Les Cathédrales
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
This is a poem, more or less dramatic, first given on the stage my Mme Sarah Bernhardt at her theatre in Paris. It is introducing a young soldier to whom in his dreams these appeared and speak in blank verse some half-dozen mysterious figures representing the cathedrals of France - Rheims moralizes her ruin of to-day; Strasbourg her 40 years of sorrow in Alsace-Lorraine; while Notre Dame de Paris, Bourges, Arles, Amiens and St Pol de Leon contribute to the chorus of lamentation. The whole of the dignified if rather dull wail of national woe winds up on a spirited note of prophetic reprisal and coming punishment of the sacrilegious vandals, as sounded by Strasbourg in the person of Sarah Bernhardt.
Licensed On: 23 Dec 1915
License Number: 3943
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Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1915/35
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66121 E
Performances
| Date | Theatre | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1916 | Coliseum, London | Professional |
Licensed Performance
Read Narrative
The cast included: Sarah Bernhardt (Strasbourg), Mme Mea (Notre Dame), M Normand (French soldier). The Globe commented that 'it seemed perfectly natural that in the end the audience should rise at one accord and sing The Marseillaise. Somehow one realised more than ever before how much France has suffered and how much she has consecrated herself to accomplish. In paying rapturous homage to the actress the audience seemed equally to be paying homage to France.' (Globe, 5 January 1916). The Birmingham Daily Gazette commented that 'It is impressive because its feeling is not fictitious, but profound and poignant.' (4 January 1916). The Cheltenham Looker-on further noted that 'Human nature is a queer mixture [...] It is curious that this wonderful piece of declamation by the great actress and her small company should be the chief rival to pantomime and review in popular estimation.' (15 January 1916). The Hendon and Finchley Times noted that the play was an 'interesting comment on German women as inferior animals' (21 January 1916). It was performed alongside 'The Bridal Suite' with Seymour Hicks and Isobel Elsom, Vesta Tilley, Imperial Russian Ballet, Cornella and Edie, Coram.
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| 3 Apr 1916 | Coliseum, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
This was a 'reappearance' by Sarah Bernhardt, alongside Raymond Roze's "Arabesque", "Arrival of a Rival", "A Five Shilling Bet", "Always Tell Your Wife".
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