The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-27
JOAN OF ARC"
Bernhardt's Startling Persona
tiOn of the Maid of Orleans.
Two Extra Performances of "Cleopatra" to Be
Given" Kajanka" at the Bush
General Mention.

last evening to see Nine. Sarah Bernhard
and her company in Barbier's Joan of
Arc" was essentially of the Continent of
Europe in its characteristics or it may have
reminded one of great opera night at the
Orleans Theater, when the Crescent City
was in its palmy days before the war"
Consequently there was more generally
ELUSIVE recognition of the great artistic her
self as well as of the details OF the work of
her company. Instead of spasmodic burst of
applause IRON detached parties, as was heard
on the LA Tosca" nights, there were vol
umes of that music so sweet to professional
ears from all parts Of the house, mingled
with murmurs of compliment, and many re-
calls of Bernhard before the curtain, which
she acknowledged in graceful manner i'm
possible to the best actresses of the English
stage. There were also numerous floral
offerings exquisite in design. After all, it
must be admitted, the French do this sort
of thing better than any other people.
A SYNOPSIS.
The drama, in five acts, is written in
verse, and the English translation by Fred
Lyster. is also rhymed. Mr.. Barber, in the
construction of the plot, has followed the
usually accepted historical narrative of the
fortunes of the Maid of Orleans, from the
cottage OF her infancy at Domremy, to her
burning at the stake by the English at
Rouen "a fate which some writer's
have doubted. In her childhood's
home when France lay dismem-
bered, and bleeding from the fangs
of the island mastiffs," as Rlchelieu
calls the English soldiers, Joan, who in her
manner is unlike her brothers and sisters
and appears to be animated by motive
they cannot understand, nor can her parents,
imagineS she sees the Archangel Michael
with the saints Marguerite and Catherine,
nh toll har of aitjas Snnilnd on mo
plants. She is in such state of spiritual
exaltation that she even imagines God him
self calls to her from the skies:
Jeanne, on the opening day OF Lent arise,
Go to thy Kingl None else but thou alone
Can yict'ry bring. choose thee for mine own.
Go. child of heaven.
She tells all this to Thibaut, whose offer
of marriage she has refused, in the face of
the tremendous duties she supposes are i'm
posed on her. The only comment that the
ignorant peasant-lover makes, overawed by
her words and actions, is "Sweet Jesus"
which may or may not be explanatory in
devotional sense. Joan sets out ON her
mission as the deliyerer of France, from
which nothing can turn her aside. She is
stubborn in the face of all opposition, and
actually raised the siege of Orleans, where
the weak Charles Ii of France was after
ward crowned.
NINE. BERNHARDT,
In her PRESERVATION OF La Pucelle, has many
opportunities to display her splendid dra-
matte power, and also to thrill one with that
exceptional beauty OF voice, the tones of
which find their way to every heart Even
to those 10 whom the language is a sealed
book Bernhardt's voice is music. In her
appearance she realizes Southey's descrip-
ton:
there was no bloom of youth
Upon her cheek; yet had the loveiest hues
OF health. with lesser fascination. liked
The gaZer's eye; for wan the maiden was
or sanity paeneSs, and there seemed 10 dwell
In the strong beauty of her countenance
Something that was not earthly.
There is a climax for the heroine in every
act of the FIVE which makes up the tragedy.
We have in the first the effect upon her ex-
citable nature of the sound OF the An
gtlus which seems to bring her message
from on high; in the second, the powerful
interview with Iseult, King Charles leman,
and when she awakens the latter to a
sense of her position; in the third the
prayer, 20 God of Mercy, Hear," followed
by the waving of the battle-dag with the
soul-stirring exhortetion, And now the
English are before You. charge; in
the fourth, the prison scence, where she
is a captive of Talbot, the English
commander, and among the rude soldieTy in
a baTrack-roOm, having been betrayed by
her own people; here the scene between
herself and Warwick is simply terrible in
its intensity, and her whitening denunri-
alton of this scoundrel, moved the audience
to a tempest of applause. The closing
scene is more spectacular than the others;
but the unhappy Joan, when she ascends
the pyre, and stands in her white robes, a
waiting victim, made grand picture that
rivetted all eyes. The audience did not
move till the curtain had shut it out from
their gaze.
cleopatra" is announced for this evening
NOTE.
Staten ents, affirmative, and again contra
dictory, have appeared regarding extra
nights Of Cleopatra at the Grand. The
latest was handed in for publication last
evening by the management, and is as fol-
lows:
Two extra performances OF Sardou's Cleo
paira" will be given by Nine. Sarah BernhaTdt
on Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening.
Nine. Saran Bernhardt and company sail on the
MunOwal Friday for Australia. Seals for The
two extra perfOTmaucesiwill be ready Tuesday
at the box office Of the Grand Opera House.
"Kajanka."
This spectacular attraction runs to good
business at the Bush-street, and will be
continued another week. Presidential fes-
tivities have interfered somewhat with the
attendance as they have In the case of the
other city theaters; but the present week
win show, no doubt very gratifying re-
suit for the management. The piece is
cipal people are all favorites with the pub
lie. There is matinee on Wednesday and
Saturday, and these occasions are the
special delight of the children.
Rail