The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
AT THE THEATRES.
The MISUNDERSTANDING and COque-
lin in s'L'AiEIon.v

Thaberg NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Francois
Tn Domestique. ....................M Deneuyille
I'm Nontagnard. .........................M Canroy
furstenburg. .-...-.......--.......M thabert
Josica NJ Jayef
Tn Masque. Julien
Boresti. stephano
IN PaYsan. hlSier
Pionnet. N. Durand
Tn Homme. ........................N Soleilian
IN faysan " Dupus
Marie Louise. ........................ Nine. Mica
Princess Camerts. ..............--..A Mime Marcia
Theresa Nine llainlron
fannie Essler. Nine. herNich
l. Arehiduchesse. .....-...........M Mime. Bouianger
La Pflncesse. Mime Ccllarius
une AFehiduebcsse. Nine Barnley
Scarampi Nine. Patri
La Comptesse. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nine. Savcli
La Duches.e. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mime Tasuy
Olga Dem'ile d'Honneur. ......... Mine. simonson
Lazy CONVEY ----.----.-.-..-.--.-. Nine Soitcfs
Une Paysanne ...-..............M Nine ChauNet
Une Nielle .aysanne. ................ Nine. Heyser
Une PaFsannc Mime. Henry
Dem lie d Honneur ................h Nine Jignei
Une Dem lie Honneur Nine Roger
In Petit Archduc. Mime. Blanche Legereau
Une Petite Archduchesse. Nine. Ninnctte Legereau
The appearance of Sarah Bernhard is
always regarded as an event of unusual
interest. socially and Electrically, but
when she is seen in conjunction with Con-
slant Coquelin, the representative come
dian of the French stage. the theatre pre-
sents an attraction that comes but once
in a generation. SO it is not a matter of
surprise that these two great artists who
had not played together for twenty years
since Bernhardts flight from the The
afro Francaise-prior to their present
work in 'L'Aigion," last night, attracted
to the National Theatre one of the most
distinguished audiences that has been as
sembled within that house for years. So
ciety was largely in evidence throughout
d., ,4.,ss
dotted the orchestra chairs, the embas-
sizes contributed generously to the atten-
dance, while boxes were tenanted by Mr..
Chief Justice Gray, Mr. Stilson Hutchins,
Representative Joy of Missouri Mrs.
Letter. MIR John f. Waggaman and Mrs.
Slater.
The audience was an enthusiastic one,
and appended quickly to the many ex-
eellent bits of work of Bernhard. Coque-
lin, and their fellow players. And it was
net mere pantomime, for the majority of
the gathering followed every word spoken
en- the stage and bestowed an intelligent
approval upon the numerous fine points
Of the drama and especially upon the
most striking literary passages. Much of
the Rostand verse that was passed by
almost unnoticed by the "L'Aiglon" au-
dences of last week received a prompt
recognition last evening begpeaking the
Gallieian temperament of the assem-
blage. This was particularly noticeable.
when at the end of the fourth act. the
duke says to the attaehe Of the French
Embassy at the Austrian court Salute
for me the column OF Vendome." AS the
speech was delivered by Miss Adams it
was received by the major portion of her
hearers as merely a very quiet curtain,
but last night the full significance OF the
line was realized and the deserved praise
followed.
view of the original ''L'Aiglon" Only
confirms the impression created by the
English translation that 1t is a unique,
syn metrical and moving dramatic poem.
well worthy of a literary association with
Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerae,' but PCS
! sessing no such transcendent charm, no
such superior force. as to diminish ones
esteem for the earlier written play as the
master work. And this Is doubtless due
TO the fact that In 'L'Aiglon' the theme
| is hopeless ambition; in Cyrano. that of
hopeless love. The story of the weak son
of the strong Napoleon is constantly IL
Illuminated with picturesque contrasts and
because it is ever varied by the most in
| genious devices. 1t does not appeal to the
heart with the same strength or give the
moments of inspiration as does the pa
| thetic tale of the grotesque Gascon who
| loved but dared not tell Of his love.
! Neither does "'L'Aiglon" move forward
with the spontaneity that "Cyrano" does.
! Still. it is a drama OF such commanding
| quality that no other coniemporaneous
writer has produced a work that is worthy
of comparison with this tale of the hap
| less son of Napoleon.
| The version of "L'Aigion" presented ! y
| an American company at the National
| Theatre last week is more of a condensa-
| ton than a translation, as Mr.. Parker
| terms his work. The Bernhard perform
I,,,s l.-x
| employed in the other. 1t would not be
! fair TO compare the work Of the two
actresses who have presented their inter-
| pretations OF the Duke of Reichstadt be-
| fore a Washington audience, for Miss
| Adams portrayal while charming and
eminently satisfactory to most of her
| hearers, cannot be expected to equal
that of this remarkable French ac-
| tress. veritable stage veteran, richly
endowed by nature with theatrical gifts
| and instincts and with every faculty cul-
| tiyated to the highest point and ready fer
| instant application But In brief. 1t can
| be said in all verify that Miss Adams
| looks the Eaglet while Bernhard acts the
| Duke This is the predominating differ
ence between the two performances.
| Many of those present last night had
! seen Bernhardt on the occasions OF her
| earlier visits to this country and had
| maryeled at her natchless art. But never
| before had they seen her more grand in
| extent and towering in artistic height.
| No person known to the native stage
! whose work, in moments of undue enthus-
| iasm on the part of writer's on drama tic
| affairs or else on account of a paucity OF
descriptive phrases, has been likened unto
| that of The French woman ever approach
| ed or received the volume of approval
that greeted Bernhard last night The
| stage witnesses many furores-popular
fayorites flash across the theatrical fir
mament for a brief period and are lauded
| Historically and called the American
| Bernhard" "a second Bernhard. -
greater than Bernhard" or something
else in which the comparison is a great
tribute 10 the actress whose abilities lend
to an exhausted vocabulary their signs OF
comparison And all the time this actress
has gone on in her own unique, incom-
parable Bernhardtish way, scoring sue
cess after success, making an ar
of acting, showing to us what a
barren ground our own dramatic felC
really is, all the while defying time
and all law known to mankind and
holding the homage of the world fol
over three decades and is still pursuing
her vocation with the buoyancy of a no.
yitiate and the authority of ripe expe-
rience.
The passing years may have left theiI
imprint but it is not discerni5le across
the line of footlights. The Bernhard
powers of expression are but slightly dim
med. and the voice that has been called
silver tone" retains its volume anC
/