A LUCRATIVE ENGAGEMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 21 August 1880, Page 2

A LUCRATIVE ENGAGEMENT.

. It is now definitely settled that Sara Bernhardt goes to the .United States. She has signed an engagement with an enterprising American, who, no doubt, sees his way to making money, although he has given the great actress the most astounding terms. The salary commences with a clear sum of LIOO a night for the six regular performances of the week, and the same for any special matinee; after that Sara is to receive a third of the nightly receipts. All the expenses out and home are to be paid by tho impresario, who further guarantees a weekly sum of L6O to pay hotel bills for Sara and suite. She is to have a benefit in all the large towns in which she plays, and will share the profits of the libretto, which will give all her plays in French and English, and which is to be decorated with a design from the versatile artist'a own pencil. These are truly a prima donna's prices, and compare somewhat curiously with the paltry L 5 or, LlO a week .whict* many talented actors and actresses were; content with not half a century ago. Tha American engagement is for a hundred representations, at the end of which Sartk returns to London to reappear at the Gaiety. There is little present prospect, therefore, of her paying a visit to the Antipodes, nor probably would the same pecuniary inducements be forthcoming from Australia. It is, aftet all, paying rather dear for one's Sara is no doubt the greatest luring actress, and it is a real intellectual treat to see her. But imperfect acquaintance, with the language in which she plaj;« must rob the performance of a great deal of its charm, and this will be felt hya large proportion of her audiences in the United States. It would be the same in Australia, and practical people out thero will therefore hear with resignation that, they will not see this strange erratici _ jnius just yet, if at all.—Home News.