Evening star., 1901-09-21


Without the aid of interpreter 1t would
be unintelligible to the average auditor
1t is the story of East Side boss, that
is to say. man in charge of a number OF
working people, and his wife Nina.
One of the cleverest criticisms of 1sben's
Dolls House was that of European
writer who added another act to the play
in which Nora betakes her to sensible
relative, gets some valuable advice, con-
cludes that she is making a mistake and
returns to her husband Nina is also in
the nature of a commentary. The first
act shows "Mna's'' departure for the thea
ter in company with the sleek boarder
who gets all the dainties from the table
and who has relegated the head Of the
household to comparative unimportance.
This man loves Minas daughter, but the
mother loves him, and. broodlng over the
example Of Nora in the Ibsen play. de-
termnes that she will defy social law.
The denouement is a tragedy-the suicide
of Nina. The play is produced with an
attention to detail WORTHY of the late
James A. Herne. The idle wanderer
through densely thronged and yet obscure
streets has seen hundreds of the people
whose home life is here depicted. The SEN
sation is that Of being transported to some
lish phrase is interjected. But English is
employed only as foreign language for
purposes Of local color. The types are those
of human nature the world over The
nouveau riche-the watch maker: the hem
pecked husband: the willful wife. The
man who comes with money bags to woo
keeps his silk hat constantly in view, and
daZZles the maternal eye by wearing two
watches. The matchmaker is a recognized
matrimonial agent-a schatchen. who leers
and lilts strain of softly amorouS pur-
port; the henpecked husband is played
by Adler. 1t is a low comedy part with
comic illusions to domestic discomforts
such as ''cold feet" yet one which his per-
sonality and artistic thoroughness invest
with certain dignity. The wife is played
by Mrs. Adler. herself an actress of ex-
ceptional abilities This company does not
confine itself to the exploitation of Mr..
Adler. 1t has favorites for Hamlet
Romeo and other romantic roles, heroes
for the matinee idolaters and ladies whose
charms dazzle the "JohnIies' or their East
Side equivalents. There are two Ham
le.'s," the Shakespeare character and a
Yiddisher Hamlet. Sometimes the cast of
characters is printed in English as well as
in "Yiddish," but the spirit of the entire
enterprise is isolated and Independent. You
cross the threshold into the street feel
ing that you have journeyed far from home
and not unprotitably.
Out of the strong arguments against
present theatrical conditions advanced by
that brilliant young foreign-born actor
dramatist Mr.. Leo Ditrichstein an ex-
pertinent is to be tried in Chicago next
spring which will awaken art interest AL
over the country. This experiment COM
prehends trial Of the repertoire theater
idea at it's best. The finest players In
America and the best literature of the
stage in all countries will be drawn upon,
and the scheme is backed by some of the
wealthiest and most public-spirited men
in Chicago. Harry Powers, manager of
yNlo
house of the windy CITY," is one of the
most interested of these innovaters and
has offered the use of his theaters for the
trial. In view Of this important PROPOSE
tton, Mr.. Ditrchstein was recently re-
quested to express himself upon the sub
ject, and in answer he writes interestingly
as follows:
The stage has at all times been potent
factor in the history of civilized nations,
in fact, as great a factor as the pulpit.
The people which gave Socrates, a Plato
an Aristotle to the world have given it an
Aeschylus, Sophocies, an Euripides
The stage in Greece was a national insti-
tuition Has the culture of Greece ever
been surpassed? Napoleon, with his eternal
warfares, found time to bother about the
Theater Francaise.
schiler's "Tell'' and Don Carlos"
Goethe's "Egmont' did as much for the
liberation of Germany from the French
alliance. The men Of thought sowed the
seeds and the men of action reaped the
fruits of their thoughts. Caron de Beau
marchais' Figaro created tempest in
teapot, but was nevertheless the fore
runner of the French revolution Hugo's
LIE Roy s'Amuse' laid the Bourbons ad
acta.
I cite these instances only to prove nv
as a temple Of art, but as a place OF
amusement, and we have little, If any,
stage literature. Has there been produced
any native play within ten years which
will live ten years hence? Are there any
which would make acceptable reading by
the students lamp? Hands across our
hearts-are there2
To say that there are no people of talent
Or ability among our writer's would be
wrong. I am sure there are but they lack
che opportunity to put forth their best ef-
the managers. The, play. of course, must
have love story The lovers must NOT
get each other until the play is nearly
over. If it is male star he must be
Superhumanly good and If 1t is a female
star she must be the acme of ali thai
Is fine and noble. And the main tronhia
there must be no other part in the nIay
and the star must have al the curtains"
the modern American playwright. The
manager can't be blamed, because he
would produce good play rather than a
bad one II ne could achieVe the same re-
suit financially. &c
national repertoire theater, endowed
by man Of the refinement (honest ART
purpoSe) OF Henry II. dlggtnSon of BOs.
ton, would do as much for the drama as
the Boston Symphony Orchestra has done
for the cause Of music In this country. It
ought to be conducted on large. 9ener-
| Gus plan. The repertoire ought to include
the old as well as the modern plays OF aii
nations, and the bill ought to be CHANGED
nightly, so that everybody could flnd q
morsel to his taste In the literary menn Of
the week. TO go step further, I wan saw
| that theater Of this description could he
made q paying venture after two or thraa
| seasons, and by the same process that n
has become "the thing to adore was
| i.e., by making It the fashion.
Edith Bowman. charming young matron
Of this city. who has long cherished an am
bition for stage career, made her debut
here at the Academy OF Music this weak
| in barbara Frietchie.f She PLAYED the
| part Of Sue Royce, and was much COM
plimented for her clever portrayal OF the
| character. as she gave no evidences Of ans
| ateurishness.
''It has been delightfvi experienca "a