The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-10-06
New YORK;. Hebrew Theatres.

Of the thirty-four theatres now open
in this city. excluding the vaudeville
or variety houses. FIVE are occupied
by playl acted in Other tongues thai
English: in two houses. there are Ger
nan PLAYS. IN three the performances
are in Yiddish. the dialect spoken 10y
tie Russian and Polish jews. The
German theatres have long been Inn
portant elements in dramatic history.
twenty wears ago the late ADoLrH
NRuRSDoRFr, at tie Germanla. now
Pastors. had q company that ranked
high among the German-speaking
companies Of the world: and his sue
cs--ors in theatres OF other names
have maintained the standard set by
him. PossART. BARSAY, ELIMENREIcH.
HAAsE, SoRMA, and other famous
German actors. have PLAYED Gdstsp'efe
at the Germania, the Thalia and the
Irving Place theatres, and on the lst
OF this month, ut the last-named play
house. PAUL HKYsE's latest drama,
" Das verschleierte Rid "a Sais, was
produced Tor the first time on any stage,
in advance of it's performance in Ger
many, ever At the present Germania
in Eighth street. such plays or local
subjects NJ " Der Corner Grocery Won
Avenue A." and Die Geheimnisse
Won New York" have been acted q
couple NJ hundred times in succession,
without reaching the end Of their powers
Of attraction.
The German theatre in this city WA
founded some thirty-seven years ago,
when the Stadt Theatre was opened
on the site Of the present Windsor
Theatre. The Yiddish theatre j. Of
more recent growth. just as the Jewish
4" invasion occurred more recently
thar that ~ the Germans. As a writer
pointed out some time ago. New
York has seen tho development Of the
Yiddish drama. and - likely to see it,
decadence: for. as the drama developed
with the coming Of the Russian and
Polish Jews TO this city, 80 will it pass
away with the growth Of the second
generation Of those Jews in this city
who speak English instead OF the so
called targon Of their parents.
According 10 the writer mentioned
above. the Yiddish stage vas founded
in 1876 in Bucharest. Roumanis, by
ABRAHAM G%oLDPApES; after his sue
cess, companies were formed in various
Russian cities by other persons, When.
in 1854. during the persecution Of the
Jews. the Russian Government sup
pressed the Jewish theatre, one Of these
companies came to this city. and opened
the Oriental Theatre In the Bowery
below Grand street. The mex year
MocALEsco, the leading actor Of the
original company. came here with other
members Of the troupe, and opened
the Roumania Theatre. The two COM
panies movcd from place To place at
first. finally they settled down AT the
lower end OF the Bowery, occupying
three playhouses that had won fame
from English performances the ITALIA.
originally the Bowcry Theatre. the Peo-
pies. and the Windsor. n those houses
thee, Yiddish companies are stu q,
home. though n Of them will have to
move soon. for the Thslia h. 90 he torn
down.
Twelve years ago or more, b Iscr-
formancss al the Roumania Theatre
vere d~-cnhsd. not critically. by Tux
suS. The PLAYS then were mostly
demonstrations % Biblical incidents.
since thsi tine. the iidd.<h drama
has brokcn sway from religious sub
b-s. u h~ gon. - far s~sy from
. - -
yidds-h version ~ Ubcic Tom.
CABIN" with besro " plantation hands .
and iula.i-s sinSer That. how