New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
THE DRAMA---MUSIC.
REMITTANCE OF SARAH BERNHARDT

u i.
In the Garden Theatre last night as the heroine Of
ala Tosca,o the eccentric Sarah Bernhardt made her
entrance upon the stage OF this capital and French
octnr once took it's place among the dramatic at
fractions Of the passing hour. The eminent foreign
nayer was welcomed with eager plaudlts of gladness
anS admiration by a sparkling alert and numerous
audlence-the handsome theatre being crowded to It's
umits-and she performance remarkable for the
dexterty and finish of its mechanism its ample
revelation Of those personal peculares that have in
spred and long retained the devotion OF her admirers.
The supple figure, the nervous force the ncessant vet
reposeful and beautifully moulded action, the
ring fitness of expressive gesture the wealth Of
pricious wiles the melody OF voice, the vehement
Ioauacty and the abundant of craft and Of
fury IN moments Of sudden theatrical transitOn-all
these equipments and feltcues OF her exceptional per-
sonality and her authoritative art remain unimparcd
and entirely at her command. She was evidently
touched by the codiay of the public greeting. and, in
her mood of responsive sensbilty, she acted with
usual animation and with expeditions artistic
zeal than it has always been customary for her to ex
Mblt.
La Tosca" is a foul and abhorrent play and more
than enough has been said about it already. This life
of ours Is short and people always be better
employed as it passes than in rahing over pile OF
rotten rubbish The duty Of the moment toward this
piece Is fulfilled by record of its recurrence Those
who wish TO discuss it welcome to do sOand much
GOOD may it do them! Sarah Bernhardt measured
for the part OF La Tosca and it fits her. she is arti
ca and insincere in her cOquetry but perhaps her In
sincerity makes it all the more natural. She docs not
express any higher phase Of wOman's love than tho
animal phase of it, but in LA Tosca' that Is sufficient
the woman being of that type which favorito
with the Elizabethan dramatists The most Of sarah
Bernhardts stage women commonly engaged in try
Ing TO make themselves sensually enchanting TO men,
but they truly experience love, and the word Is
prOfaned when 1t is associated with them. She gives
however, most eloquent expression TO physical horror
during the hdeous scene of the torture he representa-
ton OF which ought not to be pcrmitted and her dis
stimulation and atefu energy in the scene of the muT
der Of Scarpia perfect and are Of thrilling poten
taity. The furtive business" with the knife may be
mentioned a most luminative dcnotement OF her
studied and consumma,e art. limitations of her ous
ness" have been here before but the actual
article differs widely from the grocery chrome
Of It.
During La Tosca's scene with the corpse
sarah Bcrnhardt held her audience in a hush
of breathess suspense, and at the end OF Ii
their paudits long and loud. This woman has
studied death. and she knows something of the mys
ferry and awfulness that environ and dignity its
gymbols The situation in which the actress pro
auces this effect of absorbed interest is horrible
and its inherent dramatic potency should be rcmCm
bered as an element somewhat explanatory of It's in
huence; but the best Of dramatic situations may bo
vated by the presence of weak and common
place personality, and it will be observed that the
OF Safan Bernndidl suenEtnelS lIc
at this point is harmonious with the whole environ
ment and carries the dramatic plan to a superb con
summation. She is unQuestionably woman Of unique
character ard of great talents, and such ana not
withStandnc that her influence upon the stage ana
upon thc dramatic profession has been almost uni
Vcrsally harmful She may be seen and studled WIN
interest and benefit. The propensity TO look upon
Sarah Bernhardt pr0dgious ana wonderful ana
Incompatible, and transcendent actress indeed oug'
not to be encouraged. 1t was the uIlwh0ic,oHe
product Of nOtoriey. and il is part Of that oliy
which declares all art that IS foreign ana espeCdN
all acting that IS French. to be naturally ana IN
trnsically better than our own sarah BernhaTdt J,
an accomplished artist, but she has never reached ana
she never will reach. the height that was occupied
on the American stage by Charlotte Cushman ana
that is occupied the English stage by Ellen Terry
Yet, according 10 her nature and within hcr Lmt3-
tons the French actress is OF the powers OF thlS
period, and not to be ignored In any thoughtul
estimate Of the dramatic forces that affect society ana
ttnge the current Of contemporary thought .
1t appears to be impossible 10 concuct q ufdnietS
performance in the French language without. ar IN
ervals, beating upon the stage with stcK-soeuines
observed last night. The essential parts howeyer'
were entrusted capable pers0ns-MaTo being repre-
Sented by NJ. Fleurv. who made very efacCiui auu
gallant lover and chlvarous friend and Starpla Delg
when this theatrical being who Is atrocious com
pound Of cruelty and lust happens to BE- assFred 20
gentleman. VI. DuQue>ne made him, at least ailsV-
cratic in his Internal proceedings and. althOuch d
little vocferous in the eliminating scene WIN Ia Ca
he was at no moment physically obnoxious. This IS;
indeed an excellent achievement The ores O. useu
in this production generally rich. an1 u -sone
cases magnificent. The full cast with when oslah
Bernhardt's first American presentment OF Ia
aToscap has been accomplished should be preserved
FIoria Tosca ...... Nine Sarah Rernhsrdt
Refine Marie Caroline. Nine JAM 49, 49,
Princesse Orlonia .............Mm BeIthe 9iloe1t