The New York herald., 1922-12-24
Paris Finally
Sees Artists of
MoScow'S Theater
Turned Back in 1906, Rus
SLAMS Are Now Welcomed
in French Theater.
New York Herald Bureau. I
Paris. Dee. q

Special Correspondence TO THE New York
HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Dee.
T INSTINCT in contrast with intelli-
gence, the man of action in con-
trast with the thinker and the
realist of the country as opposed to
the intellectual of the city are the
dominant ideas developed in "LIvresse
du Sage" the new three act play by
M. Francois de Curel of the French
Academy. just produced for the first
time at the Coincide Franchise. The
first performances We're marked sue
cesses, and critics believe that the
piece will figure for some time on the
Comedie Franchise program.
What pleased the audience was the
fact that Curel in his play seems 10
have laid aside his seriousness for
once and has given a play where
good laugh may be enjoyed Till then
Curers productions had always been
too dramatic and set amid such sur
roundings as in the Comedie Fran
than of distracting his audience.
The plot brings in SGnteredu, a rich
manufacturer who has brought up his
niece Hortense, an orphan whose guar
dian he is. In modest circumstances,
carefully concealing from her the fact
that she Is heiress to a big fortune, in
order that she may learn to earn her
own living. During her studies at the
Sorbonne Hortense falls in love with
her professor. The latter attracted by
Hortense, falls in love with her, but
cannot marry her because he considers
her too poor and fears that he may not
be able to carry on his philosophical re-
searches II faced with the worries of
maintaining household with small
means.
Sporting Talk Is Enjoyed.
Meanwhile SGnteredu has gone to live
In the country and has taken his niece
with him. Told of the love affair be-
tween HortenSe and the professor San
ferodu arranges to bring the young
couple together. but Hortense preferring
q country life to one in the city and.
having rid her mind of intellectual in
terests. has fallen i'm love with a country
boy. Hubert de Piolet. Breaking with the
professor Hortense marries her country
love. Mile. Pierat as Hortense and NJ.
Bernard as Santeredu play the leading
roles and are repeatedly recalled and ap-
plauded. What particularly pleases
French people in "LIvresse du Sage" is
that there is plenty of sporting talk in
the play.
Considerable excitement has been
caused in theatrical circles by the an
nouncement that La Garconne" prob
ably under some other title, is to see the
footlights. This book by Victor Mar
guerite has probably caused more
criticism in France than any other
work of similar style. II is considered
the most risky thing ever written by a
= French author and it's adaptation to the
mage win probably make the play the
most risky thing seen on French boards
also. Despite criticism. La Garconne"
has now reached a circulation of close to
10000 and presses are kept busy pre-
pairing new editions, so great is the de-
mand
IL VIII be adapted to the stage by a
young dramatic author whose name has
not yet been announced but who Il is
said scored big success when he pro-
duced the farce lie Roi Bolcheyik."
although he was then only twenty years
old.
Tells Sordfd story.
ne pook depicts the life OF n French
society girl still in her teens who is
engaged to young and wealthy manu-
facturer. Two weeks before the day of
the marriage the girl has fallen a vic
tim to the young mans attentions. Be-
tween that time and the date of the
marriage she hears that her fiance has
mistress whom he has decided to
Keep even after marriage. At first dis
believing the report, the girl gets proof
OF the rurnor when, on Christmas Eve,
while out 1T party with her parents
and friends she sees her fiance in COM
pany with his mistress. She thereupon
leaves the party and vows to have her
revenge. She does so in company with
a stranger met while seeking n cab to
go home. She tells her parents her
story, and the father, who needs the
young manufacturers financial assist
ance in his own trade. threatens to
chase his daughter from the home un-
less she marries her fiance. The girl
refuses and leaves home. Her adven-
lures In various degrading circles from
drug taking. becoming the mistress of
various male acquaintances, are then
depicted in detail, until mt last she
meets faithful companion. who. on
one occasion riskcd his life for her.
when a rejected lover shoots at her.
iHtN anu tne ElIi no loHEeI
worries about her family. an attempt
at reconciliation having failed.
Despite the extraordinary display OF
publicity. little success has met the ap-
pearance Of Locus Solus," by Ray
mond Roussel, produced at the Thea
ter Antoine. Futurism and Dadaism
are practically dead and forgotten in
France, and Roussers attempt to re-
vive them will evidently be In vain.
Critics are severe with the play, and the
audiences have not yet shown any en-
thusiasm. The Theater Antoine has
this time made a mistake, and Locus
Solus" Will undoubtedly soon disappear.
Even provincial theater managers re-
fuse to have anything TO do with Il.
Tndefatigabie Sacha Guitry is reported
20 be putting the finishing touches TO
yet another new play which he intends
10 show for the first time shortly before
Christmas at the Edouard VII. "Une
petite main aui sc place" IS TO make
way for the new play. Sacha has not
yet given his new play n tito but II Is
stated that he and his wife. Yvonne
Printemps. Will. ms usual. have the prin-
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