The sun., 1910-12-07
BERNHARDT AS JOAN OF ARC
fHE NiID RIIEALED IN NEW
VERSION or THE STORY,

'"N'N-'No plays WIN her this YEAR
a-' night she acted AT the Globe Theatr.
'.. nr~r "f the novelties in her rich and
t~I"'i ll-' Ia was The Trial of Joan oi
'- Emil" Moreau IL the author and the
'-"urh actress performed tho pisc@ n
'@tr ago at her theatre in Paris A. far
'ir> ~ lsao she had acted q version OF the
.'70" story at the old Standard Theatre
f--"
Mureaus play IN described by somc Of
- "ompatriots a. an almost literal trans
TO- from historical sources of The episoder
Tr"Sedlng the execution Of the Maid Of
u-."sns. The frat act passe~ in the
Ca-tie Of Philippe e-Auguste at Rouen in
li5i Here ara introduced 'hs historical
r"rsonages who figured in m. final days
ot JOnhs career. The question of the
rnAds death Ia discussed Only when
r ford believes that his illnasas has been
caused bv her witchcraft il the King
Awakened To sign her dsathlwnrrsnt
The entrance Of Joan makes even moro
historical the impression Of tho second
act Noreau is said Tn have put into the
mouths OF his characters the actual worsls
rhev spoke on this occasion. Tho maid
comes IN chains bsfors her judges. Here
she relates the story of her early life. tells
night rho wrongs of her people and ref,,,as
the efforts OF her prosecutors by prophecy
'nS the expulsion nf the English from
France. She ia condemned To be tortured
a. witch at the close OF this second epi.
soie IN the drama. but the interference Of
Bedford saves her then. The following
ac' which passes in joan = cell shows tha
efforts Of her friends to convince her 70
-a'- l.ar haraat.a hat ak. l.
handed over to the spiritual powers who
~ill not execute her. She refuses. how
ever and will not listen to Bsdford's
proposal that she disguise herself as "A
page and escape To Xsintrailles But she
appeals TO her saints evep To put this
temptation behind her.
The final act of the play again COM
prses various acts which ara commonly
described n of more or less hist orical
authority It passes in a room in the
chateau overlooking the market place
OF Rouen. One OF the maids prosecutors
has been suddenly killed by the fall OF
a statue Of the Blessed Virgin. Another
has renounced Wdrrick and returned
me money paid to persecurs the maid
20 her death
Here the sentimental element Of the |
play first presents itself, for Bedford
- shown to be IN love with Joan. She |
vas seen for the last time. however.
a, the close OF the preceding act The !
audience learns from the conversation |
Of the other characters thar Joan has |
entered the square. that her hands have
been bound and thar she has mounted /
the platform as her confessor holds the
crucIfix in front OF her The reflect ion |
Of fro il seen in the room. cry IL heard
from Joan The little king cannot .u-
dure she agony OF the moment and a.
Wdrnick bearr him from the room the
curt ain falls and the dramatic hist ory
Of Jean has ended
II. Moreaus play might have pro cd
a drv dramatic document ON tn = stag.
out for tho Illuminating genius ot Nine
BsrnhArdt. One speaks no longer OF Tho
traditional golden voice. for that Us un-
fortunately for this generation. a thing
q the past. But the raucous remainder ~
an organ capable OF expressing the minut-
-si shade OF dramatic expression Nine.
Bernhardt can color il still TO the mo at |
-ioaueDt expression of emotion In her
.Iick retorts to her judges It was sharp
ant lncisivo. In the declarations OF hcr
fa'h in her saints she spoke with an cc-
satlo slsv alton that impaired its lnevi.
table message 20 the remOtest hsarer.
asn her gesture. while not excessive.
r A. rich in its significance There are two
plausible hypothesis as TO her present
"0ntInenca IN the matter Of using the
o!'rard and visible symbols of her art
One NAV he that her physical mel ms
suggest sparIng Of effort. The other
and It seems much more the probable
oItooIns of her ripe artistry-is the re-
.-ctIon all but the exertion vital and
essential 20 tue expression OF her mean
Cg Experience hss taught her the value
Eat lies IN ,IsIng only the minimum of
'g- Dover- that -ho might call TO her aid
~" has learned that the response Of her
UArr.rs Is certain 10 be stronger and more
f--ylv felt wren they are moved by tbs I
east ooSSl blH effort on her part She ap- Z
les 10 such an uD!utslligebt art as the
lotnr.--whch j. any manifestation. 80
aDanle of intellectual analysis and in
II" end 80 unworthy ~ IT. the same
'o-n !la that He-b"-t Spencer has sug-
s.a;ed AZ 4 standard of successful style
IN 7rltine
I-eu one must beieve that not the
lea e sparlng phys ral exertion but
r. rst.Izston Of the greater power that
90 exercises oy her reserve in voice
aad action il the secret Of such power
- -" still able to exercise. Lessee
I~'- 49, stsg. gsniuses. of course
r+e" Increased their use Of any availa bic |
'~".rIoal means as their natural powers
~.ur-d But Mime. BE rnhardt bv the
i~r"e 4 her own instinct and through her
'r-s experience has learned TO discard
ii. r4r indispensable tools OF her trade.
~" 'rds her now. as it Were. exhibit
: '." Guintessence of her art and in .
rav .r Is the actors art of her time y
rI gn' 10 the nth power-in a purity
~ s1" might never have exhibited
90 'hsrs was 80 much physical power \
.e- control that she did not feel the Q
.--.'v It selecting only the highest Z
..-' oppressive mediums In her
.~-" was adequate pageantry in the g
i..' .-.auC" ~ the Globe Theatre last
.' o.. PVT N. pictures Of ths various =