The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-27
FANNY DAVENPORT READY.
Not Afraid of Bernhardt and Duse--Her
Opinion of Them.

OFAutOSi VA
Sarah Bernhsrdt, Fanny Davenport and
Eleonora DIS are to play simultaneously
in Boston very soon. Miss Davenport
said recently in New Orleans that she was
ready for the fray, although she made
the dec aration with a mock-tragedy air,
worthy Sardou climax.
alt viii be France, Italy and Ameri-
ca" she said, sand of course poor
worse for wear. 1t always does. i never
knew so unpatriotic people. l nave
seen Bernhardt, and / do not claim 10
rival her. l Lave not seen Duse, ana
know nothing Of her methods. Of course
Bernhardt is al fireworks. Duse must
be electric, because every one says she Is
SO natural in her methods and yet she
seems TO WELD great fascinating po ower:
One thing l do-cIaim, and that Is that 1
put in as much study INTO my parts as
they do into theirs. And / do another
thing that neither Sarah nor Duse can
dol translate and adapt my own plays.
"My adoption of 'Gismonda' was the one
thing which the New York papers con-
descended to praise. They never miss an
opportunity Of criticising me and sitting
down on me, but they did condescend TO
praise my adaptation. Not that they liked
the play, or admitted hat IN did.
When put 1t on 10 New York the critics
seen In New York for don't know now
long. But now? Oh, now that Sarah Is
playing 1t, 1t is "A beautiful play
'Sarah is advertising that this Is the
first production of 'Sardou' Is version OF
"Gismonda. Well, she has cut one
quite important character entirely out OF
the p ay, so don't exactly how II can
be 'Sardou's version And as Tor her
company. III / should have such people
in company of mine they would Dc
hooted off the stage.
"Sarah is a great artist, and i admire
her genius. can't say that l have any
fondness for her personally, however.
"She has been saying very unpleasant and
unca ed-for things about me .ately, ana
naturally cont like it. In Ter inter-
views she said that she understood that
my "Gismcnda" was rotten Well,
as much as she was indebted to me for
the privilege of playing it here at all, it
seems to me that common courtesy would
have kept her from saying such thing.
She hadn't seen me herself, and bad no
opinion OF her own to express, SO don't
think 1t was excusable.
81 do1't like the French, any way.
They haven't any use for us except to
gather in our dollars, and you can never
trast their sincerity. Italy? Oh, adore
ltaly!" and Miss Davenport clasped her
hands estatically. "No Paris for mel l
hate ga y and show and excitement. !
would be perfectly contented II / could
spend my time on high peak with the
waves dashing up all around me. Inc
ppiest summer l ever knew was one
spent in Wa es. We had a little castle
overlooking the sei and we could run
down to our own bit of beach for the
bath ng. i lived in a flannel gown,
walked 10 or Is miles a day, and didn't
even hear of ball or party or theater
-ohl" with oncluding sigh of rapture.
ra frvinu IN Bern-
hardt in the line OF fads?"
"Fads? / haven't any,"
'sWhat, you don't sleep in your own
coffin, ride a bicycle or keep tame tigers
in your back yard?"
"0h, have a tiger on my posters It's
a Tammany tiger, 1 guess. People,
some # them, said that tiger would hoo
doc my first engagement in 'Gismonda,'
in New York. 1t was at the time of the
Tammany defeat. But. you see, Pm not
afraid of it. l haven't any live tigers,
though have dogs, however, and plenty
of them, up at my beautiful summer
h me on the Massachusetts coast. |"
"What w i'll you play in BostoD?"
"My whole repertoire. Bernhardt will
play 'Gismonda' most of the meth
is. II she lives to play anything. She is
working so hard this week that / should
think there w, uldn't be enough of her
left to sweep up by the end of the week.
Every night and four matineesl Think
of 1t suppose she is tryi to make
big week OF 1t before Duse comes in to di-
vide the business"
"And you are not afraid of the Boston
encounter?"
Miss Davenport gave smile and a shiv-
er in reply.
"I'll do my hest. Sarah will come
with-let me see, what is the duelling
weapon of France? Oh, yes, the pistol
Well, Sarah will come wit pistol and
Duse, of course, will appear with stilet-
to, and I-I'll have tomahawk" waving
her arm as il prepared to scalp Bernhardt
and Duse at one blow. Aiss Davenport
seems to be a generous foe, however, with
plenty Of admiration for Bernhardt and
flatte ingly strong desire to see Duse.
"Have you any new plays in sigh 2"
was asked.
"No; it is understood that am to play
Sardou's, and 8 / am not deluged with
plays as / used to be.
"You have nothing ew in roles?'
"No. My dear mother used to say to
me, 'Oh, Fanny, when will you play
good woman? All the W; mei you play
are SD bad.
"'well, mother ! told her, 'all the
good women are so dreadfully uninter-
osting gp"