New-York tribune., 1900-11-21
BERNHARDTANDC COQUELIN
ARRIVAL OF THE TWO FRENCH ACTORS.

AMERIcA-v1Ews ON HAMLET AND
OTHER SUBJECTS.
The steamer Aquitaine yesterday brought back to
america two French actors who have been absent
long enough for the accumulation OF some little
interest In their return This interest Is increased
oy the fact that for the first time they come
together. Sarah Bernhardt here four years
ago, and Constant Coquelin last played in New
York in the spring of 1894 The former had been
here several times before that: the latter only
once. in the of 1sSS-sS They have played
together before in France. but never in America
until now They appeared together often. nat
urally, when both members of the Coincide
francaise which institution Sarah Bernhardt left
IN 1871 Since then they have appeared together in
only one play, "Amphitryon." which Nine. Bern
hardt produced and for which she engaged NJ
Coquelin about six years ago. They intended to
act together in "LAiglon' in Paris just before
sailing for this country. for the benefit the Gal
weston sufferers. but unable to get a theatre
for the purpose They to appear together
however. in Paris on their return from America.
Nine Bernhard did not look a day older yester-
day than she did when she was here last. If she
mas line in her face she knows how to conceal It
so that 1T does not appear In ordinary daylight to
an observer six feet away. One such observer, who
dic not seem to regard comments on personal ap-
pearance unmannerly, remarked that she was
wearing her hair short She replied that she had
to do so on account of playing the Duke of Reich
stadt in 'L'Aiglon." 1t is mere matter of form
to that Sarah Bernhardt glad to get back
to America, for every foreigner who has ever been
in America is glad to get back. No doubt the
declaration was sincere in this case. however. for
the voyage uncomfortable that everybody
on board the ship glad to get anywhere, back
or forward.
In conversation with the two actors yesterday it
was easy to that neither wholly delighted
with the selection of plays for the American tour
Both had to make concessions in order that plays
might be selected In which both could find parts.
The first week-next week-at the Garden Theatre.
will be devoted to "L'Aiglon.' which is Bernhardts
play and NJ Coquelin will take the part of Flam-
beau NJ Rostand is said to have had NJ. Coqueon
in mind when he the part but he has never
played 1t before and does not regard 1t as quite
worthy OF his best efforts The next week the play
will be "Cyrano de Bergerac, which Rostand
wrote for Coquelin with thought of Bernhardt
Still the latter declares that the part of Roxane.
which she is to play is a good part. and that she
is glad Of chance to play IT.
Then there is Hamlet "I am afraid that the
public here will not like Hamlet" " Nine. Bern
hardt said yesterday.
'"why not?" asked
Because I am a woman she answered. land
they will 10 see woman play it
But she has no such delusions as some woman
Hamlets have had. When some III advised person
ventured to suggest that there had been theory
that Hamlet was a woman In disguise. she laughed
at the notion and said that Hamlet was a young
man Hamlet and the Duke OF Reichstadt, who
has been called a fresh water Hamlet, suggested
the question whether the actress was contempat-
ing considerable succession OF male parts. She
said that she not. The proximity of these two
was mere accident. In the play which Rostand
was now writing for her. to be called lie Theatre" "
she was TO play the part of woman-an actress.
Rostand Is also writing a play FOR her and NJ
Coquelin together.
Did she really discover Rostand. had been
said?
mo" she said II did not discover him. but I
glad think that I have been his inspiration
HIS muse. l might say. He wrote two OF his
earliest plays for me. and he is writing two for
me now"
NJ. Coquelin had also his disclosures to make
| about Hamlet" Mr.. Grau had asked him to play
Poonius. no said hut he had not felt like under
taking it. He had studied Polonus for many years
and could not understand the part. especially in
he decided that it VAS better for hm to play the
part OF the First Gravedigger. to which he could
were more exactlng about Shakespeare than Eng
theatre solely to be amused and with no studtous
| purpose. The attitude OF the American audience
dentally he defended the adaptations which have
| heen made Of certain OF Shakespeares plays
NJ Coquelin called attention 10 the fact that David
Juliet A new ending was better; he thought,
| than ending which did not appeal to a modern
| was that it the original one. II may be re-
marked that the denOuement or Hamlet IL not
| tampcred with in the version which the present
| French company uses.
NJ. Coquelln thinks. however. that he has put
| himself on record true appreciator of Shake
| speare. When he in this country the first
| time he The Tanning Of Shrew' played by
| Augustin Days company, and he was so much
of IT msde NS by Paul I'D pear @ Called la LA Mesere Ap
| privoisee" which he played many times In Paris
and few times in this country. in 1898 and 1894
| The author a play for him called
"Fastaff,'' adapted from the three plays OF
| Shakespeare in which Falstaf appears.
The part about which NJ. Coquen is still en-
| thusiastc. however. is Cyrano. He had something
| 10 say about the claim of certain Chicago man
| that the play OF Rostand was copied from one OF
| his. Such thing was absurd NJ. Coquelin said
| He had seen the growth OF "Cyrano de Bergerac'
| from the start and he knew how every bit OF 1t
| came about.
There Is entirely play In the repertory
announced for the engagement of the French com
| pany. Mention has here been made OF three. al
| of which are familiar here. Nine Bernhardt has
| been seen here in La TosCa" many times. but NJ
| Coqueln has not. Both have appeared here in
Camille the one in the title part, and the other
as old Duval but they have not before played 1t
together. Exactly the Is of "Frou-Frou,' .
| in which Nine. Rernhardt is 10 appear Frou-
Frou, and VI. Coquelin her father. NJ. Coquelin
said yesterday that ''Tartuffe" would he played in
| the last week of the engagement. This is OF
| seen in II here before.