The New York herald., 1921-09-08
"Don Juan," " With
TeHegen, Play of
Great Interest
Wholly Modern Drama on an
Old Subject Well Worth
Seeing.

| One of the. two dramas dealing with
tho legend of Don Juan, with which
Henry Batai.le and Edmond Rostand
respectively. enriched the French Theatre
during the last year. was seen in English
at the Garrick Theatre last night. II
proved profoundly interesting work. a
wholly modern play on the old subject
that has inspired dramatists in every
land for centuries. 1t is sophisticated
ironic. bitter and yet not without its
human traits.
American audiences are likely from
the work which the author called in his
own language "The Man with the Rose.''
to acquire respect for Bataille which
his social dramas so banai and narrow
in vision never created. Lawrence Lang
ner. who made the English version,
called the piece after its hero since the
first title would have had no significance
to American audiences.
Bataille has employed various meth
ods in his development of the theme.
The first act with its dramatic direct
ness. might have been modelled after
the formulas OF Sardou. The tragedy
OF the second act Is psychological 1t is
deepest In the soul of the Great Seducer,
his own funeral ceremonies in the cathe-
dral at Seville. suffers the fate that
dramatists have always loved to inflict
on their heroes In this popular theatri-
ca. situation. He hears what the world
| thought Of him.
| The last act is somewhat more ideal
| istic In character. The hero, incognito
is living in an inn three days ride fron,
Seville. The fine lady on whom his
passion centres refuses to be overcome
by the revelation that he is the ruler OF
all hearts. even il she believes it. The
waiting maid is less insensible to his
devotion. but she places him on the com.
! mercial basis of all such oldish men.
Bataille's Version OF the Fable.
or course. dominating the three acts
striking and appropriate in the designs
! OF Lee Simonson. 1t is the figure OF Dor
Juan about which the rest fiutter. He
yields his place in the first act to an
aspirant for the beauty Of the woma.
| who has arranged all to receive thi.
famous lover. When he is killed by the
returned husband. it is Don Juan wbc
| is supposed to be dead, since his rine
and his famous diary have been put on
the body that the husband may not pur.
The next day. at the celebration oi
the funeral pomps. the don sees some OF
the women he has wooed. Some know
him. Others find him changed in zen
years beyond all recognition. A poor
woman who has seen him but once
creeps in to do his memory honor. while
ono Of his sons visiting the church
with his noble mother he bestows a
ring.
! A little girl does not hesitate to cal
him an old beast. The last word In
the church Is the curse of stranger
when he hears that Don Juan is dead
His own memoirs. counted inferior to
; those OF an imposter and scorned by the
proud beauty OF Seville, the hero OF 81
many loves ends by accepting the terms
OF the maid in his humble inn Such Is
the content Of the final act.
The dramatic swiftness of the first ac,
absorbed the audience. and II there were
lengths not altogether hcavenNv in the
second they may possibly be attributed
to the method Of Lou Tellegen, who
acted the hero and did not reveal in the
| long succession of scenes-he does no,
once leave the stage-the variety in voic,
or action that were necessary to accom-.
plish this purpose. NJ. TelIegen played
always with intelligence, his ineradicabIe
artificiaEty did not interfere with his
! portrayal of the role and his delivery OF
the lines was clear. But he talked I'm a
dry monotone which rarely varied. There
was little or no JUNCTION In his voice and
the hollow laughter in which he occa-
sionally indulged echoed no genuine
humor. Luckily he had TO move bu,
little. for while his gesticulation Is faciIe
his gait Is not impressive. There were
indeed depths in the character which he
did not penetrate.
The English Version.
Lawrence Langncr's version Of the
play reproduces admirably its spirit in
spite Of the inevitable changes. Luckily
the French seemed u be mercifuliy con-
| densed. especially as to the reflections
! Of Don Junr. From the acting of Miss
Mary Moore, who played the lovesick
woman OF the opening act down to the
| busincsslike maid, the women were adj
mirablc. Misses Joan Clement, Miriam
Stoddart. Myra Murray. Mile Butter
| field. Theresa Maxwell Conover and
Stella Larrimore were some of those
who deserve mention. Yet none OF them
| impressed the audience as Miss Moore
by her fine acting in the first scene.
| None OF the scenery was so impress
sive as Mr.. Simonson's corner OF the
rave In the cathedral OF Seville. which
was solid specimen of rococo architcc-
ture. The general production under
Frank Retchcr vas uncommonly fine.
Tho Middle Age spirit of the piece was
maintained with fidelity TO the period
not only in the dresses and decorations
but In the bearing OF the characters
Don Juan" Is play well worth Sec
ing. Certainly II Is the most important
specimen of the contcmpo-aneous drama
that the season has brought forth
will ha hnu r,1r ~