New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-14
NINE BERNHkRDT At THE LYRIC.
Adrienne and Tisbe. !


Yesterday afternoon Nine. Bernhard acted
l6rfenne and last night she acted Tfsoe. Inc IoF-
roer inpersonaton has often been seen; the latter
&c new Neither Of them provides wider prospect
- Nine Bernhardts powers or is suggestive Of a
fresh line Of comment on her art The two char
scters have much in common. Both are actresses
both are lovers; both are opposed by rivals; both
are tormented by jealousy: and both miserably
rarlsh The essential difference between them Is
!, weight force and passion. Adrienne. though
canahle of scorn, is. comparatively, mild, sweet,
snd tender; whereas Tisbe. though capable of love.
can be ferocious and cruel Adrienne Is French'
sns the mistress of Maurice de Saxe-whom she
,unposes TO be only poor officer. T1sbe IS 1ta4lan'
snS a courtesan the mistress Of the cavalier Ro-
6olfo Adrienne's lover is true. Tisbes lover Is
false Adrienne publicly insults her iustrious and
noverfrli rival the Duchess Of Bouillon, and dies
nf poison. concealed in a bouquet sent TO her Dy
,bs Duchess, but delivered her lovers gift
T1sbs finding that her rival is her henefactor and
The one person on earth to whom she owes a
sacred debt of gratitude. sacrifices her life TO pro-
rnote her lovers happiness artfully and plteousy
contriyng to die by his hand. In each case the
story is told with somewhat OF that anbling pro-
IYttv Of preparation, explanation. and comment
Characteristic Of French drama The foreground
20 ecribes play is arranged with particularly
elaborate art1hce-making known that Adrlellhe
and Mile Duclos are stage rivals; that Mile Du-
clos Is the mistress Of the Duke Of Boullon; that
the Duchess Of Bouillon has private knowledge OF
.h,s interesting fact derived from the actress her
salt. that the Duchess Of Bouillon and Maurice De
sare have been lovers, but that Maurice has
transferred his heart to Adrienne LecouVreur' ana
nat the Duchess fnstfnctivey aware OF his defec-
tim is earnestly intent on discovering the lden-
dty Of her rival; that Maurice. just arrived IN
Paris has visited Adrienne before visiting the
duchess and has received q flower from her
which vegetable product the great lady observes
and adroitly captures: and that the Duke Of
F3ouillon has begun to surnise that Nile. Duclos
IS not Trustworthy person; with much additional
detail showing the truth. noticed by cir "al'e1
Scott that 20. what a tangled "eO ""
when first we practise to deceiveF
When the action does begin, however IL DesinS
IN earnest and it goes blithely on Inc Duch t,
causes Nile Duclos to write letter 10 INC a.
oonouerjng SAKE inviting him TO a private hlio-
night interview with her, in the little house mat
the Duke has provided for her residence Inns
latter falls into the hands of the DUKE VINO 'I0I
,1pon invites all the players of the Theatre
4ncIp6ios Adrenne TO come to supper at that
house at saxe's appointed hour,-thlnnng 10 IN
mask and shame his treaoherous paramount ms
design of the Duchess is to be present. peIsoli".9
Mile Duclgs when SAKE arrives, to DeIrlehu nm
n monetary matters, he being lmpeculllouS' 5
ascertain the name OF her unknown fNdi' O.
this plan is executed. The arrival OF the luke 'iu
his PLAYER guests however, places the Duchess III
nainful predicament. but from this she Is rescued
bv Adrienne, who, in dark scene, during VIM
the two suspicious rival sirens strive IN VAN
recognize each other. hberates her iroii n0
house-fbe Duchess incidentally dropping d u1e
-,,,5 braca1at the gift of her husband Whlch
Aayienne secures Then follows the famous eli
rnacteris scene at the palace OF the DucHe7s -
his Infatuated dame at last discovers heF "
recognition Of the sound of the voice hhe .io
heard in tbe dark; endeavors to mortify ana olS
grace Adrianne before the stately company ana
is srnos.d defeated and overwhelmed by tne
actress in a recitation, practically appheo' VI .S
denuncatory speech from ''Phedre --pl 'A4iN,s -
,,.r,,. os ono Uwho bears q brow insenslble 10
shame" This moment of tempest ana ia'ai u l
is quickly followed by the catastrophe OF
death The onportl1nity for Nine. Bernhardt occur
al the climax, and. naturally, she Is lhcisl'o c.
victorious in her swift ejaculation OF lIo 49,,
omed invectfve. Her death-scene' likewise Is S
srtstic-because expressive of poignant surlerlhs'
neither grossly pbysical nor too long protrscted-
The tender loving devoted aspect of the cnsTaCUeF
was only suggested, not realized by LOU ~
best,-because the more truthful c ohsletel.' -
tinuous, neutrality-suspicious. OF AolienLo
our stage has known that OF the me !
actress Marie Seebach, now genefdliy Ioi 9o -.
Il jv IN moods If tempest that Nine. beThlalut
puts forth her powers with the greater heeuo
the better result. Tfsbe IS more I1I %. -
with her personality than Adrienne' ana ic'ot
Hrgo's Notwithstanding more potent elements VI
romance nassion tragedy and terror and being
less q fabric ~ intrigue and artificial manferS'-ls
much the better of the two; although lioee' 80,
theatre SC ,,p6ar everlasting obligation 10 oNI4D0
FOR the beautiful character of Michonet. which, IN
Ysrioug p,,ses and under various names. mas en-
dured ever since he made IT. IN Hugos she"y
drama .be actior comes to Hecuba somewhat hioro
quickly than in Scribe's lace-rufne iaprlca1o O..
st is altogether OF a more dread anc ghasDs -
Tisbe the courtesan, has emerged from a 49, -
Of ignouninious want She remembers ulal HoI
warrant mothers life was spared, through 'N0
influence of A Senator. at the nst!ea'i".i %
lovely girl! scarcely more than chiio' anu 49,;
IN after years she discovers that heF Success
rival in love is that same GIRL grown " ",'aa
hood ana welded to a tyrant, she Is cohs'laiie
Under narrowing and pitiful cFcuIl'S =,
prove her gratitude by giving boIh me anu - =.
The plot is intricate, but the evolution OF II
stss brisk succession Of surprising eHeets an
cello Lord ~ Padua has welded Cataflha' "iioi.'
he no longer loves and by whom ne IS iea1e
Catarina loves Rudolfo, and by him Is loVeo' Du1
hey have only, casually met, and they kno" can
other little ~ AT all Tisbe is infatuated Win NJ
dolfo ana has become his paramour. Angelo -
ssful to engross the love OF Ilsoe' no
an these persons. obviously. need caIlpIoi -
hat need not detain attention. FlcIor I1uso 80.
Strong measures in his accomplishment OF Io!I-a'
effect There is a mysterious person naheo iloIID-
del who moves ALI these characters. as though lley
were puppets.-pretending that his motive - si"li-
t1ce, whereas he is prompted by utter 'i4N -,
because Catarina has repulsed his addresses ,
comes time when Tisbe who has oesuiied <AiiseI'
OF key to his private rooms. IS enaple" l" ~
mont her rival in the night. and when the aiii"
SAa0lfo has Just been concealed N lAs i~"'