Romain COOLUS (1868-1952). Autograph manuscript... Lot 83

Romain COOLUS (1868-1952). Autograph manuscript signed, Notes dramatiques, [December 1896]; 17pages in-8 on linen paper (edges a little frayed). Theatrical chronicle of the premiere of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi, December 10, 1896, at the Nouveau Théâtre, for the 4th season of the Théâtre de l'Œuvre, directed by Lugné-Poe. Romain Coolus's article appeared in La Revue Blanche on January 1, 1897, which also published Jarry's response to the critics under the title Questions de Théâtre."Ah! it was a beautiful and historic evening, the premiere of Ubu-Roi! Since then, literature, art and politics have been imbued with Ubu; on all sides, people love Ubu; they fight for Ubu, and for Ubu they kill each other. [...] M. Jarry has been strongly scolded and the press has ferulated him in a fine way"... Coolus quotes the lecture Jarry gave before the performance... "Be that as it may, a great deal of fun was had that evening and ever since! So M. Jarry has no small claim on our gratitude. However, I like Ubu Roi only half-heartedly, and here's why: I would have liked more vehemence and unexpectedness in the fantasy; the genre admitted, it doesn't seem to me that the author has made the most of the absolute, complete freedom he had granted himself. [...] Far from reproaching M. Jarry for excess, I'm tempted to complain that he didn't push his outrageous verve to the point of extravagance. In a word, in my opinion, he is wrong not to disconcert violently enough. What's more, the language he lends to his muckrakers can be excessive, with a Rabelaisian edge and truculence. I found it too classic, too correct and too wise. [...] Ubu Roi was a curious show that was rather foolishly received. People were generally disappointed, as if Jarry had promised the world the gospel of future art"... Etc. Then Coolus evokes Firmin Gémier, who made the role of Ubu "an unforgettable type", and the staging constituting "a kind of new theatrical language"... The rest of the article is devoted to Brieux's L'Évasion at the Théâtre-Français, a revival of Sardou's Divorçons, plus some theatrical news.