Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-11

the French to see such a very immoral play come to them from the Anglo Saxon Yankee stage. There i6 not one line of virtue from beginning to end, and the religious cant of the first act is rather more unpleasant than interesting been listened to at all, for there Is no plot, and the French, not having read the book. to any extent at least, could not sympathize with the local surround lngs, customs, and habits of the people represented. I may as we'll say right here that the drama was ably cast throughout. It could not be said that Sarah was not supported well, and yet there was no one but her. The play Is too familiar to you, in it's English version, to require comment, and the book Is equally known.
 But, also, that it must be said, when Sarah began, the Paris folks noticed that her voice seemed thinner than usual, in spite of apparent physical strength and greater youthfulness than ever. But to those familiar with the excessive require ments of the role and the peculiar meth ods of the actress, this calm, soft, some- times inaudible voice, constantly pitched high in head tones, meant Simply prepara- hon and reserve. During the entire first act there was ennui for the perfection of Bernhardt's by-play Is so we'll known, and the crowded audience, representing all the 6rst-nighters, the Bourse, tho clubs, journalists and the theatres, waited and watched for the play. In Act II Bernhardt began to warm to her task, and from the moment that her silvery, nervously-anxious laugh responded to Jacks decision to play game of cards In her rooms, Bernhardt carried the drama, the actors and the public by storm. Every gesture was perfect, and how sim pie 1t all seemed! Her attitude, as she listened to the love declaration of one of her many suitors, trying to find there the depth and strength of her own passion for Ramsay, was poem in itself. It is In the silent work, so to speak, that Bern hardt Is the greatest; she finds so many points, little natural touches, that are Just what one would do If graceful and | refined, and yet that no actress ever seems to meet but genius and master mind.
 In the third act, at Monte Carlo, the whole scene may be called a Bernhardt one; there Sarah becomes a comedy queen in her pleasant rambling conver- sation with the Russian Dromiroff. It Is exactly such wit, such intonation, and coquettish hint that one could and should meet with in mondaine of assured posi- ton, who can afford to chat comfortably, openly and frankly with & man outwardly gentleman, but absolutely unknown yesterday. In the end, in the card scene, l the gradatiOns of inward dread and fear and the forced outward composure were we'll observed, and the final love declara- ton to Ramsay was thoroughly charm ing. Sarah was sixteen for the nonce. The interest naturally enough was con- centrated upon the last act, for a great death scene had been pompously an nounced and promised. As Sarah sat in her long, white silken robe, chatting quietly with her husband and the tried the snow-olad window panes and the winter landscape beyond, the group made a pleasant picture, and yet every one felt nervous for that climax to come.
 The death scene has never been sur passed on any stage and It's sober, earn. est realism and natural tear-flling pathos will never be forgotten. It may not take long, but 1t seems great while, for 1t Is so full and yet so simple. Sarah gets out her book and seems to shrink from writing the last lines, and she toys with ( jeweled dagger and gradually the effects of the poison appear to steal over her, te dim the brain. and yet leave 1t sympa thetic to facts, to passing noises. Sh' her chair, but finally she does manage tt walk slowly and quietly, but with gigan tic effort, over to the mantel, and there while the soft, piteous gaze neve
 leaves her eyes and the rigid lines abou the mouth seem to deepen and ache she can Just ( asp portrait of her Ram say. She finally totters to the cente
 lounge, and falling there, half reclining half sitting, as her head tnclines quletl, back, the portrait slips from her hant and all seems over.