The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

this depreciation amount to? What
is Sardou's object in writing "Fedo-
rap His object is to make a heap of
money. How does he attain his end ?
BY employing every means at a dra-
matist's dispOsal-pathos, terror, pity,
tenderness, strangeneSS-and by COM
posing a role of such compleXity
that it brings into relief all
the phases of the splendid talent of
Sarah Bernhard. What other actress
could produce the effects she does?
confess frankly to my critical interlo-
cutor, "Oui, monsieur, je coupe dams
cette arande saltim-banque."
must say word about Sarah's
dresses. Worth, Felix, and Norm, of
Vienna, have all been called upon to
furnish four toilets, one for each act
of the piece. Which dresses Sarah
will wear on the first night, on
Monday, neither l nor Sarah
can tell. Reader, 1 am obliged
to post my letter before that event
full evening. AT the rehearsal on Sat-
urday Sarah appeared in three dresses.
Here is the dress of the first act: Sky
blue damask lame with silver flowers;
skirt embroidered satin pompadour
and gold; very short sleeves with loops
of ribbon; tawny gloves coming up
above the elbow; the dress is draped
with a tichu of Chinese crepe falling
over the skirt and covered with silver
pamphlets; corSage open to a point and
edged with rolls of white tulle; opera
cloak of drab satin plated all over,
bordered with silver fur and lined
crimson. Dress of second act-a spec
tacular costume of bouton dor satin
entirely covered with embroidery of
plush, floss silk and iridescent beads;
train of fire colored plush lined with
satin bouton dor; corSage square cut,
with cascades of red and gold fringe
twining round halfway down the
train; gold fringe round the bottom of
the skirt and above three rows
of gold beads; corsage with shout
der straps; long gloves; large fan
of yellow ostrich feathers. The third
dress is of the Princess form, of pale
blue brocade, with large flowers; half
sleeves; jabOt and tablier of Alencon
lace; epauletS; Directory sash of pale
blue; Marie Stuart collar. The Curl
osity of the Parisians is at high pitch.
The whole house is already let for the
ten performances In spite OF the raised
prices of seats. AS much as 70O
francs and $40 francs was paid for a
stall for the first night.
1t is to be noticed that Fedora" is a
piece of such a nature that it can be
played before any audience. 1t con-
tains none of those risky situations
which often render French plays I'M
possible elsewhere than in the indul-
gent city of Paris. l suspect Sardou
has been Intentionally careful on this
point, with a view of increasing his
profits, which will amount to some
thing like el2,0O0. A run of so many
nights is guaranteed at the Vaude-
vile; Sarah Bernhard has paid
big sum for the right of starring"
the piece in Belgium, Spain and Italy;
a German manager has bought the
right for the Teutonic countries; and
l hear that NJ. NJ. l.. Mayer has paid
e20OO for the English and American
copyright. AT this rate play-writing
is worth the candle. Apropos, and
to wind up this subject, you must no
longer speak of Sarah as Sarah. The
thing is now to call he la grande ira
gedienne.