The morning call., 1891-09-06
THE GREAT PLAY
OF " FEDORA" ="
Opening of the Bernhardt Season
at the Grand Opera House.
The Famous Actress Quite Up to Her Old
standard-splendid Advantageous
Costumes for Every Scene.

Madame Sarah Bernhard opened her re-
turn engagement-curtailed by unforeseen
rcumstances-at the Grand Opera House
last evening, in the presence OF very ap-
preciatlve audience. Fedora" one of the
chief works of Victorien SardOu, was
selected for the occasion. Some admirers OF
this accomplished play-writer are pleased to
call it his masterpiece" but there are many
others, and we think they are in the ma
jority, who consider there are brighter
gems than this drama of Russian
life in the coronet of his literary
fame. and none who hesitate to confess the
wonderful French tragedienne invests the
character of the Princess Feodore with
vivid brilliancy and startling effect that
her imitators on the different stages of the
world can never hope to reach.
THE RECEPTION
Of the great actress was warm aad cordial,
but she did not seem to be particular in
recognizing the plaudits, entering on the
business Of her part Immediately at her
entrance, with scarcely an acknowledge
ment in the way of bow to the animated
throng before her. The complexion of the
audience was almost entirely French. 1t
was found to be essentially SO in spirit as
the emotional drama proceeded, and the cur
tain at each act was raised two or three
times before the volume of applause, raised
by the splendid points she made In the course
Ot the tlece, found surcease In silence.
HER COSTUMES
We're apparently all new, and certainly
miracles of the mOdiSte's art. Every time
she made an entrance she came hablted
differently than before, and each dress was
richer in its fabric, more elegantly designed
than the other. 1t was an open question
whether, so far as the ladies present are
concerned, they were more interested In the
great actress sevolution o the character Of
Fedora than in the rich and splendldly
cut gaTbs in which Sne chose TO pre-
sent herself for the different emo
tiOuai phases she had to undergo 10
carry out the authors idea of the Princess.
There was pause Of admiration when she
entered in the second scene, r0bed IN
magnificent wrapper of fur with sort OF
lavender lining. revealing, when it fell grace
fully off her shoulders, a rich black silk
dress aud train lined with material Of the
same color. Then there followed a sussur-
rus of remark that showed the points IN the
performance to which the attention of the
ladies IN the audience was directed.
THE ACTING
OF Nine. Bernhardt in the role of the be-
tro.hed of Vladimir scarcely needs COM
ment. 1t is, after all these years of stage
experience on her part, like painting the
r
criticize Bernhardts treatment of part, or
even to point out the many beauties OF this
remarkable woman'S method in realizing
the great conceptions born in the brain OF
one of the first dramatists of the world.
The conclusion of the first act, when she
throws herself on the body of Vladimir and
faints from excess of emotion, moved the
audience with a wild impulse. SO, too,
when Lotis. the suspected assassin, cou-
fesSeS, with the full knowledge Of Fehora's
hill III faff ntr har
betrothed, aud the new love is supplemented
in her mind by the mission Of revenge she
has undertaken against NladImnS muir
de er. Here she was superb, and the audi
ence felt it III every fiber OF Its individual
members In all the succeeding acts. the
complications and climaXes of which are
quite familiar to our readers, this remarkable
woman bore herself with the same strength
of purpose, the same realizing hdellty TO
the point aimed at, that have made
her so famous as an actress the world over.
These who witnessed the performance last
evening, and taxing into consideration the
fact that she bad just stepped of steam
ship after q months long AMI perliOuSly
stormy voyage, could not conceal thelr ad-
mratiou and establishment. Beruhardt may
be growing old but as the veteran Enobar-
bus said TO his soldier companion IN Rome,
speaking of the Egyptian Cleopatra she
loves to play Age cannot wither her, nor
custom stale her Infinite variety.
THE AMENDED REPERTOIRE.
Since the usual weekly theatrical sum-
mary was written - published in another
part of this editiOn-the management have
changed the list of performances for Mime.
Bernhardt during this week. Ii now reads
as follows:
Sunday night........ ..,.........,......La La Tosea
Monday Hight.......O
Tuesday night. e.Grand production Theodore
Wednesday matinee. }
Wednesday night Frcu-Frou
Thursday Camille
FRIDAY matinee Jeanne ID
FRIDAY uiPht..-.................P uiP Pauline Blanchard
Saturday matinee. Camille
Saturday night. Farewell performance
All drawback taken into account, the sea-
son promises to be profitable one