The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-25
ART OF BERNHARDT.
Great French Actress Grandly
Portrays Fedora.
VERY BRILLIANT AUDIENCE.
Rouses Her Hearers to Great Enfhus-
fasm-FIne Company and Costumes
-Bernhardt After Bear.

baran bernhBrdt gave brilliant peffOrr1Ance
OF Fedora" in Cordray's theater last evening
before one OF the largest and best audiences
ever gathered In seattle Every seat, up stairs
and down, was taken, the boxes were Allied and
people were standing in the aisles The play
was warmly received, as was shown BY the fre-
quent and hearty applause.
In the boxes were Colonel aud Mrs. J. c. Haines,
Mr.. and Mrs. A. z. MacCulsky, Judge and Mrs
Thomas Burke, Miss Buck, Mr.. w. y. Bailey,
Mr.. X. b. AIbertson, DR.. J. Eugene Jordan aud
party, Mr. Samuel Rosenberg and party OF
friends. and Mr.. and Mrs. Erastus Brainerd.
Seated in the body Of the house were Judge and
Hrs. II. g. Strive, Mr.. and Mrs. A b. stewart,
Mr.. and Mrs. Z. Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. T.
Lobe, Major and Mrs. Hayden Mcclellan, Ar.
and Mrs. Il. r. wfttler Mr.. and Mrs. John W
Hanna, Miss Hanna, SIR. and Mrs. Charles IL.
Kittinger, Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Furth, MISS
Furth, Mr. Job P. Lyon, Major and Mrs. James
Il. Hayden, Mrs. E. r. Ferry, Dr. and Mrs
Charles A. Walsh, Miss Warw ,.
Mr.. and Mrs. f. o. Graves, Miss
shaubut, Professor and Mrs. 7. C. Richardson.
Mr. aud Mrs. II. Frsuenthsl, DR.. and Mrs q. a.
Rawson, Mr. and Mrs. j. y. Eshelman, Mr.
Alexander Begg; the Misses Begg, MISS Aiiee
Egan, Mr.. and Mrs. Maurice Mchieken, NJ. ana
Mrs. John r. Fay, Misc Emma Thursby' Coionei
and Mrs George g. Lyon, DR.. Frank
lin s. Palmer Mr.. Howard Joshn,
Mr. and Mrs W. G. HeiIbrOn, Mr. J. g. Potyin,
Mr.. James ]. Easily, Mr. Fred K strive, MSS
strive, Mr. William NJ Harrington, Dr. aud
Mrs. William y. Giddings, Ar. and Mrs otto
Ranke Miss Ranke, Str and Mrs. u. F. Baxter,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph F. Mcknight, the Misses
Mcknight Captain ard Mrs T. A. Hin, Mr. and
Mrs George II. Heilbron, Professor ard Mrs Y.
A. Pusey Dr. II E. Merkel, Mr. J. N. L. Atkinson,
Mr. and Mrs J. D. Lowman, Mr.. Frank Rising,
Miss Broderck. Of Victoria; Mr.. ". IL. Davis,
Mr. A. d. Charlton, OF Portland; Mr.. NJ. 3. Drew,
g.. IL.
J A. Hatfield, Mr. George +, Fay, Mr.. aud Mrs.
J. schoenield Mr.. and Mrs :. Stern, Mr.. w. L.
Ledgcrwood. Mr.. and Mrs. ". J. Granbs,
Mr.. aud Mrs. Henry A. Noble,
Miss Emery, Mr.. Arthur L. Hawley,
Mrs. Buck, Mr.. r. G. Neufeldet, Mr. and Mrs. If.
G. Mathies, Mr. John Z. Gale, Mr. G. W scha-
verg. Mr. and ars. James Readman, Miss Read
man, Mr.. ". x. MeClintock, Mr. and Mrs A. NJ.
Brookes Mr.. and Mrs. Lauren Ingels, Mr.. and
Mrs. NJ. Gillian, Mr. X. j. Penuefather, Mr.. NJ.
L. Baer, Miss Frederick, Mrs Gilbert, Miss
Compton, Captain W. X. Ballard, SIR. W. II.
Humphrey, Mr. and Mrs. w. Lair Hill. Mr. S. c.
HeIig, of Tacoma; Mr.. w. r. Watson, SIR.
