Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-23
SARAH'S TRIUMPH.
Bernharslt's Parisian ..Premier'' I'm
..ErOM-ErOm',-A Q. rnmd ONatiom.


''FrOu-Frou''-A Grand Ovation.
PARIS, September 1S.-Last night was
notable in the annals of Partisan theatri-
Gals. Sarah Bernhardt played "Frou-
Frou" for the first time before Partisan
audience, although she has often played it
elsewhere. Thus it was "premiere' for
the grdHde Grtiste, and the Theatre de Ia
Porte Saint-Nlartin was thronged from pit
to dome by vast audience eager to see
their favorite i'll the character made so ia
nous by the lamented Desclee. 1t was q
typical French premiere, and stranger in
Paris could not have had better oppor-
tunity of seeing the Parisian life of the
theater and the boulevard.
Sarah Bernhardts appearance as "Frou-
Frou' was additionally interesting from
the fact that it was her rentree into Paris
in theater of her own, under her own
management. Inside the house the scene,
TO be sure, was by no means so impressive
or charming as in London or New York
first-class thcaters. The French do not
aspire after handsomely decorated, we'll
upholstered theaters as a rule, and with
one or two exceptions the interiors n e
dingy and apidated-looking. The Porte
st. Martin is not SO bad as some others,
but still there is nothing to call forth ad-
miring comments in the aspect OF its in
| terror.
Outside, however, the scene was charm
| ing. The night was fine and warm; the
boulevards, being crowded, presented al
most an appearance as il there was Il fair.
In the neighborhood OF the theater were
booths for the sale OF oranges, lemonade
and candy. The air was filed with the
cries of their venders There were double
rows of tables out on the sidewalk in front
| OF the brilliantly lighted cafes, fiacre
| drivers cracking their whips, spectators
offering tickets, and vast, light-hearted
| crowd watching the arrivals OF fortunate
holders of seats or content to merely stroll
along, chatting, laughing and flirting be-
meath the gas-illuminated foliage of the
trees, while overheard the brilliant full
moon sailed in 4 cloudless sky. 1t was q
truly Partisan night.
| need only TO say few words about
the performance, which, though new to
| Parisians, is known you. An immense
reception waited the heroine when she
ran lightly on the stage in a beautifully
made dark blue riding habit in which she
looked singularly young and pretty. An
almost equally cordial welcome awaited
Marais, who played "Sartorys, and whose
recent lawsuit, which took $1,000 francs
out of his pocket, is fresh in the minds o
the Parisians.
The progress of Meilhac and Halevy'i
beautiful play was followed with deeI
and close attention and simultaneous
bursts of applause, sometimes twice re
peated, testified to the intense apprecia
ton, especially in the terrible seen,
between the sisters, which, however
was marred by Sarah Bernhardt'
too hurried delivery of the words
and in the still more exciting episode be
tween the husband and the wife when sh,
tries TO prevent him going out to fgh
"Valreas.' Not even in Fedora was poo
Sarah more knocked about. Marais, VIII
is powerful man, flung her on a sofa witt
a violence which seemed really to shocl
the audience.
In most enchanting and tender contras
TO this was the last scene, where the great
ness. and genius of the actress was dis
played in her simple, natural and deeply
affecting rendering of the last moments 9
the poor little giddy victim of self-wille-
disposition and untoward circumstance,
There was not dry eye in tn
/ house, while, with pale, draw
, face and longing looks, the dy
ing girl, with her husband, chilc
= sister and father around her, murmure
l her sad farewell to life: "Tu prendras pa
mi mes robes de bal une robe blanche;