The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-22
THE STORY OF
BERNHARDT'S PLAYS
Thursday Ntght-..La sorc,era. ].

sfLa Sorciere,, Victorien Sardoa,s
great tragedy, is the play which will
open Nine. Bernhardt's engagement at
the Auditorium tonight. It is play
which is particularly well suited to the
talents Of the great French actress, and
one in which she delights to act. If
such thing Were possible. critics adj
nit, as Zoraya, the sorceress, Nine.
Bernhardt appears to better advantage
than IN any other in her extensive rep
ertory. Every opportunity is given her
nous the world over.
The drama opens at night on a plain
near Tagus, with the city of Toledo in
the distance. Several soldiers are seen
dragging peasants across the stage.
They are halted by Enrique, who is told
a young Moorish armorer named Kalem
and a Christian girl. By royal edict
the girl has been immured in cell
for life and Kalem stoned to death and
his body tied to tree. In the night
the body has been taken away and the
beds to testify.
They can tell nothing, but recently
arrived goatherd says that Zoraya, the
rich daughter of the physician to the
last Moorish king, reputed to be sor-
| ceress, tok the body. Enrique de-
mands to be led to Zoraya's home. They
meet on the plain, she is told his mis-
sion, and confesses the offense, saying:
:" His only crime was to have loved
| She enthralls Enrique, who selzes her
in his arms only to cast her OF with
the command that she never Cross his
path again. She answers: "No one
! has seen the light of tomorrow"
Enrique in the second act is discov-
| cred visiting Zoraya's home, after hay
/ ing evaded the spies set upon him. They
tell of their love until he is summoned
to his command by a bell. Joana.
/ daughter Of the governor of Toledo, is
brought in suffering an illness, from
which Zoraya offers to cure her in re-
turn for the release of the Christian
that she may be cured. Just as Enrique
is about to go Zoraya is informed that
her agents have lost track of the spies
and she, fearing for Enrique, faints in
her pillows.
The governors palace is the scene
of the next act and there Zoraya meets
Enrique by stealth and upbraids him
for not deserving his wife, Joanna, and
flying with her. AS she rushes out with
the words: SEQ, coward, back to your
wife! - she is confronted with Cardinals,
with orders for her appearance before
the holy officers. She refuses. Car
dinas draws dagger, Enrique strangles
him, and the couple rush out into the
night.
! Zoraya and Enrique are on trial be-
fore the inquisition when the fourth act
opens and his life or death depends
upon whether it is shown that he was
, her lover. Witnesses testify against
her, but not him. She seeks to save
him by denying him and proclaiming
, herself sorceress and an evil woman.
He reviles her for this. She recants.
Then, seeing his danger, she again puts
herself in an evil light and as she falls
fainting on the steps of the linguistic
rial room he is dragged away by his
> friend, Padilla, and the cardinal says:
"We'1l burn her after vespers.
The final act is before the cathedral
and the funeral pyre. In return. for
E awakening .Joana from her deep sleep,
Zoraya is given her freedom by the gov
9 ernor, but is seized by the Infatuated
E monks. evil you die, toos' she de-
$ mands Of Enrique. He mods assent
b kiss, and both fall dead, and the monks
$ drag her body to the funeral pyre.