Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-23

Scarampi .....,,,..............M Nine. Laurent
Petite Archiduchesse. Nine Petite Bacon
Sara Bernhardt is stI the Divine
Sara"
She has not been able TO bid the sun
Stand thou sim upon Gibeon, and thou
Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." But the
years roll away from her and leave no
trace. unless II be found in some measure
OF physical WEAKNESS that must come with
the incessant travel and strenuous acting
that she has undergone for weeks 1t
would be more than marvellous did she
not feel something akin to fatigue. And,
II she show this little In her carriage,
what does II matter when her spirit is
undaunted, and her Art shines with that
lambert glow that has made It the chief
luminary of all the armament In which Il
is set2
Wonders of Her Art.
It Is by her glorious voice, her facility
for expression with hands and face. a
gesture, shrug of the shoulders more elo-
Quent than many words, and the intona-
ton of her speech. the delicate phrasing
Of her lines the incubation of the tones.
now ringing full and free and vibrant
through all the theater filling 1t with
sound. now diminished to the softest of
caressing music, then bubbling with laugh
ter and full of cajolery, or broken and
hating with despair and anglish-this Is
the art of Sara Bernhard. She bursts
forth with eloquence, sublime and con-
vincing, declaiming the poets lines with
fire and passion. and when her mood has
spent she. again becomes the querulous
boy. full OF doubts and besst by uncertain
ties, the Eaglet beating against the bars
and unable to try his wings. She shows his
awakened ambition for power and domin-
ion. and also shows his incapacity for the
exercise Of imperial sway. She shows his
which II has been familiar, and reaching
out for those things the devoted adherents
of his father believe him capable OF grasp
ing. And at last she shows him. broken
and crushed In body and mind, aware of
his swiftly approaching end. bravely
facing 1t and tenderly parting with those
who loved him best.
IL is wonderful creation. this "Eaglet''
OF Rostand's dream and Bernhardts real
iEation. One can understand how Paris
received It until R nearly became po-
litical issue over there. Its noble periods
excite even an American audience, and II
Is with French history the poet has dealt
OveruhadOwed by Metternich.
But the poor Eaglet is under the sinister
shadow Of the unbending Metternich just
how much the world owes the crafty prime
minister of Austria In this regard will
always be a matter. of speculation. but in
this play Rostand has drawn him as the
repressive Influence that shaped the
destiny Of Charles Francis, King of Rome
and Duke Of Reichstadt, to inaction- NJ
Maxudian plays the role with force and
gives 1t it's proper value in the scheme OF
things. M. Decoeur makes Flambeau a
most heroic figure, a veritable torch
whose flame lit the dull ambition of the
boy, and set his thoughts on an imperial
throne, only 10 have II crumble away as
had his fathers hold upon the world, and
in the death Of Flambeau is typiffed the
boyish heart clingfhg to the things with
| destruction of that grand army that fol-
| lowed the Little Corporal" marshal's
baton in every knapsack.
Much might be written of the others who
figure in tho play. but II will suffice to
say that the company is worthy of the
star. The roles are well cast. and we'll
sustained. The action OF the play was in
some ways shortened last night. but moth
| ing essential was omitted. and the great
audience that filled the Brandeis theater
found occasion for the livelest of en-
thusiasm over the progress OF events on
the stage. Applause frequently interrupted
the scenes, and each act was followed by
round OF curtain calls. such as must
even have convinced the star that her
tremendous efforts were not wasted.
Must Come Again.
Just why the advance Is so insstent on
this as the last tour OF Nine. Bernhardt
Is not apparent in her appearance or heI
| acting rha Rec will hare rnnaaA In nt,h