French theatricals

Monday, February 28th., Hotel Bristol, Paris.

The Andre Maurois'

Lunch at the Andre Maurois' at Neuilly, and met Madame Maurois. Present also: Mimi and husband, Jouvet (director of the Comedie des Champs Elysees) and the Comte and Comtesse Guy de Pourtales (he being the author of the new life of Liszt). He is a hearty bright fellow. Both Dorothy and I were very pleased with Jouvet, but had no opportunity to talk to him. Maurois took me aside, and told me formally that he wished to adapt "Milestones" for the French stage, and I have informally given him permission and told him that he could have a free hand to alter it as he thought best. The Pourtales drove us back to the hotel. 


We dined at the Cheval Pie and then walked to the "Studio des Champ Elysees" for a rendezvous with the Maurois' and Maurice Baring, who had come over in the afternoon, to see "Maya". We had a private directorial box, and it was very hot and hard with a very side view. The play is drawing all Paris because it is about the life of grues at Marseilles. it is very dull and artistically is not a bit better than "Le Souris d'hotel" that we saw the other evening at the Edouard VII."Maya" was apparently a flop when first put on stage three years ago but has been revived by Gaston Batty. maurois attributes much of its success to a striking poster designed by Paul Colin. It is certainly strong and effective.

Wartime worries

Wednesday, April 10th., Yacht Club, London.

Too much occupied and preoccupied with the British defeats, the government proposals for increasing the army, the publication of "The Pretty Lady", political journalism, the gardening and household difficulties, chill on the entrails, neuralgia, insomnia, Marguerite's illness, the nightly rehearsals in the small drawing-room of a play for the Red Cross performance at Clacton, and my new play - to be bothered with this journal or notes of any kind. However, I did at last, in spite of all distractions, get my play going, and it is going. 

Meeting of British War Memorial Committee this afternoon. Beaverbrook arrived. He told me that he liked "The Pretty Lady" better than any other book of mine, and better than any other modern book. Needless to say, I took his praises with a pinch of salt but praise is praise. As regards sales, I hear it is 'doing very nicely'. With Beaverbrook I am trying to ensure that young artists, including those seen as modernist or avant garde, are commissioned by the Committee over older artists with nothing original to say.

Maurice Baring

Maurice Baring and Frank Swinnerton dined with me tonight at the Yacht Club. After F.S. had gone Maurice grew communicative about the war. Knows Haig. Thinks him a real personality with grit, decision, and power of command. Never rattled, a good soldier, but not a genius. No reserves in France. Depots empty. Lloyd George always refused to look at facts, but liked ideas, grandiose etc. for a new stunt. Cabinet did not believe in German offensive. Soldiers did. Haig told Cabinet long ago facts as to inferiority of manpower, and expected them to be frightened out of their lives. They were not as they did not believe in the possibility of an offensive. Maurice expects an attack on Haig next. He didn't think we should lose the war - we could hold on and Germans would crack. He said that Haig had no desire to conceal the facts as to lack of troops, and spoke freely of them and permitted others to do so. Unfortunately of course one can't print the facts; although the Germans probably know them pretty well.