New-York tribune., 1920-05-02
Eyre Chose Martinique
Because Super Culture
And Near-Savagery Meet

Lawrence Eyre, the author Of "Mar-
tlnlque," the West Indian romance
playing at the Eltinge Theater has
oupilcated in his latest play feat
that marked the writing Of his "Miss
Nelly of N'Orleans," in which Mrs
flske was starred. In both plays Mr..
Eyre went South for color and richness
OF atmosphere, and in both cases cast
mis- drama in setting with which he
was not personally familiar
Much of the knowledge Of creo,o
lie that was displayed in Miss Nelly
OF N'Orleans" Mr.. Eyre owed to con-
versations with cousin who lived in
the old French quarter Of the South
ern city; he also acknowledges the
debt that he owes to George W. Cable
who gave the authentic touch to the
creole dialogue of two of the char
acters as labor of love for Mrs
Fiske.
But in martinique" Mr.. Eyre has
woven into the life of this French
colony story that has long. as he
phrascd it, been at the back of b;s
head and that was very little changed
tor the stage. The play was frankly
written for Josephine Victor, who
shares stellar honors with Emmett
Corrigan in 'Martinique," because of
the desire Mr.. Eyre had to give Miss
Victor the fullest opportunity to dem
onstrate what she could do. The char
acter Of Zabette is essentially testi-
monial Of the playwright's confidence
in the star.
martinique appealed to me as the
scene for this play" said Mr.. Eyre,
because it is the meeting place of the
French, the super-civilized race Of the ,
earth, and the negro, a generation
from the Congo. 1ntermarriage of the
two races has given to Martinique
women that can be found in no other
place on earth, exotic creatures with
all the alluring traits O fthe French
woman, but with a certain strange
something added
"Some one has said" he went on,
that life in Martinique is continual
grand opera. Some of the critics said
that the play was like the libretto for
grand opera; this was an effect that
I was striving for, to show the vol
canic, theatrical life of these people,
to give the color and richness of that
exotic life. These people who live
~
character something of the nature OF
the volcano. In the second act, the
auction sale expresses some of the
surge and color and volatility of the
life Of Martinique.
tYou have living side by side people
like the de Chauvalons, who represent
the old aristocracy of France, and peo-
pie of the type of Quembo, in whom
are to be found the appetites of the
savage and some of the desires of the
civilized man. Every author is sup
posed to have his favorite characters,
and Marie Clemence is mine. She has
led sheltered life, and has been
brought up in the aristocratic tradi-
ton. nto the barrenness of her life
there comes this opportunity to marry
Stephane and to continue the de Chau-
valon line. Then comes Zabette and
Marie Clemence becomes involved by
circumstances stronger than herself.
She did not love Stephane for himself,
but for tho sake of the property and
the heir that he would bring; but she
will not surrender him to this girl
who has already won his affection
"There you have Marie Clemence, a
woman not essentially bad. yet forced
by circumstances into plotting against