Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-06

torien Sardous Ia sgciere.' 1t has been
limited that a passion for the mysterious
and the occult, in fact, for what was once
called the Black Art, prompted me TO In
carnate on the stage the character Of 10
raya, the sorceress. This is, OF course, an
other Of the many wild legends about me
given 70 the world by that unknown, IRE
pressible mystifcateur-the person who
knows At one time, II is true, took great
interest in spiritualism, and even acted as
simone dAubenas in Victorien sardou's
spiritisme,' the part Of woman resusci-
tated from the dead Our veteran dramatlst
believes still, 1 think, in the influence Of
what he calls the mysterious and uncon-
trolable Power but as regards myself, 1
have. for a long time, lost all faith in splr-
itualism and other kindred subjects" .
OF the forthcoming performance in Lon
don Of "Adrienne Lecouvreur," Nine. Sarah
Bernhard spoke with enthusiasm, both as
an actress looking forward to a new crea-
ton and as an author anticipating the pro-
duction Of new work. For the play,
which is TO be staged next week at the
Coronet theater, is not, as Omaha Bee read
ers know, the we'll known piece by Scribe
and Legouve. but an original work written
entirely by Nine. Sarah Bernhard
Not content with being a great actress, a
painter, a sculptor an art critic, a novelist
and even an aeronaut, Mime. Bernhard has
also written for the stage. After producing
her first play, "L'Aveu," some years ago,
she will now make her second bow TO the
public as a dramatist in "Adrienne Lecouv-
reur."
The author explained to me that she had
woven n plot round the story Of the Ouch
ess de Bouillon and Adrienne Lecouvreur.
Her stage version differs from that OF
Scribe and Legouves in that It comprises
six acts instead of FIVE, and introduces new
scenes in the Bastie and the Luxembourg
Gardens, and new parts, as those Of Vol
taire. Count d'Argenthal, Du Marsay, la
Balicourt and the hunchback Able Bourret
"a very effective role, entrusted to NJ. de
Max.
ITO what" nazarded, do we owe the
fact of such a sensational premiere taking
place in London?"
"Ahl You will scarce believe when I tell
you" replied Nine Bernhard, with flash
ing eyes, and reaching out her arms in an
inimitable gesture Of despair; the Societe
des Auteurs actually refused to allow me to
produce my own play in my own theatre.
And So" she continued, now smiling, Il
place myself and my work at the mercy of
London audience"
Pressed for particulars Of her future
plans, Nine Sarah Bernhard kindly gave
me her program. Three weeks in London,
then touring in the provinces, where she
will appear with Mrs. Patrick Campbell in
Maeterlincks "Pelleas ct Melisande," then
off to South America and back again in
Paris for the winter where she will pro-
duce 'Sainte Therese," drama in verse
by NJ. Catulle Mendes. Another interesting
item Of the program is the revising of the
proof sheets Of LES Memories de Sarah
Bernhard" which will be published in the
autumn, simultaneously In Paris, London
and New York.
But when" asked. do you rest?',
'Oh, may spend few days at my sea-
side villa in Brittany, where sometimes
turn to decorative art for relaxation"
Nine Bernhard went on to tell me that
she is fond of casting fish in plaster molds
to form quaint designs in the art nouveau'
style. IT work them" she said ''in marble
bronze, silver or gold. 1 am now engaged
on decorative fountain in this style. Some
of my designs have been adapted and used
rather effectively, think. for jewelry by
the famous Lalique. I quite recently pre-
scented Edmond Rostrand with a fish of my
own holding, in gold, with eyes of opal"
Nine. Bernhard rose, and with parting