The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-17
NEW PLAYS ON OUR STAGE.
THREE VERT DIFFERENT KINDS OF
;THEITRICAL FICTION.

The dramawhch Israel Xangwill has made
from his book. Children of the Ghetto" was
performed at the Herald Square Theatre last
night. Primarily and OF course It was depic-
tion Of Jews as they live in their quarter OF
London. But 1t told with some effort at the
atrical effect the love story OF a Hebrew young
man who Btrove to violate Jewish matri-
tnonal law. and Hebrew maiden who per-
sisted Ia obedience. The point at issue was that
he. being priest by descent. was prohibited
from marrying divorced girl, which this one
was. lie was lax in the elgion of his PEOPLE
ana. anyway. she had only been welded in Jest
at social gathering. But her father was a
strictly orthodox rabbi. a believer in lit
eral adherence to what he deemed
divine edict. lie insisted that Darid
was enough OF a priest and Hal,nuh
suihcisntly divorced. to preclude their
union. The lovers at first rebellcd together.
but ut length the girl resolved to submit to the
law and so they were separated unhappily for
lie. This affair OF broken hearts was set forth
with mors distinctness in the acted play than
it had been in the printed narrative. but still
1t was secondary in amount OF matter. II not in
total interest, to the exposition and discussion
oil Judaism. The essential theme was Jewish
constancy to religious belief in practice as well
as theory. The lover stood for that departure
which many Hebrews are making from their
ancient tenets. The father was obdur-
ateIy rious. and his authority prevailed
with the daughter. 1t was play
OF words and not OF deeds Besides the dis
cussions bearing directly upon the main topic.
there was great deal OF talk altogether extra
neous to that and serving only the purpose OF
characterization. The movement was sluggish
throughout and not dramatically potent until
near the end OF tho third act 1t was so late as
that ere the trouble for the lovers arose
Nothing OF any serious consequence had hap
pened before that. There had being shown
in tho first act. at home in Iaehariah Square
the accidental marriage and tho immediate
divorce: and in the second act at a purim ball
the beginning Of mutual love between Daniel
and Hannah. Tho belated scene Of their
surprise and sorrow at being forbidden 10
marry was very touching when reached
and so WAS one in the fourth act. when they
parted altogether. These passages had n
charm of enforced pathos partly due to the
manner OF the acting. but lying in the compo-
sition. too.
That Mr., LanRwills play interested its audi
ence was due to its exposition Of Jewish types
Of character. habits OF life and practices of re-
ligion.1In other words.lit possessed the graphic
merits OF the book as study OF the
Ghetto OF London. Thirty-si1 Hebrews OF
various types were introduced. They
were sharply differentiated assemblage
ranging from tho impressive dignity OF VEN
cradle rabbi. admirably embodied by Wilton
IacEaye. TO a comic poet. whom William Nor
ris recommended to merriment and even into
extreme carcature in a grotesque bride
groom by Richard earle. The nu-
merous company was composed alto
gether OF capable and thoroughly rehearsed
'rayers. James A. Hearn had drilled then
into that quietude which he believes to be tho
best dramatic art, and which uhlpns bly
suitable to such piece as .Children Of the
play II was .unthsatrlcal and singular
II wa. she wFTtns of eeysr mar and
the tirst hal OF the evening was ds.ultory and
i,1.ncsre Later there was real enthusiasm.
There we're hearty calls for him at the end Of
the third act IS. Instead Of rsspoading
. s thst ne tn: sent people MAI Should out .p
sPpEovs his work ,ffer 5hH{ had seen i
brought forth some q tho actors. Then there
we're renewed calls, for the author and
foster the demand for a speech he almost lost
up and 60 out. But there were many admirers
Of his work present and they rallied to his res.
his thanks. 1t had been. all in all. q right good
evening for him.
Rustic drama timed in the administration
O, pr.,ident Franklin Pierce w,sn.v nrovi.
sion at the Fourteenth Street last night Little
OF its flavor Of ruBticity was OF novel
nature. though costumes Of the period
furnished unusual dressing. The MAY diff
fered chiefly from its predecessors in that
mixed with the abundant ana amusing rural
incidents wore happenings that were suited to
n narrowing meloirama. One of the mora
~ " ''' "i"'o
striking country types was man who
pretended to be an assster OF run
away slayeH Rs,llv he returnad thsn,
~ ,h.ir ,.,.rs md r "H,., '"I'I
the offered rsrarIs On. Of IN. hlacts he n.d
thus d.c.ivel returned to hin hin, Ths
e"u' , ~, mn, ine
actual assault was out OF view. but the
negros flight after the killing was of
that Enthusiastically serious sort that ia
.n,,,,o. III liz, ,,.,adr.
common win direct me,odrama. and there
were other equally blunt bids for tears Tho
nan whoa snd wa. wslcomed was nm =, o,h.r
-. ,r,o,.. that 49,. 800 o'i
devious IlckS that were more trlte lie held
mortgage on the property that gave to the play
the name of The Dairy Farm. and for no,rIv
49, -, =, ~. .I: ~. no~'n