New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
BERNHARDT AS THISBE,
Victor Hugo's angelo, Tyrant Of
Padua," ReUiUed an Paris
Paris. February 10.


Nine Sarah Bernhardt. who in the mellow
autumn Of her career continues to provide Paris
with SO many dramatic and artistic surprises.
has with the superb revival Of Victor Hugos
sombre medieval drama, angelo, Tyrant OF
Padua," gained one of her most brilliant tri-
umphs Angelo was produced for the first
time at the Theatre Francais on April lS, 1880.
when the principal parts were played by Mile.
Mars, Nine. Dorvai and Beauvallet. Louis-Phillp-
plan austerity was shocked by the young dra-
matist's "audacity' in bringing the wife and
the favorite face to face. and representing the
two women in love with the same man, who
thus doubly injured the unsympathetic husband
The play, although merciIessly "scissored' by
the censorship. frightened the prudes Of the
royaIist reaction. and was abandoned The great
Rachel revised the piece in 1859, but she was
only moderately successful in the pure comedy
scenes of the first act. NJ. Paul Meurice, the
veteran man Of letters and lifelong companion
of Victor Hugo arranged the play with Nine.
Sarah Bernhard, and it is now, after delay OF
seventy years, given for the first time in unex-
purgated FORM NJ. Paul Meurice was overcome
with emotion on the night Of Nine. Sarah Bern
hardt's performance of his departed friends IA
vorite prose drama, and exclaimed he en-
braced the divine Sarah: "Oh how happy the
master would be if he could your imper-
for you are the only artist that fulhls his ideal"
The construction of the drama is rough and
lacks the subtle touches of the experienced
theatrical hand. II somewhat archaic in form,
II nevertheless breathes in every line the warm
Imagination and fancy of the poet and its great
est fault is that it was not written in verse-ln
that sonorous billow-like verse of Hermann and
"Ruv Bias" Sarah Bernhardt has imbued the
nlay with "panache." conviction and sincerity
There can be more telling evidence or the
lasting place held by Victor Hugo in the hearts
Of his countrymen than the faith, enthusiasm
and respect with which the Partisan public wei
coined this romantic melodrama beautifully set
,;no,, the stage at the Theatre Sarah Bernhard
The success of Angelo is so great in Paris
that according TO present arrangements II VIII
soon be given in London and later In New Y orK'
The action passes at Padua in the sixteenth
century Homodei, spy of the dread venetian
Council of Ten whose love is spurned by Cata-
r,na. wife of Angelo. Podesta and Tyrant Of
Padua. seeks terrible revenge He reveals to
Thisbe the publicly proclaimed favorite of An
gelo who is also the secret mistress of the pro-
scribed nobleman Rodolfo the love of Catarina
for Rodolfo. Homodei thus hopes to induce
Thisbe to work vengeance upon Catarina. Ro-
do,fo is beloved by Thisbe as well as by Cata-
rina. Rodolfo is secretly introduced at mid
NIGHT into the private apartment of Catarina in
tho Podesta's palace. Thisbe is also made to
anpear in the same apartment at midnight by
tho revengeful Homodei, who has persuaded her
IN SECURE from Angelo by artful cunning the
Golden key to the chamber. While Catarina and
Rodolfo are whispering love to each other, ap-
nroachng footsteps indicate danger RodoHo
"a hastily concealed in Catarinas bedchamber.
,rbishA appears The two women meet. An in
tense scene OF jealousy ensues. Thsbe SEES on
the wall a copper cruchx It is the crucifX
that once belonged to Thisbe's mother, who,
when condemned to death, gave II TO a girl who
had once saved her life. This young woman is
Catarina Thisbe, with Italian reverence for her
mothers cross, refuses to renounce her original
intention of running her rival When Angelo ar
rives. instead of denouncing Catarina. she ex-
nIains that she came TO warn Angelo and
Catarina of a plot TO assassinate them. Later,
however by the machnations of Homode An
gelo succeeds in discovering the clandestine
meetings between his wife Catarina and Rodolfo.
Angelo the Tyrant of Padua resolves TO have
his wife chopped 10 pieces by hired assassin.
Thisbe now determined 10 save her. persuades
him to employ poison. Thisbe substitutes mar
cotic for the real poison. and enables Catarina,
supposed by her husband to be dead 10 escape
from Padua with her lover Rodofo Before
doing So however. Thisbe. who herself loves
Rodolfo so desperately 5hat she can no longer
live without him, so infuriates Rodolfo, by MAX