Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-31
ROSTAND PLAY is AN
INTELLECTUAL DELIGHT
The Last Night Juan Literary Rather Than Dramatic
Equal to the Best in "Cyrano.'
From the ST. Louis Post Dispatch.

FROM the ST. LOUIS IDHt pisphittis
Paris, March lit Is not gen
orally known that Edmund Rostnnd
nearly five years before his death
had completed n new play which was
to have been produced in Paris during
the winter of 1914-t915. 1t Ia called La
Derniere Mutt de Don Juan" c"fhe
Last Night of Don Juano and 1t was
to have been played with lie Bargy as
the Don. De Max as the Devil and Jean
Coquelin as Sganarelle.
Then came the war and the play
was put off to happier times NJ.
Rostand lived to see these times, for he
saw the armstice and the French
armies on the Rhine; but he did not live
to see his piece on the boards. Ed
mond Rostand was stricken with the in
huenza and died Dec. 2, 1918.
la Derniere Mutt de Don Juan" was
published this week i'm the illustration.
and with it's publication the press had
been flooded with speculation as TO who
will play tho leading roles. When II
at last appeared on the stago, NJ. lie
Bargy, for some reason. doesn't seem
willing to appear AS Don Juan. having
shown a preference for the part of the
Devil, and tho general opinion seems
to be that either NJ. dc Max of the
Comedie Franchise or M. Andre Brule,
who oddly enough is Mt present appear
ing IN another play founded on the
Don Juan legend Henri 8ataiile's
"L.'Momme de In Rose" Will create the
title part.
IL is inconceivable that any play OF
Edmond Rostand should remain for any
length Of time unacted in America.
and. though La Derniere Mutt de Don
Juan" lacks the universal theatric aJp-
peal of "Cyrano" or "L'Aielon. il pre-
sents an admirable field for the powers
Of an intellectual actor. while It's pic
torial qualities are remarkable one
can well imagine the Barrymorea, for
Instance. 4.issue .aasi mon tet9
az Don Juan. Lionel az the Devil and
Ethel as the White Shadow. Az for the
scenic setting. any of the younger
American scenic artists such as Roberi
Edmond Jones. norman Bel-Geddes
Lee Simonson Or Rollo Peters would
rcyol in the opportunity offered 70 their
fancy. Whoever presents i will place
tho American public in his deht. for
despite its obvious lack Af externa
I dramatic action. tho play is a literary
| effort of high order and a genuine
+ contribution to both the poetic drama
1 ana the tllFIHtHit 'fi siis A.t @
legend.
A tho name of the piece indicates
Rostand has taken the Don u tn
end ~ his career. and so he does no
enter into competition with Moliere
Mozart or Byron In fact. he begin
where Moliere and Mozart leaNe Of
IN the prologue we see the atatue 2
tho Commander leading juan down
flight or steps to give him into IN
hands If the pcvil buf tho G'onfnan
der struck with his betrayer's stoica
courage permits him a respite q
further 10 years on earth. The frs
act-thcre are only two-opena 10 year
later in a Venetian palace and the Dor
etiu imncnitent and unafraid. await
the hour Of his expiration
Shades Of Deceived Women Evoked.
Don Juan is At supper and the d.
rector of marionette show arrive
and gives an exhibition. at the end c
which the director reveals himself a
the Devil who has come 70 claim n
nrav. Juan. always indomitable, ir
vitcs the Devil 10 supper at whic
his guest evokes the shades Of all III
women Juan has deceived. Juan, 81
prond of his conquests and Of the effe'
ne thinks he has made upon the hear
NJ the women who have loved him,
as+onishcd that ne IS unable TO recns
nize any Of the shades. The shad'