SOME TRAGIC STAGE EXPERIENCES.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1632, 27 November 1885, Page 2

SOME TRAGIC STAGE EXPERIENCES.

j Mdme. Surah Bernhnrdt, says St. James's Gazette, in an interesting letter to a French newspaper, declares that she. never plays Pbedr« withoill fainting or spitting blood, and that aftei killing Marcellns iv " Theodora," she invariably either weeps or has an | hysterical fit, during the continuance of which she loses all control over her actions. She also says that Millie. Croizette, after having gone throngh the poisoning scene in "he Sphinx, ' used to be completely unnerved, and that other French actors and actresses whom she names, have lieen so thorn uglily carried away by their parts that they have for the moment lost consciousness of their individuality. Similar excess of dramatic feeling has, in not a few instances, led to real tragedies, even upon our stage. John Palmer, for whom it is said Sheridan wrote "The School for Scandal," made his last appearance in 'The Stranger." Having uttered with unusual pathos the line "There's another and a better | world," he fell speechless into the arms of his fellow actor, Whitfield, who dis-» covered to his hurrorthat poor Palmer had spoken his last words upon earth. Edmund Kean furnishes us with another instance in point. Playinp "Othello," he broke down over the lines, " 0, now, for ever, farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell coutfnt!" and turning hoarsely to his son, struggled for a moment to continue, and then gasped, "' Speak to them, Charles; I am dying!" Moody the tragedian also died on the stage. He was playing Clandio in " Measure for Measure," and he played it tatter than he had played it before ; hat just atter he had spoken the line, " Ay. but to die, and

go we know not whei-e," he staggered and fell, and in a few moments was no more. Molliere, while playing in "Le Maiade Ima^inair," was taken ill, and only lived long enough to be carried ont of the tln-atre ; and Gottschalk, the great pianist, breatlxd bis last as he was playing his own composition "La Morte." Madame Bern hard t'e experiences, therefore, are not aston< ishing.