Madame Bernhardt's Dresses in 'Lena.'

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 398, 31 August 1889, Page 3

Madame Bernhardt's Dresses in 'Lena.'

lif the rdle'of Lena, Despard, selected for her debab this season, Mdme. Bernhardt [ cannot fail to challenge comparison with Mrs Bernard Beere, who created the part I some two years ago, not only in acting but also in the fine art of dress. Both ladies ,atfecb the same loose tea-gown or matinde style of garment — in both cases with charni,ing> results, their every movement being free, unfettered, and therefore more graceful than if they were clothed in the tightfitting, rigid dresses often seen in the Park or on the Boulevards. ' For tht 'tirst act, in which MdmQ. Bernhard enters from the garden, she had chosen a simple morning frock of some " soft, pale yellow material, beautifully arranged in Greek draperies, gathered in at the waist. A deep collar of white lace and a widebrimmed garden hat of drawn white 'muslin, tied under the chin with black velvet strings, harmonised with the dress. The transparent sleeves of this and some of the other dresses were ruffled all the way up the arm, after the manner of mosquetaire Suede glove. In the second act, where Lena receives her guests in her own rooms, Mdme. Bernhardt wore a Directoire tea gown of white lace over eau de Nil satin, the train showing the satin lining. A girdle confined the loosely-draped front just below the waist. In the third act Mdme. Bernhardb wore a dainty walking dressof rich brocaded silkwith white ground, and large heliotrope flowers. The lopse front was of heliotrope satin veiled with lace ; the Directoire coat had rovers, collars, cuffs, and girdle of heliotrope satin. Bub the briuinph of triumphs in the art of dress had been reserved for the fourth act, where the great death scene occurs. Mdme. Beihhardt knows how to die, and also how to dress for death artistically. Her handsome evening dress • was of white — pure as the snow seen through the windows on th^ hills round Ramsey's Scottish home. The long train and Plantaj^eneb sleeves were of' shimmering white satin edged with swansdown. The loose front was of softest, snowiest muslin. In such a shroud a plainer woman than Mdme. Bernhardt would make as lovely a corpse as ever was 1 waked. '