OF Paris
composed an opera based on the
story by Pierre Louys. This opera
was presented in Paris with Mary Gar
den in the title role and was a ire
mendous sensation at the Opera
Comique.
The same season, that is in 1918,
Pierre Fronday wrote a play on the
same theme and it was given at the
Theatre Renaissance. 1t was unques-
tionably one of the greatest theatrical
sensations of many years.
The American rights to this drama
were purchased in 1918 by Morris
Gest, who bought the play outright for
n stated sum, and who Is to present
an adaptation of this French original
at the Century Theatre, New York. in
November.
The American rights to the grand
opera were purchased by Cleofonte
Campanini, who will present 1t in
Chicago in November and in New
York in January with Mary Garden
in the title role. The French drama
differs from the French opera in
many respects, and many changes
have also been made in the American
drama to make it acceptable to Ameri-
can audiences. Nevertheless the story
OF the love of the sculptor for the
courtesan Chrysis promises to become
tile sensation of the coming theatrical
and operate season. AS in all cases
in the past where there has been the
slightest controversy over a dramatic
or operate subject. the interest of the
public is enormously aroused, and
"Aphrodite' promises to be the most
tslked of character this coming season.
story of the Play.
The period of the story is B. C. 60,
when Berenice, a daughter of the
Ptolemies, reigned over Egypt. The
Queen is a petulant young woman of
20, who has conceived a violent love
for Demetrios, a Greek sculptor, who
A 1T. xI.N.-
a statue of the goddess Aphroditc to
be placed in the Temple of Aphrodite.
Aphroditc. goddess of love, supposed to
have been born from the sea foam,
was the prevailing goddess of the
period In Alexandria and Egypt, and
also the favorite OF the Greek god
desses.
Demetrios is a handsome, brilliant
man. who does not return the love
Of the Queen. being devoted to his
statue and having a pure and won
derful love for the beauties of tho
cold marble, so that even the Queen
cannot tempt him to love her. e
Surrounded by her courtiers. she
Queen becomes exasperated at the
failure Of Demetrios to yield TO her
She sends Theoxenes, her Prime Min
lister, for him. When he comes to her
surrounded by her guards. he refuses
TO show any feeling for her. though
she heaps honors upon him. raising
him by successive steps until he be-
comes Brother to the Queen" and the
most powerful man in all Egypt.
Demetrios. however. weary Of her
solicitations. strolls at evening along
the quay OF Alexandria. where the
courtesans OF the town gather every