Introduction This was a controversial play right from the start. There were a number of critics that thought casting Maude Adams as the rooster was a major mistake. The expectations for the play were low among the critics. They also objected to the entire concept of using animals in place of humans as the main characters of the play. Further, the rooster had been designed to be played by a male; it required it seems quite a bit of physical strength. Critics also argued that Maude Adams did not have the right type of loud voice for the rooster. Still, despite what the critics wrote, the play was considered a commercial success; it ran for 96 performances at the Knickerbocker theater and then went on the road. New York Times, March 30, 1910. MAUDE ADAMS IN CHANTECLER Frohman Engages Louis N. Parker to Adapt the Play for Her. Charles Frohman has arranged with Louis N. Parker to adapt 'Chantecler,' in which Maude Adams will play the chief role, for the American stage. It was Mr. Parker who adapted 'L'Aiglon' for Miss Adams. ===== New York Times Jan. 24, 1911:Miss Maude Adams is a charming actress, gifted as are few players with sensitiveness, intelligence, and the beauty which seems to come from that indefinite, evasive quality defined as soul. Her voice, often vibrant with rich and tender feeling has peculiar power in awakening a response, and she has, in abundant measure, the peculiar quality of personal magnetism which is so essential to theatrical success. But the sum of all her qualities spells woman, if it spells anything at all. her exquisite femininity, indeed, has been most responsible for her success. But whatever Chantacler may be-and to different minds he may be many things-he is never feminine. ===== New York Times Jan. 24, 1911: But more than once the volume of speech and the onrush of the action were too much for her, and the passages became cloudy with the loss of words that did not sound across the footlights. ===== The Sun Jan 24, 1911: There is precious little drama anywhere in Chantecler. The speeches of Chantecler were a pitiful strain on the physical powers of the actress. She could impart no note of masterful ecstasy to her long rhapsodies, abridged as they were. ===== Life Feb. 2, 1911: Through her weak delivery, passages which should have been forceful became commonplace and scenes which should have been stirring were merely interesting. ===== The Tacoma Times Feb. 2, 1911 This is the second bird-maybe the third-that Maude Adams has played. The first was L'Aikglon, The Eagle. And now we have Chantecler. As for the third, which is in doubt, that was Peter Pan. Do you remember how Peter flapped about the stage like a bird? The Knickerbocker theater was jammed fjull on the opening night to see Maude Adams in the title role of Rostand's piece. She was so small and dainty that the piece didn't seem to be named right. It should be called 'La Petit Chantecler,' or 'The Bantam,' for short. The latter name would be doubly suitable, for Miss Adams wears the feathers of a bird of that type. She has to hop and strut about the stage during the entire evening, and whether she can keep it up is a question. Gultry, the great French actor, who played the part, was huge in bulk and strong in muscle. He insisted on giving up the strut and walking like a man. he said his muscles wouldn't stand the strain and that the audience would have to take it for granted that he was strutting like a rooster. The story of the play is too well known to repeat it. The piece wasn't a hit in France. but it was so well advertised beforehand that it had a short, fast run. If Frohman can make a longer run of it here than Rostand did in Paris, he will be a wizard. The chances are, however, that the piece will go on the road to larger cities. ===== The Tacoma times Feb. 15, 1911. New York critics, which one accord, wonder why Charles Frohman selected Maude Adams to play Chantecler in the Rostand piece by that name, which Frohman is presenting at the Knickerbocker theater. There are several places in the play where Miss Adams literally gasps for breath, in attempting to gain a volume of voice suitable to her part which was made for a strong man. Miss Adams has to crow many times and to make long speeches. Much of the beauty of the splendid ode to the sun is lost because of the inadequacy of the volume of Miss Adam's speaking tones. The play is billed to run only eight weeks in New York. The settings are surpassingly fine. ===== The Independent, Feb. 23, 1911. Now, Miss Adams was admirable as Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up, and could play with propriety the effeminate Aiglon, but Chantecler is the personification of masculinity, and for a woman to aspire to that role is sheer presumption. ===== The American March, 1911: Instead of the rampant, purse-proud, mock-valiant Chantecler one saw a sweet little feminine bird trying to assume virility, but swamped her human charm. ===== The Tacoma Times June 1, 1912. In all the magnificence of its poetic and feathered plumage, Charles Frohman will present Rostand's celebrated play, 'Chantecler' at the Tacoma Thursday with Maude Adams in the role of the cock. It is always a pleasure to greet Miss Adams and her coming at this time is in the nature of a treat, as Rostrand's play is not only biggest novelty that the stage has to offer, but a drama that in treating of all the passions of the human soul, is full of rich poetry and fine literary qualities. Miss Adams is seen to much advantage in the drama. her declamation of many of the beautiful passages in the drama is full of fire. over seventy people take part in the fantasy of the barnyard. Everything about the drama will be the same as it was in New York, where it ran for the greater portion of last season. ===== The Oakland Tribune Dec. 9, 1937. Maude Adams Wins Plaudits for 'Chantecler'. Insistent cheers called a 65-year-old Maude Adams back to the stage here last night after another successful performance of Rostand's 'Chantecler.' As thrilled as when, nearly three decades ago, she had her own first night as the star of the French play, Miss Adams told her audience. 'My work with this play has given me something I will cherish the rest of my life. You have made me very happy.' A capacity crowd of nearly 1000 lavished applause as a cast of 150 Stephens College girls revived, under the famous actress' directorship, the play which gave Miss Adams one of her two favorite roles. The other was 'Peter Pan.' Miss Adams showed the strain of her two months' preparation. Leaning on a companion, she said: 'In these days when everyone is telling us we must watch the clock and warning us we must not do too much, it is good to have someone like Rostand tell us that is all wrong.' Rostand points out that man must do the work assigned him, even though it does not seem great or wonderful. Miss Adams herself has not been watching the clock. She has risen at 5 a.m. and retired at 10 p.m. devoting most of her 17-hour-day to work on 'Chantecler.' Miss Virginia Branum of La Grange, Ill. played the lead tonight and Miss Carol Hedsbonner of Butte, Mont. the role of the golden pheasant. This is a very different booklet from the other play ones that were turned out. It's more horizontal than vertical, it has some of the story in it, and it's printed on paper that is not as heavy as the other souvenir booklets. I don't know why there is such a difference in the souvenir booklets.
Articles about the play
The original souvenir book
The original play
My Writings
Introduction
Articles
Souvenir Booklet
