LICENTIOUS PLAYS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue 86, 13 April 1927, Page 1 (Supplement)

LICENTIOUS PLAYS.

BATTLE WITH POLICE STUDENTS CREATE DISTURBANCE PARIS, March 30. University students, acting as self constituted censors, provoked violenl scenes in the Alhambra Theatre ai Lille last evening when they attempt ed to prevent a performance of “La Garconne,” by Victor Marguerite. When the curtain rose the outburst of loud cries and strident whistles completely drowned the actors’ voices. Police expelled the disturbers, but they returned with reinforcements to the theatre doors and created a deafening uproar. Only after a violent battle with police, in which several on both sides received injuries, was order restored.

There is a tendency in France to-day to react against too great license, which, according to opinion in some quarters, is manifested on the stage. The movement already has met with considerable support among student organisations, which several times have caused forceful demonstrations.

M. Victor Marguerite was expelled from the Legion of Honour for writing his much discussed novel ‘‘ La Garconne.’'

M. Marguerite, who is a son of General Marguerite, a hero of the War of 1870, held a prominent place among French novelists, but his reputation was not sufficient to withstand the storm of criticism that followed the publication of “La Garconne.” Even after he had been expelled from the Legion of Honour few of his fellow writers rallied around his banner of protest. An emasculated translated version of the novel was published in America.

“La Garconne” was put into the films in France and soon came under the ban of the French Board of Film Censors who forbade its exhibition. The dramatic version of the novel followed.