Evening star., 1926-10-24
Pirandello, Dramatist, Stages Mock Duel
For Unique Breakfast Party at His Villa
BY BEATRICE BASKERVILLE
World Correspondent At Rome.

"OriO CorfesDOndent Al Rome.
UIGI PIRANDEL1O, Italian
writer Of grotesque plays and
novels. whose six Cnara cters
IL in Search OF an Author" puz-
zled New York three years
ago. stage-ma eed lately a real duel
which turned out aS comically as that
in his play Every Man in His Own
way" Despite his 60-odd years. Pi-
randello. Pirrie for short. did his pa TT
Of the business with as much Zest as he
gave to the ma ma ging of his own little
theater in Rome a couple Of Winters
back.
private duel we're:
Massimo Rontempeli playwright.
Giuseppe Unga relli. author.
AEesilao Greco. fencing master.
Doctor.
Pira ndello, or Pirrie for short.
Flappers.
Two pine trees (musnt he left out
on any accounD.
On one never.to- be forgotten Sunday,
whom sutry heat enveloped the City
Of Rome. the populace of the Seven
Hills was treated to this unique liter
ary duel.
Pirrie's villa is near the catacombs
Of ct. ARnese twhat every tourist
knows) T4ere are two pine trees in
the Rarden-not much else, beca use
the villa is new
The windows were frightened on the
sensa tional occasion by happers in
long hair. Rohbed and shingled head
haven't reached the villa as yet: it in
too far out. The sweet young things
had heard Gabrielliuo D'Annunzio
don't confuse with his father. who
never plays second part in any com
edy) was to second one Of the duelists a.
"A the curtain goes mp tsunrise) Pr
rie Ia strokine his long heard as he
leans out Of the bathroom window. His
scarlet paia mas supply local color. He
looks down upon the cement walk.
Here are Massimo Bontempelli-duel-
ist No. I. with his seconds, Gabriellino
and Baron Baratelli. Fencing Master
Agesilao Greco. left center. polishes
two swords with vim and vigor.
Pirrie-I hope there ia woman in
he case.
Greco thourishes both swords at
oncet-No. it's about me.
Pirrie-What world we live in.
How we deteriorate.
Doctor fopenink scalpel case(-It IL
all about whether Greco In good
swordsmAn or not.
Pirrie (disa ppoint edp-Whst a pity
I hoped for little randall. They told
me
Rontempelli-They told a mountain
, Of lies. But everybody in his own way.
You have said so. Pirrie. dear, on a
hundred stages.
At the moment trngarelli the other
duelist. rushes on. followed by his aec-
onds. Nardelli and Itaro. He could not
and a baron. needful for all self.re-
specting duels. because the only one
who had not gone out OF town for the
dead season had been snapped up by
Bontempelli.
Pirrie (hansink out OF the Window
Ungarelli! Isn't there 0 woman in it?
Ungarelli twho wears American
spectsclea and looks very hoteOf
course not
Pirrie Throwing A. stump Of his
cigarette on TO the pergolarWhat a
sha me-
Bontempelli tseeing opponent. rushes
across the dueling ground and holds
out both hAndseHere you are at last
ca rissimo! Tries to embrace him, but
Greco. the four seconds and the doc.
tor. Mortified. drag him away)
UnEarelli-My God, Save me from
his embrace truna wildly from one end
Of the cement to the other. then, spot.
ting the larger pine. climbs up it.)
won't make 1t up. won't.
Bontempelli brushes TO the foot Of
the tree. but is dragged of by the
united efforts of seconds. doctor and
fencing mAster}--Pirrie. You must
listen If the other won't. If only he
comes down from that pine tree I'm
ready to admit he WAS right ANA was
Wrnng! i7ac