The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-05

Look from an Actress that LIS a Miracle of
Tragedy and Unsurpassed by Rachel.

Tragedy and Unsurpassed by Rachel.
Paris Correspondence Boston Traveller.
Sarah Bernhardt in Theodore" is one of the
events of the season Ii is fine drama, by
Vlctorien Sardou in which we have the old
story of the beautiful daughter of the bear
keeper, born-let US say, in the year 500, and
destined to rise from the spanged slipper of the
dancer to the imperial purple of the empress.
The enigmatical character of Theodore, who
held Justinian in her power all her lfe-ths
beautiful. clever, imperial, bad creature-was
never SO well illustrated as by Sarah Bernhardt,
who goes from the empress to the daughter OF
the people, with a.. bound as impressive, and
powerful in BOTH as was the original. She is a
woman of remarkable reading and intelligence,
or she could never have mastered so completely
this historic role. August Marrast says of Theo-
dora in his ''Vie Byzantine au vi Steele: 1.-THE
empress Joined to superior mind culture,
an audacious and indomitable character She
put an energy into the accomplishment of her
purpose. She OWNED the intention of her ad.
versares, while she remained mpenetrable No
one was a more faithful friend, nor more pitt
less enemy. In the luxurious life which her In
valid condition rendered necessary - for
she could only live by sort of in
terminable hot bath she found still the
time and energy to interest herself in all the
cares of state. She rallied the wits, disputed
the doctors, laughed at fate, but compelled it.
and inundated her victims with the superb calm
with which Apollo fayed Marsyas. Justinian
loved this vagabond Phryne with one of those
overwhelming. absolute passions which are pe-
culiar to laborious and concentrated men.
Theology and the Papdects had their day, bat
his love for Theodore endured forever" Such
are the stormy couple and their more stormy
history which Sardou has taken for the hero and
heroine of one OF the most striking of all mod
ern dramas '"The inevitable Eros found them
out and The odora, in the drama, is carrying
on a secret intrigue with old lover who
is at the head of conspiracy to kill the en-
peror. Andreas does not know tnat the beautl-
full widow of silk merchant, whom he has
rescued from an earthquake, is the hated and
wicked empress whom he denounces The
scene is in Constantinople, where women are
always yelled. He has never seen the face OF
the empress nor that of his adored Myrta.
Sarah Bernhard has here grand and unusual
opportunity for her splendid dramatic talent.
She first appears in splendid salon, surrounded
with Byzantine magnihcence, receiving with
naughty nonchalance the homags of the world.
After the necessary time given to public
duties she bounds off her couch, and
is the dancer, the daughter of the
people It seems scarcely moment before
she appears ia the most classic, simple, and per-
fectly artistic dress, ready to go veiied to the
house of an old magician, who sells love phil
ters Here she finds some tigers and bears
chained and the daughter of the bear keeper
plays with them through the bars, teasing her
old play fellows This is a wonderfully pretty
scene. She gets her love phiter, and goes to
the young Greek her AndreaS, whom she loves.
Her love making, her sinuosity, her creeping,
insidious charm. recall the serpent of old Nile.
"The honest and pure passion of Andreas for
his unknown Myrta makes him forget his SOM
Der intentions, and Theodore forgets her great
ness-all is exquisite like two young lovers of
the golden age listening to the nightngales--
when Andreas suddenly. after promising her
that he will abandon couspiracies on general
principles, mentions his horror of that Infamous
empress, that wretched Tbeodora, the worst and
lowest Of women! In his wrath he looks away
from her, although she is lying with her head
resting on his knees. She raises her veil for
air-the audience sees the face that he does not
see; and what face! Rachel naversurpassed its
1t is a miracle of tragedy. Then comes a SUI
perb scene between the emperor and empress.
The crafty, cowardly Jussinian. obedient to her
light caprices, IS troubled by the rumors of
disaffcction and revolt Theodore counsels pa
thence and promises to save him. The part
of Justnian is played by young actor. Phil
lippe GARNER, who has been trained for the
part from his extraordinary resemblance