The New York herald., 1922-06-18
New Ysrk Hnrald Bureau. I
Paris. June q. 4

koHis. June ..
" HE vitality of Nine. Sarah Bern
l. hardt remains one OF the won
ders of the theatrical world.
Since her appearance in NJ. Maurice
Rostand's poetic tragedy LA G.oire''
last winter and few performances
OF Raeine's "Athalie," one of the great
pieces of ker old repertory, the cele-
brated tragedienne has not been much
in evidence, but she has just displayed
her traditional energy in participating
in a gala at the tlieater which bears
her name given in honor of the menu
ory OF one Of the friends of her youth,
the poet and dramatist. Francois
Coppee OF the French Academy. 1t
was the one act piece in verse LIE
Passant" (The Passer-by), ~hict gave
to Coppee the greatest dramatic tri-
umph Of his career and to Bernfardt
success in modern poetic drama
equaling that which size had enjoyed
in the classics, which she chose for
the gala.
The part of zanetto. tie young poet
who passes one evening across the
life of a celebrated courtesan of
Renaissance italy and thrills her as
none of her rich and famous lovers
have ever been able to do, as created
by Bernhardt many years ago re-
mains one of the grand traditions of
TIE French stage. Very wisely she
did not endeavor to act it, but con-
tented herself with what might be
called reading. and since the melody
and the elevated thought of the verse
are the essential things in piece of
such simplicity Of plot, the effect was
much better than might have been
expected. The golden voice" is cer-
tainly not what II was twenty five
years ago. vet 1t retains much of It's
pristine clarity and sweetness and
many OF TIE older members Of the
audience hearing once more the fow-
cred lines, Of Zanetto must have been
able to relive the great .night-of Cop
peo's and Bernhardts triumph at the
Comedie Franchise more than a. quar-
ter of century ago.
Cambodfan Dancers Popular.
After the Russian ballet the great
terpsichorean spectacle of the mouth
hds DccH tie given at me
Grand Opera by a troop of Cambodiaa a
dancers from the Royal Theater at Ang-
kor. The rich decorations. the strange
rhythms. OF the Annamite and Cam.
bodian music, the stately posturings Of
the dancers, who initiate the religious
statuary Of the Buddhist temples, have
attracted by their exotic novelty and
charmed by their truly regal splendor
and artistic sobriety. The limited en-
gagement was all too short for the
Parisian public and there is every
probability that Cambodian dancers and
dances are destined to enjoy a vogue in
France similar to that Of Javanese bal.
lets In England and the United States
some years ago.
A little thing often serves to anu se
the Parisians and furnish material for
much journalistic facetiousness. 1t IL
an innmemorial custom that on the
night of the dress rehearsal. the all I'M
portant theatrical affair here and OF The
f1rst public representation, number OF
the cast, preferably the leading lady,
shall come forward after the final cur
tain and announce: THE piece which
we have just had the honor Of per.
forming before you ID by Monsieur X"
The formula has been considered as
immutable as the laws Of the Medes
and Persians Mile. yyonne Printemps
recently provoked much laughter at the
t'douard VII. when. after playing the
part OF maid in one OF her husbands
IN. Sacha Guitfy) comedies. in which