The herald., 1894-03-11
RERNAARpr,s Nnw ROLE.
Izeyl, Com mbiniDg the Stories OF Buddha
and MardaIeno.

Izeyl, Com bining the Stories OF Buddha
and MagdaIene-
Izeyl. M. Armand Silvestre'a new
play, which is being played for the fret
tins tonight at Mime. Sarah Bernhardt's
theater, is in verse, which has the
glamour Of style and the cadence which
suits the manner of that actress, her
voice and her rythmical movements.
The author lie often eloquent, and the
grave passages in which the strongest
points are made are impressive, though
smelling OF the lamp and not having the
ring OF sincere feeling.
M. Eugene Mornand is joint author
with M. Silvestre. Izsyl is borrowed
from the Hindoo mythology, and the
action passes six centuries before our
era. Renanism enters largely into the
subject, in which the legend of Buddha
is mingled with the life OF Mary Magda-
lene. The grand masculine parsonage
10 the heir to the empire Of India, who
renounces his heritage to lead the life OF
. sage. Nine. Sarah BernhRrdt's part
10 that OF sinful woman who conceives
purifying passion for the prince and
under its influence is converted.
In the fret act we see public place
In city facing the temple. 1t is the
house of Izeyl. Prince Scyndia, one OF
IzeyPs admirers, has at the rising of
the curtain had a tripod placed before
her door, and fire taken from the temple
burns on it. The priests, irste at the
PROCLAMATION. want to kill her, Harastu
marie Laurent), mother OF Scyndia,
whom she does not suspect of the guilty
act. successfully opposes this chastise-
mont, which would raise sacrilegious
women higher in another metempsy-
chosis.
As this happens a new king, Prince
Cakya Mount, ascends the throne. The
yoghi, or guardian of sacred truths.
however, teaches that ali wisdom lies in
announcement of what are known as
worldly joys and in the acceptance OF
poverty. The prince, inspired by the
divine spirit, then and there lays aside
his scepter, descends bis throne, and
taking the beggar's staff goes forth to
teach the duty and happiness OF charity,
poverty and purity.
at the rising of the curtain in the Sec
ond act we see the finest OF the four sets
OF scenery. A giant banYan is set in
the center of the stage. The ground is
carpeted with moss, and real shrubs
hide the lintels of the wings. In the
distance flows a silver river. and beyond
is preaching to his disciples. The seven
princesses of his zenana come to implore
him to return to his palace. He re-
fuses. They failing, Izeyl comes to try
what she can do. He calmly teaches
her eternal truths, and she VOWS to fol-
low his example, and renounces all the
wealth che has heaped up. The next
scene is small room in Izeyl's
house, which, with sll her other riches,
has been given to the Princess Harastu
There the converted woman finds Prince
Scyndia, who is more madly in love with
her than ever. A strong scene takes
place, which ends in Izsyl aeizing
Scyndia's poignard and plunging it into
his breast. Harastd, who enters, ex-
cuses the crime, not knowing who the
victim is; but as she is doing 80 she
comes upon the body of Scyndia, and,
forgetting what she has just said, con-
demns Izeyl to be tortured.
The denouement OF the drama takes
place In the forest at the foot of a dark
precipice, which is crowned by a colos-
sal statue of India. Izeyl ia physically
wrecked by the tortures she has under
gone. Her eyes are torn out, and she
longs for death to liberste her.
1t is here that she ia to be given over
to the birds and beasts of prey. Cakya
huuui, vino converted her, CorIco at
last. He holds in his arms the mangled
body. He confesses that he was once
tempted to return to the world to be
free to love her. and that he still loves
her. Izeyl expires sanct.fed. The
Yoghi enters. He and the prince
piously bury Izeyl's corpse. They have
hardly closed the grave when her sou sp-
pears rising from gigRntie flower near
the statue. She is among the saved aud
radiant saint. The first act is stirring,
and its movement rapid and dramatic.
In the second the interest languishes.
There is too much transcendentsl phil
osophy and religious doctrine.
Mime. Sarah Bernhardt won plaudits
in all the difficult situations in which
she appears. Her vestures in the first
act surpsss in magni6cence all the cos
tunes in which l have previously seen
her.