The Detroit times., 1916-11-21
~ THE
CTAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

Divine Sarah" which for years has
leen synonymous for the full name
Of Madame Sarah rernhardt, must
hereafter be the marvellous Sarah.
FOR thar phrase alone expresses the
wonders Of the great French actress
appearance and acting Monday even
ing. in the Detroit opera house.
A. the crimson velvet aangings
with their monogramed IS. b." and
motto. "Quand meme" Come what
may). parted on the first tragic play
lst. The Death OF Cleopatra" and
revealed Mime Bernl ardt reclining
On couch of leopard and tiger
'kins and silken cushions surround
d by her Egyptian slaves and with
a scenic background Of the green
Nile the large audience broke into
applause thai lasted several min
u'cs Inc welcome Ia the greatest
OF living actresses had sincerity al
lection. admiraIor and tribute not
only 90 genius bat 10 courageous
Ncmanhood Il seemed impossible
"a believe tina, the spectator Eazee
upon a woman whose seventy nrst
birthday was celebrated less than
ono month aeo ard TO whom fate
had been so cruelty unkind two
years age f. 20 deprive her OF one
leg after torturing suffering
In the gorgeous draperies and
Jewels OF The Egyptian queen and
under the clever arrangement Of
lights and eolors of the stage set
tngs which we're rich In oriental
beauty, Mime Bernhardt might have
been in the prime OF her youth and
loveliness. She made A wonderfully
slluring picture. and when she spoke
her voice bad All ~ its famous gold.
sn tones us eloquent and caressing
cadencos and her gestures their
grace
Her face, as ever Is 2 mirror in
its expressiTeness OF every emotion.
The beautiful ewes softened with
AVNft " AAF.lAf'A " ANu ItEFllItr HtNEffl
with anger hardened into stecly
glints or became CLASSY in the sem
blance OF death Madame does not
walk about the stage She rose from
Cleopatra's couch with surprising
case and quick grace as, with the
oldtime thrills of passion In her
voice. she flung herself into the
arms Of Marc Antony IN her final
adieux 70 her lover. and no one. not
knowing Of The amputation of her
leg. would sense any restraint or
conservation IN the freedom OF her
bodily movements
The CLEOPATRA playlet was written
by Madame's ron. Maurice Bern
hardt. and Henri Cain. and Is an ef
fective biz OF tragedy concerning
the entrance into Alexandria ot the
victorious Octavius and the death
hy the sting OF the asp of tho imperi.
ous queen who. rather than submit
30 the will OF the conqueror of her
people. compels the victor TO hum
ole his head before death
Madame appeared in two other
playlets as tho Young French actor
soldier In "Du Theatre an Champ
d'Honneur" cfrom 'he theater 20 the
field Of honor, and as the Lady Vio-
laine in The medieval nc Vitra!l"
Crhe Stained Glass Window
To the Young soldier Madame
Bernhardt actually gives the som
biance Of the youth that h, is In
this character she was nj her best
and she thrilled her audience in n
way that brought forset'ulness Of
the passing ~ years and carried
those who had known the Sarah
Rernhardt ~ two decades ago back
to the iriumphs OF her remarkable
repertoire ~ that period
In this little sketch. em0lematic
Of scared and bleeding and sui
feriug France. Nine. Bernhardt con
tributed Characterization Of the
Young soldier who. but a short time
before. bad been an idol OF tho Part.
sian stage. that will take rank With
the greatest portraits in her gallery
OF stage creations The sketch aas
written by a Young French actor.
soldier in The trenches and II rings
traEically rue.
IS she depicted tho delirious wan
dsrinys Of mini of tho lying lad.
hi, repeating ~ snatches Of stage
characters in which he had appear
Cd his love for his grandmother. his
patriotism and hi vivid recital OF
his effnrl 20 protect tho beloved
colors Of the regiment from desecra
tion after the enemy had cut IN the
hands OF his father by whose side
be fought az the elder man clung 10
the hagstaff. rouscd the audience 10
unusual demonstrations of applause.
Never in her notable career has
PeInhardt been more effective. moro
vonder(ul than in this little playlet,
In "I.e Vitrail a. Lady Niolaine,
she is put 10 severe test Of her
wifely love m the return of her
husband from the Crusaders war,
Believing him 10 be manned. repul.
siye and the victim Cf lcprOsy She
stm declares her great love for him
and says that " death follows his
frst embrace she viii welcome 1t
"a that she once again feels his
kisses upon her face. Then. rs the