The New York herald., 1922-07-09
George Middleton, Author,
Reviews the Paris Season

season There one occasionally finds
Brieux's Robe Rouge" but aside from
that the playwright has done little ex-
cept to bring out complete edition Of
his extended tn eater.
Bataille's two plays were practically
failures and 1t is generally admitted
they were much coarser than the sub
tleties one enjoys at the Comedle when
Pierat plays La Marche Nuptiale. The
gossip is that Batailles death was
hastened by this sense of failure and
his personal differences with certain
critics.
Bernstein has only done a revival Of
lie Voleur with Simone in her old part,
and Maurice Donnays new play writ
ten In collaboration did not live up to
the authors reputation. Tristan Ber-
nard has been very active and has two
new plays on the affiche. Capus has
done nothing, as he too is wholly occu-
pied with the Figaro.
Guftry Continues Triumph.
But Sacha Guitry continues his tri-
umphal way. Violating most Of the
conventional rules OF the theater, he
has succeeded. as Antoine points out, In
imposing a new type OF play upon his
public. All forms are mixed in his new
comedy La Petite Main qui Sc Place"
-burlesque. soliloquy. farce, high
comedy, psychology based on a sub
stratum OF serious satire which keeps
the audience in continuous laughter.
He described it to me as ''une piece
seriuse pour rire.'
1t Is easily the wittiest comedy now
running, and in my opinion. with the
exception OF La Prise De Berg Op
zoom, his most sustained and anus
ing. And II ia acted with an elan
and verve which add luster to the
dialogue. for Guitry relies greatly on
the manner of Interpretation and de-
tailed stage business. The way he and
yvonne Printemps can bat bubbles
about without breaking one must be
the admiration and despair of all light
comedians. The play. any way near
az we'll acted, should duplicate It's sue
cess In America, where IL is soon going
II gossip Is true our best known pro-
ducer has bought It.
savofr in Banco duplicated the sue
cess of La Huitleme Femme de Barbe
Blue. william Harris has obtained this.
I hear. and it's wit and splendid con-
ought to transplant easily after one
gets over little question of marital
morality involved. The author himself
prints two cndinss. but the audience
here spoke very decidedly for romance
rather than morality.
Another play which Is going to Amer
lea Is LA Hcure du Berger" This lacks
the sophisticated appeal made by lie
Rubicop" the same authors well known
comedy here considered among the best.
Bourdet In his new play has on the con-
trary treated simple love story with a
charm OF sentiment which should make
Il a popular success with US. Curiously
enough. the ending as printed was not
the one played for. In this instance. the
audiences demanded the more conven-
tional finish rather than the one the
author apparently preferred. All of
which makes II better for the Anglo
Saxon.
The other play on the afficbe which
we will have next season Is "Aimer."
have already spoken OF Geraldy's
psychological trio on matrimony. which
will be enhanced n It's three parts are
interpreted with the promised discre-
tion. Miss Grhee George, who has been
here, will undoubtedly find congenial
role In the wife Charles Mers's Ia