The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25
M. RoSTAND'S NEW DRAMA.


From the Des NoiDe., Iowa, Leader)
| The greatest dramatic occasion Witnessed
! in Paris for many years was the first pre-
sentation on Thursday night of Edmond
| Rostand's new play, L'Aiglon." with Mad
| anne Sarah Bernhard in the title role The
secret of the drama has been well kept.
so that little was known except that the
hero was the Duke OF Reichstadt, "L'Aig-
/ Ion" the son of Napoleon and Marie
! Louise. Curiosity has been whetted by the
announcement that Madame Bernhardt had
shorn her hair 10 make her more look the
part and that she would appear in short.
curling, golden locks. and white and gold
costume. She did. and it is said was the
picture of youthful buoyancy and beauty.
The mere announcement that the drama
| had for its central figure the son of Napol-
con was sufficient TO MI the hungry Bona
partists with hope. They bought up the
best seats OF the theatre for the first few
nights, and hoped the play might provoke
Bonapartist demonstration. They were
disappointed, however. Mr. Rostand. it is
said, has written great play. from both
historical and literary standpoint. and
has. therefore. avoided everything sensa-
tional or partisan. The tragic and pathetic
fate OF the imperial waif appealed to the
dramatist to present the Duke of Reich
stadt, Napoleon II, in other than a cursory
light.
The first act is laid at Baden Baden
in the Greek temple, the favorite resort
OF Marie Louise. The young duke is
under the care OF his tutors. who have
instructions to teach him everything
except history. The boy knows Ma
poleon only by vague hearsay but for
some reason his Interest is caught and
he asks embarrassing questions about
Austerlitz and other battles OF Napoleon
From Young girl compaion the young
duke learns that the Emperor of the
French is his father. The second act is
at SchosTbrun, where the young duke is
surrounded by spies. among whom is the
faithful Flambeau. a former gTenadier OF
Napoleon. who plays the spy to be near
Il Aigion. He is the chief worker in a
plot TO restore Napoleon ii 10 the throne
Of France. One day Flambeau induces the
boy 10 try on French Uniform Meter
mich discovers them and is furious He
orders Flambeau away. and leading Aiglon
before mirror, in an impassioned invec-
tive, suggestive of Hamlei's comparison
between his father and his mothers con-
sort, points out the discrepancies OF face,
form. and character Between Napoleon
and his frivolous, degenerate sen. The
boy, in frenzy of rage, Iushes at the mir
ror and dashes il to pieces Flambeau fall
ing asleep one day ard awakened by the
entrance Of the sentinel, discloses his
identity by crying out, Hush, the Empe-
ror sleeps"
He had thought himself again at the pal
ace of the Luxembourg. Flambeau is driv-
en- from SchOenbrun. Other scenes show
masked ball at the palace of Metternich
and moonlight on the battlefield Of Wae-
ram in the mystic twilight, where the
voices of the slain cry out in their agony.
The last act shows the death OF L'Aiglou.
Marie Louise is reclining on Napoleon
iron camp bed. and LAiglon sits besif,
her. In striking juxtaposition 10 the iron
bed is the imperial cradle in which the
young King OF Rome was placed at his
birth. While the boy leans against his
mother. the court chamberlain, at his re-
quest reads aloud a description of the
pageants celebrated at Paris upon the an
nouncement Of the birth of the King of
Rome.
The presentation began al $50 p. m.
and ended only at 1870 a. m. The audience
was composed of the literary, artistic. and
fashionable natables of Paris. The YER
die: Of the audience indicates; by its ap-
plause, and hat of the critics the follow
ing morning. is that NJ Rostand has
ecllpsed the success of his 'Cyran0 de Ber-
gerac." and that the divine Sarah has fill
ed her ambition By winning an undoub;c!
triumph in a masculine role. NJ Rostand
is only thirty years old. and already he
has written two dramas which more near |
iy approximate the Shakespearean ideals |
than any produced during the long years |
IN ar mi