New-York tribune., 1896-01-21
THE DRAMA.
SARAH BERNHARDT AS IZEYL.

last night leading in the well-remembered animal
that, wearing various guises and designated by
different names. constitutes her dramatic meneg-
erie. THIS time the creature is called Izeyl. and
IL naunts the luxurious trappings OF pleasure. and
capers n'mby In the far East Izeyl. of course, Ia
courtesan. Dramatic genius. in order that 1t may
be completely effective, must have free play and II
is never so timber when 1t presents female who
is gloriied by filthy vice. Izeyl had never yet seen
the man who did no; ircontinenty surrender to her
charms. and. accordingly. when she heard OF
male being who preferred religion to love" she
became inflated with noble scorn proclaimed the
instant subjugation OF that presumpiuous monster.
pursued him into the woods crawled all his
person. and, to her amazement and disgust. found
him as torpid a cold potato; and thereupon she
turned 10 virtue. 40 that when the usual man
along, and proffered the usual boon OF
his devotion. she promptly stuck knife into his
gzzard. and thus pacied him. For that unexpected
and peculiar. though efiicacious and fnal COM
mentary love-" she was subjected to fatal tor
lures but just before her demise she was consoled
with assurance from the geld ascetic who had
repealed her advances In the wilderness. that. while
he had resisted her Establishments. he had not
failed to feel them. She then expired with the COM
Portable conviction that love Is everything. even
when II misses fire.
The great Bernhardt Doctrine like various other
doctrines of contemporaneous prominence. Is 80
elastic that 1t sometimes becomes perplexng. even
10 experts; but. nearly II can be defined. II
declares that any kind OF conduct. so long as 1t Is
actuated by love- Is necessarily impressive and
interesting. and therefore may properly be pre-
sented upon the stage. That Interpretation OF 1t
throws a large door wide open. whereby many
things may enter-for love is a word that bears
various definitions. The thing that has entered
with Mile. Bernhardt is the Erring Sister who gets
to glory by being ruined" That gems has long
been sufficiently common In the drama. but the
famous French actress presents peculiar variety
10
Izeyl saughters an unwelcome lover with dagger.
Tosca slays an amorous tyrant with carving
knife. Theodore perforates dangerous witness OF
her adulterous RIGHTEOUSNESS with a convenient
hairpin. There is fertility of resource In pro-
ceedings of that knd,-an expeditions aacrity'
which invests the courtesan character with eX-
cept.onal lustre and the spectator Is admonshed
thu; love not only "leve!s all ranks, but Keeps
them levced: not only lays the shepherH' crooh
beside the sceptre." but occasionally lays the
shepherd also.-.n point OF fact. lays MIN out "''
this is important mankind. and especially Is II
essential to the rising generation. the generous,
eager receptive pleasure-seekng young people VINO.
for the most part. constitute the theatrical au-
dence
For there is nothing like an adequate comprehen-
sion of love" and sweet it Is 10 feel that devoted
friends Of humanity. such as the iustrious Mile.
Bernhardt the refulgent Mr.. Pinero and the ceies-
tial Mr. Jones are simultaneously employed,-to-
gether with other benefcent dramatic agencies IN
disseminating a correct knowledge OF that enchan'-
ing subject Upon some themes-such as tariff sill
yer and who shall be queen of the May next time
the public mind may. perhaps wander In darkness
but, under the present mnistratons of the theatre
very sasy 9oan o r Jones sea
Ia tI,n oa, AngeIo love Is the
waa ana iba, has beW oss US n"st together M Pinero
incnes 70 the more trad.'Inni ,ha ha b,;
with Mile Bernhardt 1t is the true wind OF doctrine
all for love- and keep your poWdtl uI!' anu ~ n'
though the actress is somewhat elderly Tor what
Gus voice her clear articulation. her sinuous feine
expeditions movements and her proiessohaI en
pertness enable her TO furnish an adequate eH-
preston of the great and holy truth which ~ ner
nreson 10 deliver She ilve times recalled after
the second act. and frequently at other points ana
it is to be said for her enoodineht me inni retire
ment OF method The house was crowded .,
Ire pay of "Izeyl which Is a proix s'n'ineh'e'
and rather impiors bore; -,srrNes vrry VEL a.
known pecuiarites and methods. In the aIiur,inel
OF the scored recuse.-a typicaton which doupt,es'
will be recognized. and which need not be patt,sd
purpose. and she appeared 10 iinpaIt nuoa -
lion 10 her audience. albeit the obdurate Safymenh
most felcltous manner and hid his corpus with
dexterity that nigh. have charmed an underlaker
but IT was in her SUBSEQUENT rec.ai onfesed q, nf
French acting ambles much o. ihe time prepalH pephn,
tlon explanation. and commentary go on without
mercy; but there are moment5 o, actor, anu o'
effect and the spectator need not always sleep
Nine Bernhardt will remain at Abbeys Iheatre
for time; ana VIII play me SAM pa,' an .n
who knows nothing at all about actual love- ana
canno: express II. and never cou1, bui VINO under
and Ike King Richard in the soliloquy, can frame
her face TO all occasions, and thus enrapture peo
pie who easily amazed
The strength Of the company Is SHOWN by the dis
| of he cha