Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-08

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h8 Ax<HA Jul bhOhbCA 6OSfo
Es& aprod uction of
hM Sardou's Cleopa-
$Xe@ ira. This play is
\A the most ambi
- ~ tious attempt in
/AYIIlIN her career and the
EAX& most successful.
fN@zf2S> This Cleopatra
VNNkM was written by Vic
[6EIAlVstfSM torien Sardou, and
ld3HM lNlDX was first presented
N'EJAI|lV in Paris. Miss Day.
GIE|lM IA| W. export shortly aft
EIERNhnVkWH erwards asto n
C4c1ll-c ished New York
with her gorgeous presentation Of her
play, and received the following letter
from Sardou, which shows the nigh es-
timation the Frenchman has of the
American actress:
"CHER MADAME: I leave my play in
your hands, feeling sure it is in able
ones, and that with all the excellence
you have bestowed upon La Tosca and
Fedora, will be repeated, if not ex-
celled. Faithfully,
"V. SARDoU."
Miss Davenport has, says a cores
pendent, given to the American stage
production that has never been excelled,
if equaled in this or any other coun-
try. Everywhere she has presented her
Cleopatra both press and public have
endorsed it in the highest terms. AS
the beautiful Egyptian queen Miss Da-
venport has made the triumph of her
life. The play is in six acts. The first
scene is stage picture OF rare lowell
ness. 1t shows the marble quays of
Tarsus, with the silver stream of the
Cyndus river in the distance, its flow
cry banks overhung with luxuriant
growth of cypress, laurels and pome-
granates. In front rises stately por-
tico approached by flights of marble
steps and opening at the back with
glimpse of winding river, OF the town, of
the cedar-wooded heights beyond. This
is Mark Antony's justice house. The
coming of Cleopatra in the Bark OF Venus
creates genuine sensation. The bark
is gorgeous affair, manned with steady
rowers and containing beautiful female
slaves in all sorts OF seductive pastures.
The beautiful Egyptian queen reclines
under canopy garlanded with roses.
This act describes her reception by An
tony and his complete subiugation by
her. 1t closes with the departure of the
pair in Cleopatra's royal barge.
Il The second act shows the sorceress
4 80 -. tho nm 10 0f
ore of the Rameses at Memphis. The
scenery of this act is by far the best
reproduction ever shown of the home of
the ancient kings. The arrival of An
tony'e friends to induce him to go to
Rome to assist in repelling Rome's enc
mics, and Cleopatra's change of front in
likewise urging him to proceed to Rome,
are here shown.
The third act shows Cleopatra in
temple at Memphis, anxiously awaiting
news OF Antony. The messenger brings
Cleopatra news of Antony's marriage to
Octavia. 1t closes with the arrival of
an ibis, containing message from An
tony bidding Cleopatra repair with her
fleet to Actium. This scene is verit-
able triumph of the scene painters art.
Under a marble portico, stretched on a
couch covered with tiger skins, lies
Cleopatra in regal state. At the entrance
stands faithful slave, with drawn
sword, his face impenetrable as that OF a
sphynx and his complexion of bronze,
in startling contrast to the dull white of
the marble on the portico. The bril-
liant beauty of tropic sky at midnight,
and the myriads of stars twinkling and
flashing forth their many hues, and the
river silently vending it's course to-
wards the sea, make a beautiful picture.
The fourth act shows Cleopatra in
Antony'ss house at Actium. There, in
the nuptial chamber of her rival, Oc-
tavia, whittier she has been conveyed
in mat, Cleopatra witnesses the love-
making between Antony and Octavia,
and the departure of the latter to effect
reconciliation between Antony and
her brother. She also hears herself de-
nounced by the Roman as tickle and
unfaithful. 1t is not, however, until
the direct accusation of her intimacy
with her slave, Kophron, is made, that
she discloses herself The infuriated
Antony is determined to put both Cleo
patra and the slave to death. So strong
is the SIRENS hold upon him, however,
that without any protestations OF inno-
cence from her, he forgives her, and all
become reconciled once more. Cleo.
patra then declares the slave and herself
to be innocent of the charge.
Antony does not believe her, and In
sists that the slave shall die by hel
hand. Cleopatra consents, and calling
in Kophron, tells him that, having
dared to aspire to his queen, Antony has
! decreed that he must die. In vain does
| Kophron protest his innocence, Antony
is obdurate. The slave then takes the
fatal draught which Cleopatra has pre-
pared for him, and is about to drink it
when Antony, satisfied that the man il
innocent, snatches the vial from his
hand, The act ends with declaration
of war by Antony and Cleopatra agains
Octavius.
Miss Davenport is particularly strong
in the scene where Antony accuses ne
of infidelity. She is at once temptres
and queen, and makes Antony's speed.
reconciliation plausible to the audience
The fifth act shows temple at Alexan
dria, to which Cleopatra has retreate'
after the fight OF her feet at Actium
Antony, covered with humiliation. rage
for Cleopatra's death. They meet in tn
temple, and>once again does the Roman
soldier yield to the Egyptians wlies
The Roman officers enter and demand
Cleopatra's life as the price OF ne
treachery. Cleopatra, transformed INT
genuine sorceress, coniures up a ter
rife storm to destroy the torcess Q, ~ =,