The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-24
DERHAPs more than one who at

phcum last night wondered why the
&" Divine Sarah at her advanced age
should wish to quit all the comforts
of home and the acclaim of her own
people to venture as STAR OF Yaude-
Vile in firmament that can but dim
her luster. 1t was worth while to
struggle with an unfriendly claque In
Paris to prove that one of Sardon 3
plays was a masterpiece IN spite or
catcalls and raucous criticisms, but
wherein does ii add TO her glory or
satisfaction to face in feeble old age
an audience Of foreigners, many OF
whom, not understanding a word ishe
tutors, are simply looking for some
thing they can laugh at.
When the curtain rose on a stage set
ting that presented in splendid detail the
interior OF the ducal palace OF Ferrara,
some one In the gallery emitted a riant
horse laugh that almost toppled over the
melancholy dignity of NJ. Lou Tellegren,
who was revealed In the act of summon
Ing Gennara to prepare for death, For
the moment the horse laugh occupied a
large place In the attention OF a score
or more Of "groundlings." who laughed
back encouragingly at the author OF the
horse laugh. While Bernhardt was plead
ing in tones Of golden pathos for the
life OF her son, the laughing contingent.
evidently thinking that she was tellinA
funny story. Uttered appreciatively.
Suddenly they were dismayed when the
"DIvine Sarah" turned on them with a
rebuklng ''Sh-." Was II for this that
Bernhard came 5000 miles to play In
vaudeville2
Before giving the writer's Impressions
Of Bernhardts acting. it Is well to out
line Victor Hugo's play. 'Lucrece Bor-
gia,'' as presented by Bernhardt and her
aides.
a room in the ducal palace at Ferrara
Is the scene OF TIE & third s act in tnerece nsaec
D'Este, the Duke of Forrara, has JUST
arrested Gennaro for defacing. In a Ill
OF youthful folly. the front Of the palace.
The dukes real interest in the young
man is a belief that Gennaro is a lover
OF Lucrece Borgia, the Duchess OF Fer
rara: The truth is that Gennaro is the
illegitimate son OF Lucrece.
In a flaming passion Lucrece enters
and demands the life OF the culprit who
has defaced her name above the portco
OF the palace Calmly the duke informs
her. that the man has already been ar
rested and makes an oath to her that
the life she demands will be taken. The
door opens and Gennaro is brought In q
prisoner.
Lucrece dares not tell the duke her true
relationship, seeking every subterfuge tc
prove Gennaro guiltless. Then in half
sly. half-menaeing manner Ferrara
to be her lover. And Lucrece Borgia, a
| hardened and ruthless woman, shivers al
tho thought OF her sons peril. But again
With wit 'yos you, u my y lord" she asks, and the
guards withdraw with their, prisoner
Lucrece pleads passionately before. the
sardonically calm Ferrara, who refuses
until she asks his reason for refusal
Because this Captain Gennaro is you,
| lover madaml" he cries, Lucrece Is
and p'Bste reads her the life story o.
| the Borgias-of her fratHcide brother
Caesar; her father the Pope, q scandal to
| Rome, with his shameless courtesans
| Christian world. Realizing the utter use-
lessness Of entreating. she reverts to the
| true character OF a Borgia by threats
Ferrara takes advantage of the situation
to wreak the secret vengeance that ha6
| been In his heart for months and calls
on her TO choose the manner OF Cen
naro's death. Moaning. she avoids the
brought In. D'Este orders wine. pre-
viously poisoned for just such an occa-
sion, brought. and with a yelled threa,
| is then drained by Gennaro. Ills pur-
pose being accomplished, he leaves them
with soft words of mock courtesy.
the poison and gives him a phial con-
| tanning a powerful antidote. This Cen
naro believes to be trick and refuses
| the second draught. He turns and over
mother love Is stronger than her cruel
| soul, and In agoniZed and passionate
eloquence she prevails on him TO drink
and orders him to ride swiftly out OF
Venice,
When Bernhardt was here last season
in "L'Aiglon' her feebleness was then
commented upon by the critics. She
coasted carefully from chair to table and
| from table to chair and showed little Of
| the youthful fire that was demanded by
the part; Her ciocution still retained
much OF It's ancient magic. and she
achieved dramatic effects with an easy
| ma iesty that one found difficult TO eX-
plain. What praise could be accorded
then can he accorded now She is still
| the greatest actress In the world, even IL
her acting is no longer great.
| The scene from 'Lucrece BorGia" calls
for fire. fcrvor and tragic passion, but
the actress was content to "sit OUT most
| cred Ike a goddess ii Is true that the
wonderful variety Of vocal colorRg and
infection was there, but the soul had
fled. Ellie est morte de vieillesse..
| Monsieur Lou Tellegren, the leading
man. is undoubtedly an actor OF high
worth. AS the duke of Ferarra he dis
played a grace and dignity that was very
| impressive There seemed TO be q sort
OF sorcery In his slightest gesture, a mag
netic quality that only the best actors
possess Nine. Bernhardt is to be con-
| graduated on her wisdom In choosing
such an aide.
| -Four OF the five other acts on the bill
are all excellent. Mcmahon, a singing and
dancing comedian. assisted by two young
ladies. Diamond and clemsnee, present
ladies is the ''scarecrow'' and she per-
fectly "enaets the roll" In fact. rolling
| Is the chief part OF her act. She is an
anima ted ragbag and rolls about the stage
In a most entertaining fashion and finally
rolls out over the footlights into the or
chestra, Then everybody gasps in fear,
but the "scarecrow" is pulled, dragged
and jerked back upon the stage quite un-
injured The other young Indy sings,
dances and whistles with equal facility
| Ia pd cle