The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-30
THE MIMIC WORLD.
Midweek Notes of Business at the
Different Theaters.
Bernhard =" Shenandoah" Holds It's Own
Hermann Coming-The Tivoli-Men-
delssohns.

"Cleopatra," with Bernhard, continues
to crowd the Grand Opera House, President
or no President She has been we'll man.
aged and dominates the situation. The
piece in which she is now appearing is de-
cidedly the most inferior of the three offered
us; but still the fame and magnetism of the
woman-to say nothing of the shrewdness
in securing large advance sale-fills the
vast auditorium of the theater to its utmost
capacity. ut is difficult" says an en-
thusiast on the subject of Bernhardfs stage
work Or. e., to find words strong, ex-
pressive and unconventional enough to
characterize Bernhardt's acting. The most
that can be said is this: Other actresses
have faults and imperfec tions-one over
acts, another is too cold, another is
artificial and rants. To enjoy one of
their creations one must make allow
ances, be satisfied with relative merit,
content to take certain view, In fact almost in
constant terror lest some too glaring error In
taste should suddenly appear like a cloven foot
and spoil even the approximate goodness OF the
general effect
"But Bernhardt is perfect. That Is her glory.
The more powerful the emotion, the more diff
cult the situation the more confident one is that
she will rise to meet 1t, that her resources are
at is but fair TO say that
ONLY FRANCE
Could produce such an actress. Keen, Slddons,
Salvinl-all were peculiar, special. almost alb
normal developments OF distinctly personal indi.
viduallty, due 10 distinct causes and circum-
scrlbed by fixed limitations, beyond which they
genius, but all were developed without the ar
tiSto atmosphere which can only give the fault
less harmony and perfect taste OF the best
French acting. Bernhardt could only belong to
a country where there is no home life, where So
cial intercourse takes its place. where CONVEX
apart so all-sutfcing and earnest and supreme
1t is to It's devotees.
OUR AMERICAN ACTRESSES
Are more than actresses; they are business
women, and speculate In real estate. Acting Is
generally but a trade, vocation chosen for
want OF better one. Many are conscientious
workers, but few or none go deeply enough Into
their art 10 utilize experience and analyZe
emotions. They depend entirely upon stage
traditions. Bernhard Is not only consummate
mistress OF hstriOnlc technique. but woman
OF enthusiasm, rare discernment aud taste. She
has found In life, by observation or intuition,
the keys OF certain emotions; she has insiinc-
lively analysed til IN, and knows the psychology
of their cause, force and outward expression.
When she portrays master emotions IL is a real
revelation, a genuine creation. A quick move
menl, an infection of the body, an abrupt ges-
lure, sudden sharpening of the voice, steellng
OF the eyes, reveal more nature than whole
volume of defamation. One can see the birth
OF thought In La Toscas brain; sudden
great resolve shown in tile tension OF the body
that seems turning into marble at the eDOrmity
OF a thought; then at the decisive moment the
charged electric current, the sudden giving way
OF nervous teusion.n