Joshua NJ Wrestling, Miss Wrestling, Mr. Frank
d. Wiestiing. Professor aud Mrs. T.. ID. Crandali,
Mr.. Charles II. Bebb, Mr. and Mrs. George W.
Hall, Mr.. and Mrs w. l.. Ames, Miss Miller and
Mr.. Richard NJ. Hurd.
No better dramatic work than Fedora
could have been chosen with which 10 intro
Bernbardt il at the head Of the French tragic
stage. sardou, the author, stands AT the top of
the list OF modern French playwrights, and "Fe-
dora" Is one of his strongest creations Name.
Bernhardt is one of the few great artists Of the
world who have broken the bonds OF mere
language and moved her listeners to enthusiasm,
although speaking to them a language unknown
10 most.
In the play there are bnt two real characters,
Fedora aud Lofis. The others are mere crea-
lures, who strut in and out ut stated intervals,
read their lines, seeming only 10 fl in time
The audience wishes them quick exit, yet
they are necessary To give the feelings of relief
from the effects of stronger and more absorbing
incidents. Vladimir, to whom, at the opening
OF the play, Fedora is betrothed. is much talked
Of though he does not appear
The motive OF the whole tragedy lies In Fe-
dora's desire to avenge her lovers death. She
pursues his slayer with unrelenting hate She
lures him into trap. She beguilcs his love out
to find that her victim is not guilty of murder
In spirit; that her betrothcd had been false and
that Loris, the whom she has surrounded
with spies; whose family she had ruined;
whose very life she had endangered was the
man she loved and who passionately adored
her He learns the evil that has befallen him
and those dear 10 him ere he learns upon whom
10 place the responsibility, and Fedora drinks of
the fatal cup and dies in his arms after he
learns the terrible truth.
The story is told in four brisk, quickly NOV
Ing acts, full OF terse, glittering sentences aud
abundant in glowing scenes and thrilling
climaxes.
Tho character of Fedora is great creation
First the listIess lover, fresh from the ballroom,
then full of anxiety, that quickly develops into
fearful agony. Then the mad resolve for venge-
Rnce that leads her into frivolity tn hide polit-
cal intrigue. Then she passes into the siren
that wraps her love about her victim
the serpent, and wrings the confession from
LOWS that he killed Vladimir. The plot de-
veiops, growing in intensity OF interest at each
stage until finally the traps Laid for the enemy
ruin the friend, the lover. and bring about her
tire downfall OF all her dreams of love; then
death!
sarah Bernhard was Fedora the genius of
Sariou created her. Naught could be of
f'msy trickery, of the woman OF II thousand al
icring whims, but great character, repulsiyc
in many aspects yet admired because of the
concentration of Gil OF her many powers
o. the attainment of ono end. Timidiy aud
quietly she enters the room Of her intended hus
band, and gently the first words fall from his
lips, yet the nervous movement of the fingers,
fash OF the eye, tells of repressed force, of
power well held in reserve In no one
particular, indeed, did Bcrnhardt lose complete
control OF herself Ia management OF costume,
I'm gesture, In walk. in control OF her voice, in
love aud hste. her one motive ruled. Thrice
last nigh. was she supreme; FIRST when She wins
loris to confess by the utmost show of love, yet
dushes his kiss from her hand the mo-
ment she is freed from his pres
encc: again, when she finds that he
Is about TO learn all again In her death. That
death scene is marvellous. As quickly as the
poison seemed TO course through the woman 5
veins, spasmodic shudder conyulsed her en-.
tire frame, the bosom heavcs, the eyes grow
dun, the hair pushed hack from
the forehead reveals brow OF
marble white. moment aud the pale
stony face lights up with a smile OF affection for
loriS, the arms are stretched yearnncly forth,
another and the teeth are set firmly, the limbs
staen rgdly, weakly she totters into her
lovers aruaS and dies. The audience Is silent
and speltbound. moment and plaudits make
tire auditorium echo with their sound, and
RoIuhardt appears-fusaed with another
Triumph
bcrnhardt was supported by n most efficient
company. The Lor,s Of NJ. Duquosne was mas
teTtul He acted the part with splendid
caeet, although his dark aud swarthv
looA IN strange contrast to
the haNHn hair of the CoSsack The
ladies and gentlemen of the company were all
thorough artists aud moved about rravelv and
scdately, there being. however little of French
yivacity III their action. The costumes were
rieh, even magnificent, Yet sat we'll npan the re-
spoctve members Of the company The scenery
Was excellent
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