The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-18
BERNHARDT IN LA ToSCA."
Ssrdou's Melodrnmn Produced mt the
National Theatre.


Cne Dame -.......-..,.. Nile soitcr'
siennaFIho. Nine. simonson
In Monsisnor. ....................Ml Mile. A. Piquel
The Bernhard bill at the National The
atre was changed last evening and the
| Offering was Sardou's La Tosca." There
| was considerable applause distributed
throughout the performance, and par
| ticularly following the killing of Scar
pia, when the house burst into an
| enthusiastic uproar Persons who en-
terrain a real regard for theatrical
| art and who witnessed Bernhardt's ad-
mirable acting last night could not
| repress feeling of genuine regret that
such remarkable talent should be vast
ed upon so barren material, upon such an
inconsequential. worthless. and wholly I'M
pleasant melodrama as is La Tosca.''
The undeniably brilliantly gifted dramatic
tailor, Sardou. who in his better periods
is quite commendable from every point of
view, undoubtedly suffers from bad mo-
ments. and it was undoubtedly in one of
these latter that he wrote la Tosca, -
one of the best samples of the artificial
melodrama imaginable. We're it not for
the superlative skill and mastery tech
nique of Nine. Bernhard, NJ. Coquelin,
and their associate players the Sardou
play would be no more interesting than
any of the numerous cheap melodramas
of which the stage has seen so many dur
ing the last decade. And even good as
she was most of the time. even the great
Sarah had her bad moments last night
These may have been due to the inclem-
ency that prevailed out o. DOORS or to
the yawning rows of unoccupied plush
chairs in the rear Of the house that exer-
cised their influence upon the actress and
assisted in making her performance one
fnr nf tf,n na--r y, I'D
scenes were played with a seeming indif-
ference that was uncomplimentary 10
those present. to put 1t mildly. although
in all fairness it should be said that she
was evidently suffering with a bad cold
When she was called upon 10 display
Jealousy in particular the Bernhard emo
tion was not always real; it was often in
sincere and unconvincing.
Undoubtedly the bit that last nights
audience appreciated most was the morbid
and audaclous situation eliminating with
the killing of Scarpa. The fear and loath-
ing with which Bernhard received Scar
pias advances were wildly portrayed,
while the gestures of agoniZed and dis
tressed corsent with which she signifled
the collapse of her moral and physical
resistance were quite startling in their
naturalness. The suggestion OF the knife
as a means of escape and revenge af
forded the actress a splendid moment, of
which she took full advantage. The actu-
ality of the murder was, as of yore, done
with wonderful verisimilltude and the
subsequent washing of the blood-stalned
hands and the reverential placing of the
cruciix and the candles about the life
less body proved a decidedly strong dra-
matte scene. and even though it did smack
of the trickery of the stage much of the
time, it was the means OF raising the cur
tain many times.
The hayward, beautiful, passionate
singer, La Tosca. was admirably portrayed
by Bernhard. The present interpreta-
ton differs in no wise from her previous
efforts. Il still possesses a vast amount
of personal charm; in youthfulness-ln
respect OF spirit and behayior-it is re-
markable, while the actress does not dis
play any evidence of waning physical yigor
in the scenes in which she is called upon
to exhibit especial strength. Than Bern
hardt's Fioria Tosca. it would be diff
ficult TO find a better specimen of vir
tuosity.
Scarpia does not present any difficulties
that might not readily be overcome by any
actor. It Is decidedly con-
ventional character drawn upon simple
and narrow melodramatic lines. and sven
me art of Coquelin could not bring TO 1t
any new inventions. But he acted it with
ease and grace. and distinction, and did not
once resort to theatres as a less compe
tent player would undoubtedly have done
His great scene with La Tosca was char |
acterized by cool, relentless. alert. and |
keen insistence which was a splendid foil |
to the agitation Of his helpless victim, and, |
critically considered. the Interpretation |
was masterpiece. NJ Deneubourg was |
the hero. Mario, and If one could over |
look poor enunciation and a monotony OF |
expression no matter whether before the |
torture or after. his work might be termed |
Nine. Mea was an intelli- |
gent queen, and her lines were read with |
authority, and all in all hers was one Of |
the best contributions Of the performance. |
Tonight "Cyrano de Bergerac" will be |
presented. with Coduelin in the name part |
and Bernhard as Roxane. "Cyrano" will |
be repeated tomorrow night. and at the |
matinee tomorrow la Dame aux Ca
milias" (Camille) will be presented