Sarah Bernhardt: master of the “come-back”
Last November I posted a piece on the death of Sarah Bernhardt in 1923. A hundred years later her name still resonates with theater-lovers for her dramatic interpretation of tragic roles.
As I learn more about the French-born Catholic actress’s life I’m discovering that she also had a sense of humor and was a master of quick, witty replies — making for great drama off the stage as well as on.
As evidence, three anecdotes …
Clergymen across the United States denounced Bernhardt, often from their pulpits, as “the whore of Babylon,” which, of course, only served to increase attendance at her performances. Once, after an Episcopalian bishop in Chicago delivered a particularly effective piece of publicity, Bernhardt arranged for her agent to send him a note and a bank draft. The note read, “Your Excellency, I am accustomed, when I bring an attraction to your town, to spend $400 on advertising. As you have done half the advertising for me, I herewith enclose $200 for your parish.”1
At age 22, she persuaded Felix Duquesne, co-owner of a theater to give her a contract. His partner, Charles deChilly was not happy — he did not wish to gamble on the young actress. “If I were alone in this, I would not give you a contract,” he told her.
“If you were alone in this, monsieur, I would not sign,” was her retort.2
And my favorite …
During a rehearsal of one of his plays, playwright Oscar Wilde argued with Bernhardt over how her part should be interpreted. An impasse having been reached, Wilde asked, “Do you mind if I smoke?”
“I don’t care if you burn,” she replied.3
A. May, Different Drummers
Ibid.
P. Mahoney, Barbed Wit and Malicious Humor