The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-06
THE PASSION PLAY.
The Reading Of M. Harancourt's
Mystic Poem
BY MADAME SARAH BERNHARDT.
Is Enthusiastically Received : Some Very
Strong and Dramatic Scenes -Rowdyism
and Cries of "Assez de Christ"

/
PARIS, April 5.-[By cable to the New
York Herald. lila Passion" mystic
poem in six parts by Edmund Harancourt,
was read at the Cirque OLIVER last night
by Sarah Berhhardt, Philippe GARNER
and M. Bremant Leamereauxs orchestra
executed selections from Beethoven and
Wagner's prelude to "Parsaval,n the
motive of which from the scene
sympathizing with the Saviour's utterance:
Eat this bread, it is my flesh; drink
this wine it is my blood" was enthusiast
tically applauded. 1t was just before the
prelude that Nine. Bernhardt, robed in
white lowered brocade, looking exactly
one of Albert Durer's paintings of the
Virgin Mary, entered the sale, followed
by MN GARNER and Fremont, attired
in evening dress to interpret the
roles of Christ and Judas Iscariot
The enormous auditorium of the Cirque
d. Hiver was crowded to its utmost capa-
city, 600 persons being present.
The poem is a sort of mystic representa-
ton of ''Ecce Homon The Virgin is a
woman in whom all her natural instincts
and love for her son are in conflict with
| her religious awe and devotion to the vice
gerent of God. Sarah Bernhard read the
lines exhorting Christ to fly and save him
self from torture and crucitixion with an
imprisoned, yet subdued force that
caused profound emotions. The audience
appreciated this and shouts of ssBrayo
Brovoi' and round after round of applause
burst forth when M. GARNER read the lines
OF Christ as he drove the money changers
out OF the temple, and M. Fremont pro
nounced the hooking retorts of Caiphas,
the high priest. Some of the Youngsters
In the gallery made a scandalous demon
stration in favor of the principles adduced
by the publicans, and two or three butcher
boys yelled out, 'Hurrah for the publicans.
They are better than our bookmakers at
| Longchamps."
AS M. GARNER pronounced the words
OF the Savior calling little children to him
and exhorting to charity and repentance,
two or three voices shouted, sAssez de
Christ, assez de Christi The audience
rose to their feet with excitement and
cheered and applauded the actors
men in the premiere seats of the
parquet, the fashionable portion of the
| house, shook their fists at the butcher
boys and the men who had interrupted the
performance and demanded that police
should put them out of the house. IA la
porte, a la porte;" resounded on all sides
and the excitement was tremendous. M.
GARNER, with difficulty made himself
heard as he shrieked Ladies' and gentle
men, do you wish the reading of the poem to
continue or nots If not, we will Withdraw.
"Oui, oui, oui, continuez,'' was heard
from all parts of sale mingled with few
shouts of "Non, non."
Nine. eBernhardt trembled with emotion
aud pressed dainty handkerchief to her.
eyes and wept. There was a perfect nan
demonium. Nothing could be heard until
M. Harancourt, the author, bowed down
to the platform where the actors were
seated and shook them all warmly by the
hand, and facing the tempestuous audience
shouted with stentorian voice: 1.-THE actors
will pause few moments to enable those
persons who are discontinued to retire. y
M. Harancourt was cheered loudly with
shouts of ''Bravo, Harancourt: bravo
bravo.n Then, by the aid of the police
some thirty or forty of the disconnected
left cirque.
This lively and agitating scene had now
lasted half an hour. Sarah Bernhardt and
her fellow actors were pale and nervous
but the audience, with the stormy element
now eliminated, shouted "Continuez. CON
tinuez." Then the reading commenced
again and was deservedly applauded.
M. HarancourtS versifcation is excel
lent. 1t is resonant and thoroughly dra-
matte. The scene between Judas and the
Phaflsee VINO brlbes him is very strong
That between the Savior and the Virgin
just before the crucifxion is very dra-
matte; and is represented with scenery
and stage mechanism are arranged with
open air accessories as at Oberammergau
would be most effective
The Herald correspondent met Sarah
Bernhardt in the lobby just as she was
leaving the cirque. She was rather uerv-
Gus at the movements she had Just passed
through, but more eager than ever to in
terpret LA Passion" with all the cos
tunes add requisite scenery.
Nj. Edmund Harancourt, the author of
La Passion" is one of the most talented
Of the younger French poets. Hesaid:
1--WE wanted very much to have the
piece interpreted in costume, appropriate
scenery and all the stage mechanism neces-
sary for such drama. The authorities
however, were memorable and ali
that could be obtained was
permission to give a reading of the plav in
costume de Vile" 1t is a curious coi2ci-
dence that all of M. Harancourt,s
uncles, and there were eight of
them, were in holy orders. Most
of them persisted in the performances of
their duties as Roman Catholic mission
aries in China Burmah and Brazil, butone
them survived, is now in Bishop G. Thibel