FAMOUS ACTOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13866, 31 March 1909, Page 3

FAMOUS ACTOR.

LOSS TO FRENCH STAGE. Like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky (says a Paris message of January 2/th) came the news to Jfaris to-day of the death of M. Coquelin aine at Pont aux Dames. AVith him disappears one of the greatest histrionic tigures of tho age. , t i To all intents and purposes ho died in harness. Ever since he made, his debut at the Theatre Francaise fortyseven years ago as " Gros-ltene" in " Depit Amourcux," ho had lived in the sunshine of popularity, but there was still one more triumph' which he had hoped to live to achieve. He was to have appeared in M. Edmond Rostand's " Chantecler," which was shortly to be staged at the Porte St. Martin Theatre. It was to have been the crowning point of his wonderful career. "Others," paid he recently, laughingly discussing the subject, "made their final exit wth the setting sun. Mine shall be made with the rising sun, a humorous reference to the fact that he would be the cock, or farmyard rooster, in "CliHiiteeler," and would crow to herald the advent of the new-born day. M. Benoit Constant Coquelin, popularly known as Coquelin Aine (or the Elder) was one of the most distinguished comedians of the French stage, some of his most successful impersonations being the valets of Moliero. Born at Boulogne in 1841, he was originallv intended to follow his father's trade of baker, but his love for acting led him to tho Conservatoire, where lie entered Rcgnier's class in 18-50. He won a prize for comedy less than a year after, and made his debut in December 1 SCO at the Comedic Francaise, of which house he became a socictairc four years later, being then only 23. ' ~,-,. M. Coquelin also distinguished himself as a reciter of poetry, and contributed to the reputation of such new poets as MM. Eungonc Manuel and Francois Coppee. During the seige of .Paris berecited nieces which were calculated to raise the courage of the combatants and non-combatants and console the griefs which were inseparable from tho struggle. After the war he ranked amongst the orators at public meetings in Paris and the provinces, and met with considerable success. In consequence of a dispute with the authorities of the Comedic Francaise over the question of his right to make provincial tours in France, M. l Coquelin resigned his position in 1886. Three years later, however, the breach was healed, and after a successful series ot tours in Europe and the United States he rejoined the Comedic Francaise as pensionairc in 1889 with an engagement of six months a year. In 1895 M. Coquelin joined tho company of the Renaissance Theatre in Paris, and played there until he became director of the Porte-St.-Martin Theatre in 1897. There his most notable successes were in "Cyrano de Bcrgerao" and "Plus que Peine." He has since toured in America; and more than once performed in this country, being delighted with his reception in London,. M. Coqnelin's last appearance in Lmidou was during the Franco-British Exhibition at His Majesty's Theatre. His Abbe Gri.ffard in Victorien Sardou s thrilling play "L'Affaire des Poisons n-as a conspicuous success. Ho also plnved Cyrano, his most popular part, and it was remarked that his diction was as fine as ever, and his gestures and facial expression had lost nothing rf their old power. His loss will be al-

most as much felt here as in his own land. • . , . .. In spite of advancing years Ins activitv was asionisiuug, aim one of ins latest achievements was to build an uninflammable theatre in Paris. _ . But for Coquelin, it. is said, M. Felix Faure would never have become President of the French Republic. It-ap-pears that about 1875 Faure was a tradesman at Havre; now and then ho visited Paris, and on such occasions seldom failed to go to ;tho Comedio Francaise, where he made tho acquaintance of Coquelin. One day the latter said to Faure. "Come and sco me between the acts and I'll introduce you to someone who .will bo interested to know you'." The someone turned out to be no less a person than Gambctta, who afterwards persuadod Fauro to take up a Parliamentary career, and helped him towards tho President's chair. .