The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-25

the conspicuous acting is confined to but few
haracters-Bernhardt. principally, as Flofla; ;
Mea, as the Queen, 10 which she was graceful
and regal; Duquesne, admirable as Scarpla;
FleurY, as Mario, and perhaps Nine. SeylOr, as
Gemarno. the boy who assisted Mario the art
LIST, In his Work OF decorating tha chulcn OF 81.
Andrew. Tie resi- moved through The various
scenes Ike automaia, rigidiy and technically
correct, but framed 10 so fine point that their
movements inspired feeling OF tediousness.
BERNHARDr
Makes her entrance at the close OF The first act
in The Church OF 81. Andrew, where her lover Is
at work, and was received with an ontburst OF
enthusiasm by the audience, made M, for the
most part, Of DIR leading French residents. She
has more amplitude OF figure than when she hrst
visited US. She Is more robust than slender ana
sVelte as she then appeared. But lie quality
of The actress remains. The love passages
between berself aud Mario, With the jeal-
ousy springing from her ardent love for
him, were admirable in their light and shade.
She was even Jealous of the painted saint on
which Mario was at Work, in tie lneameuts OF
whose face she recognized likeness to those OF
supposed rival, the Warehouses AttayantL
IN THE SECOND ACT.
Scarpls the Chief of Police. further excltes her
Jealousy OF the Warehouses ID the hope OF induc-
Ing her TO betray her lover Mario, who is hiding
political prisoner, Angelutti, whose arrest the
Queen desires. She is thus prevented singing
before the Queen and her attendants in SALON
Of The Farnese Palace, where they are assembled
THE TORTURE ACT,
AS IL Is called is the third, when her lover is put
to "the question:" Here Bernhardt asserted her
tremendous power. Scarpla is playing upon her
feelings through The torments he Is lntctins
upon Mario, TO compel her 10 reveal the hiding
place OF AngelOttl. The price OF her lovers life
was the revelation, and she makes II. But before
she does this there is such an exhibition OF men
tai agony, such struggle between her
love for Mario and the desire to screen
his friend from Scarpla's myrmdOnS that
one is carried away by the terrible
agony the actress Stimulates This scene Is Sar-
dOu's chef d'Guvre 10 the way Of dramatic work,
and only woman OF Bernhardps acting quality
could cope with The situation. She Is compelled
10 choose between lovers life aud the safety Of
a friend whose place of hiding torture cannot
wiring from him. The question arises, Which Is
the greater sutfering-hls physical torment or
The mental agony OF the woman VINO Is beating at
the door OF bis Tor LuI e-chRmDer?
THE FOURTH ACT,
In which she murders ScATpia, is also great
test OF the actress powers, and one wonders how
she is =, bic 10 sustain such a meDlal and physE
Cal ST rain as these TWO acts involve. She Is at
supper with ScaTpia, and he makes her an odi-
Gus proposition-the life OF her lover for her
fidelity 10 hin. Tie scene between La Tosca aud
Scarpia has really made thi: play famous. IL
rises 10 a pitch in the eXtTaVagance OF humah
passion that Is almost Uncomfortable Unless we
see the situation treated by such an actress as
Bernhardt, and such an accomplished actor as
Duquesne. 1t ends with Scarpias murder by
the almost frant tic woman.
THE LAST ACT
Shows Scarpa has been false in his propositions
to her, and That her lover, Mario, is actually
slain by his order. The finish Is vivid
florla, maddened al the sight OF her dead
lover, and furious that she had been so cheated,
cries out frantcally:
"And cannot kill the wretch [meaning Scar
Dia) again 60, see what have done TO this
monster, whose very corpse can muiderl"
Nonsense, she is mad" said SDoletto (cap-
tain OF The execution party. "Pay no heed 10
her rawlings"
"Go aud see where your'master isl" cries La
Tosca, and al a signal from SpOletto two men
rush out, 10 return with blanched faces, exclaim-
ing that the Baron Scarpia is murdered.
SUOiBttO,
with your llfel 1 will send you to join your
lOveIl"
La TOsca springs to the window, and with a
superb air calls out;
Il go Of my own free will, you curs!' and at
the same moment filings herself into the void,
ending her Afe, her love and her misery tOgel her.
LA TOsca" will be played for tue matinee to-
day and also in the evening.