The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09
THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.
B~ernhardt's New Play Dealing with
the Life of Christ.

New York Herald.
Sarah Bernhardt's new play is the talk
of Paris. 1t is entitled "Samaritaine" Ghe
Woman of Samaria), and 1t is the joint
production of M. Edmond Rostand and NJ.
Gabriel Pierne, the former furnishing the
Thereto and the latter the music. 1t is in
with the spirit of the New Testament.
There are three acts, and the leading figure
throughout the play is the woman of Sa..
maria whom Jesus met on the plain of
Sichem, near Jacobs well. The first act
shows us how they met-how she. PhOtine,
a noted courteSan, went to the well to draw
water; how a stranger asked her for water
and was repulsed on the ground that she
was an unworthy Hebrew, and how, little
and showed her so clearly the way to right
eousness that finally she became, as it were,
inspired, and went her way, clarifying the
name of Jesus with, great fervor, and re-
solved that she would tell every one, even
at the peril of her life, of this new Savior of
mankind,
The second act shows us Photine as she
returns to her home in Sichem. Inflamed
with enthusiasm she tells the crowd around
her all that she has seen, all that she has
heard. At first the people regard her as a
lGnatic. but finally they assault her and
throw her to the ground. Again and again
she arises TO her feet, and the more Vio-
lently she is assaulted the more fearlessly
she praises Jesus. At last her boundless
courage produces an effect on the mob.
give a little heed to her words, and finally
they are swept away by her enthusiasm,
anu listen eagerly 10 the GOOD message
which she has to give them.
Meanwhile news of this gathering has
been brought to the nigh priest, and he.
fearing a rebellion and in mortal fear lest
the people should do honor to this new man.
who styles himself Messiah. luminous the
Roman soldiers to his aid, and the result is
that a centurion receives instructions to dis
perse the mob. Photine is arrested. her
hands are bound and the soldiers are about
to drag, her, off to prison, when the centu-
rion suddenly asks:
What is the charge against her?'
They tell him that she has been utterine
wild talk about Jesus, whereupon he re-
Jesus? That Gallean? Why, he's moth
ing but an obscure fanatic. There's no use
in making so much noise about nothing.
Jesus doesn't amount to anything. l know
And he goes off with a self-satisfed smile
on his lips, while Photine. attended by an
immense crowd, goes to meet Jesus once
more at Jacobs Well.
The third act shows us Jesus triumphant.
II Is sunset, and as he faces a great multi
tude he breaches to them the divine truths
which have ever been connected with his
name. He does not speak ex-cathedra, but
as a man 10 men. lie answers all the ques-
lions that the people ask him, and he tells
them in clear, Ineligible language what
they must do to be saved.
He shows them the virtues of prudence.
of resignation, of wisdom, and he bids them
despise .iches, love their neighbor and be
ever ready to sacrifice themselves for
others. Then many who are sick are
brought to him and he heals them. giving
a hearing to the deaf. sight to the blind,
power of speech to the dumb and health
to the sick; Finally, all who have listened
to him and who have benefited from his
touch or his words fall on their knees
around him, and, with Photine leading
them, burst into a passionate prayer-a
prayer that their sins may be forgiven them
and that they may not again be tempted to
stray from the narrow path that leads to
righteousness.
This fiRe play has made a great impress
sion in Paris. The critics seem to agree
that the libretto and music are of the first
order of merit, and, novel and daring as the
theme undoubtedly is, the realistic and ar
tistic fashion in which it has been treated
has received high enconium.
Nine. Bernhardt played the part of Pho
tine in her own inimitable style. First We
see her as the petted courtesan, then as the
victim of an Infatuated mob. and finally as
an enthusiastic prophecies and sincere fol-
lower of Jesus. PhOtine's is surely a strong
character. and only a supremely great
actress like Sarah B~ernhardt can hope. to
portray it properly. That she has done so
with skill is the general YER
dict.
The costumes and stage scenery are in
entire harmony with the events described.