OF FIRST-CLASS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 16

OF FIRST-CLASS.

THEATRICAL DISPUTE S

CONTROVERSY IN PARIS, v

•' PARIS. A first-class theatrical dispute is ing over the most successful play "in Paris. This - is Jean Cocteau'p "Les Parents Terribleg," arid its violent story °f the morbid jealousy which a mothershows towards her, adored young, son's sweetheart, who happens also to have been the mistress of the boy*s ;is a theme of Greek tragedy placed in - a setting. of rather shabby modern Boheinianism. ' The management conceived the gather surprising: notion of .offering an invitation matinee of the play to the schoolchildren iof Paris, or at least to those over sixteen. •

TKis proposal was discussed by the municipal' 'council, jwhof alaci ,iafph\fa be the- 'landlords of the Theatre de 3 Ambassadors, where the; play given— of Paris owns several theatres,; ampng^.them the Sarah Bernhardt; the Chatelet, the Marignyand the (laite Jiytiqiie: After a debate i» WhjcK u great deal of moral indignation was expressed, it was decided to bring the tenancy to an end at ten * days'-, notice, which-.happen;! :,to be possible, as the theatre wag only let provisionally, pending the granting oil s ne,please. The run of the play will not be affected, ae it will be transferred else-. where, but tlie jpad<? about it by, municipal counoillors wilt form the suhject of .an action for libel in which both the author and the manager demand Meanwhile- the lease of the theatre is to -be granted to Henri |fcrnetelu,l the: atttiitl'- - manager : ..who t ha»,.|ittterio prddiicqd'#s plays at the Gymnas'e, and tile quarrel' is complicated,ibj«'th»i fa^^tggtte; house, and fhat Henri Bernstein has promised him that' Jin tfOUMi qotJbeßa candidate for the lease.