"Madwoman of Chaillot," a fantastic farce, was certainly one of the most colorful productions of the year. Set in the Chaillot section of Paris, "Madwoman" is the story of a group of vagabonds who are worried about a plot to drill for oil in their beloved city. Harrassed by publicity men, barons, prospectors, and similar villains, the heroic defenders unite under the able leadership of the Countess Aurelia and vanquish the enemy in a single afternoon. The play brims over with absurd and wonderful characters: Josephine, who patiently waits to see President Wilson, in spite of the fact he's been dead twenty years; the Ragpicker, the very soul of courtesy and generosity; the street singer, who repeats endlessly a single line of a mazurka, hopefully waiting for someone to sing the entire song for him; Constance, devoted owner of a little dog named Dickie, invisible, unfortunately, to everyone else; the Sewer King, who is distressed by the Sunday Supplement writers who claim he has a race of girls who are never let above ground (lilt's a lie. They naturally come up for Christmas and Easter."); Aurelia, herself, unofficial ruler of Chaillot, who once changed men when she grew tired of their names, but now changes only the name (It's so much easier). The setting of the play enhanced the atmosphere with bright-colored lights suggesting the buildings of Paris. The play disposes finally and fittingly of all the evil in the world. IIMADWOMAN 144
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