The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-03-11
The Horrors Of Sardou's La
TOSca.
FANNY DAyENPORT'S CURIo.
4 Bid adaptation From tho Lcud
French-Latest Amusement
Notes.

York, where, one week ago last nlght.
the new Broadway Theatre was thrown
open for the first time to the pubic,
and the latest efforts of Sardou's genius,
La Tosca, was given its first represen-
tation in America.
We surrender a good part of our
column this morning, to give the story
of this luridly horrible drama. 1t is
something of a curiosity in its way, as
illustrating to what an extent the
French stage dares to go; and is still
more OF curiosity as illustrating the
sublime nerve-not to say gall-which
Miss Fanny Davenport must possess to
have such monstrosity rendered into
English.
Victorien Sardou has chosen Rome
for the scene of his new play. The
period is June 16, 1900, two days after
the battle of Marengo. The heroine is
Floria Tosca, q cantatrice, an-out-and-
out Catholic and an ultra royalist. The
hero is Mario Csvaradossi, a painter.
Mario's father was a Roman patrlclan,
and from him he fnherits his passion
for art. His mother was a French Wo-
II,
instincts and principles famed into
fame by the French Revolution. Mario
is a thorough republican. As such he
is looked upon with an evil eye by the
Bourbons, then reigniUg at Rome, and is
suspected and watched by The Roman
police.
The young artist, Mario Cavarsdossi.
is sitting alone in the church of st. An
drea, paInLIug Suddenly man with
dishevelled hair and excited connie
nance comes bounding through
window, rushes up to Mario and ex-
claims:
''Save me! 1 have escaped from the
Castle st AngelO!"
This msn whom Mario at first takes
for q malefactor, is Ceasare Angelotti,
arepubiican, who foS political offences
aggravated by the fact that he had been
the paramour in London of Lady
Hamilton, wife of the British AmbasSa-
dor to Rome-has been arrested and
sentenced to death. Mario swears
friendship to ADgelotti and promises TO
save him. They arrange to go to Mario's
villa in the outskirts of Rome and
thence escape to the frontier.
AN INGENIOUS RUsE.
Angelotti, beardless youth OF nine
teen, clothes himself in some female
garments that Mario has with him in
the church for his model. The dis
guise is perfect and Angelotti, holding
an exquisite fan in his hand and lean
ing like Young bride on Merio's arm,
walks on unsupported through the
streets of Rome. and the pair arrive IN
safety at Mario's studio.
nj nf
Castle, whose completely has enabled
AngeIotti to get out of prison, being
tortured by order OF Baron SCarpia
confesses that Angeiotti fed to the
Church of st. Andrea. Baron Scarpia
hastens to the church and learns that
Angelotti has escaped in company with
the painter in the garb of woman.
Scarpia with a. squad of detectives,
goes to Marcos studio. but no trace of
the fugitive is found, except Angelotti's
fan. Scarpia is, for a moment oaffied:
but brilliant idea occurs to him, and
this is the key of the entire tragedy.
woMAN's JEALOUSY.
Floria Tosca is Mario's mistress, and
in spite of the violent contrast in their
religious and political creeds, La Tosca
and Mario love each other as passion
ately as Romeo and Juliet. Scarpia,
who combines the wisdom of the ser
pent with the malignity OF the wildcat
determines to work La Tosca into
paroxysm of Jealousy, and thus utilize
the cunning aud craft of a jealous
woman to discover Augelotti's where
abouts.
La rosca is brought to Mario's studio.
She is made to believe that Mario has
run off with a lady. She sees the fan
of her supposed rival left behind in the
hurry of their fight, and as La Tosca
glares at the fan, she feels convinced
that it is the damning proof of her
lovers guilt. The dramatic situation
here created by Sardou can be COM
pared only with the handkerchief scene
in "Othello." La Tosca turns almost
pale green with jealousy, while Scarpia,
with insidious, Iago-like adroitness,
spurs her on to fury.
HOW SHE Is MADE USE OF.
The whereabouts OF Mario's country
house, veritable lovers nest, which
has served as a trysting place for La
Tosca and Mario, is known to no one
else in Rome. La TOsca starts at once
IOr ILLS fllidi duO Cuc pOllCcJ WAtAOut
her knowing or even suspeoting it.
shadow her. She opens with her key.
gate leading into the garden, finds Mario
and overwhelms him with reproaches.
Mario reveals the truth, and points to
Angelott, still hsIf-attired in his female
costume. La Tosca grasps the situation
in an instant, and the lovers fall into
each others arms. at the same instant
a noise is heard outside the villa. 1t is
the police.
La Tosca, horror stricken at the con-
sequences of her burst of jealousy, re-
solves to protect the fugitive even at
the cost of her own life. La Tosca and
Mario conceal Angelotti in a grotto.
Scarpia and the police burst into the
villa. and demand Angelotti. La Tosca
and Mario reply that they don't know
where he is.
A vILLAINoUs sTRATAGEM.
Scarpia becomes furious and COM
mands six great, strspping policemen
IN seize Mario and place him in an ad-