New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
PARIS, September 20.

,...r.vs At the Vaudeville Thsater, is
.,trscting attention on account Of the
a..u.s,on It aroused In the Paris Bar
...oe,s.iou, whose members claim that
....s ~aa never such situation in the
history Of Law.
No French comedy Is complete with
~. q, triangle. This time there is an
.rt;,.Iy new angle on the triangle. The
third party does not know he Is loved
bv The woman until several years after
she has shot her husband on his ac-
count. The plot is based on q trial
IN which Louise has killed her hus-
and because he has threatened to kill
be man she loves, the lawyer, who
ssows nothing about her affection for
lin until the end Of the play. In the
sean time the task Of defending her
d . manslaughter charge is put in his
ssnds
Written in Brieux's best style "The
lxTyer' is considered 6 work Of great
aspiration. The plot is unusually dra-
rstc, holding the interest up to tho
.ad The lawyer not only agrees to
dsssrd a woman he knows to be guilty,
iushe throws his honor, his conscience,
i5 moral authority into the weight Of
IL arguments.
he case of mysterious death Is
|, bout to be retired, owing to the dis
ss7ery Of the victims revolver in a
aur bed near the scene of crime. Sus-
,eion points to Louise, the victims
vis. The lawyer, Maitre Martigny, an
ID friend Of Louise, felt doubly sympa-
hstc toward her, because he knew how
kr drunken, jealous husband had ILL
usatad her.
On Investigation he IL finally con-
vnesd that she is guilty Of the murder.
With great deal Of difficulty he man
yes TO obtain verdict Of mot guilty."
isshsis forced to even exaggerate her
fssbsnd's evil disposition in order to
rake an impression on the jury. After
,hs tria, the old Du Coudray, father Of
tts victim, is finally induced by the
naLouise's old father to give up
Tie eslasace of Louise's guilt so that it
viii not iang over her all her life. It
IN thsform Of book which Mar
fgng der lawyer, had lent her in the
ass. IN which the victim had written
tiE be knew that Martigny was his
rts lover and that he was going to
Ehim. Asked why she committed tho
Ene, Louise answers that she wanted
aave his life, and she confesses her
be. The lawyer Is surprised, for
ghle he had always loved her no did
not know that she cared for him. In
aead Of falling into each others arms
hey stand there in sad dependency
hinking it over, and then Louise leaves
hin forever, going with her father to
spend Che rest Of her life in northern
Africa.
The ending is not according to ma
ture, and Is properly criticized In Paris
as Illogical, inhuman and useless. They
had both loved each other silently for
years and Martigny, with great self
sacrifice, had just succeeded In saving
her from prison. There was no rea-
/ son why, when the future was clear,
they could not have married. However.
the French audiences love tragic end
iags Ia which all does not end happily.
ihsy sdmire the high ideal Of having
respect Tor the dead overcome the
msngth Of passion, and therein lies
m playa great success. 1t IL play
ms public xill argue over, which means
uH every one must see It to discuss
: misllisently. Even in the press.
aae polsmics between leading law
.sn are dissecting the play, because
as' 'esl that Brieux puts up the ques-
~ whether lawyer should defend
asnt that he knows to be guilty.
Ss cleverness in combining moral
= PROFESSIONAL problems Of current
ssss has been one Of the main
aa for his popularity.
ias Little Chocolate Girl" four
s0msdy by Paul Gavault, at the Va
''s iaeater, is a light spicy little
~ Which is having q repetition Of
success 1t had in 1909. It's charm
= sae two protagonists, the impetu-
salamine and Felicien, the happy
s,assf who, for love of love and horror
ssaaiiey, becomes matchmaker and
','0ps tenderness between the
sfsnd Paul.
interest Is carried on this slen-
ne throughout the four acts be-
oasault subtly gives an impress
= mat felicien may have an eye on
- 'uacoiate kings daughter for him
e.s,.e ne made a deep impression on
N. Miae, but up to the time that his
model, the beautiful Rosette, who
~ M ann intensely. self-sacrificingly
-. 70 leave him SO that he can
hs;. aug get along in the world, the
M not sure of his intentions.
s has touched up the play
a.. -sps N order to introduce witt
~. oa current events. which the
pca theaterpoer ,ora. -. c,.,