The Washington times., 1905-05-28

There has been seen at the AmeT1- |
can Theater IN New York. recently, an
extremely interesting demonstration OF
art for arts sake. 4 Jewish actor mas
deliberately taken the most obnoxious
race character in all Shakespeare-ota |
Shyiock-for his excuse to play before
an English speaking audience. and
surrounding himself with an Engnsh
speaking company, has read the lines OF
the old money lender in Ytddish.
Jacob Adler is the brave man who mas
dared to do this. says writer IN the
New York Commercial. and, although
he tells me that when he steps upon
the stage he leaves his own personality
in the wings and is only the artist before
the footlights. 1 am positive that IL
would not be his wish to play the part
before his own countrymen with such
emphasis upon racial distinctions as he
has made during this present engage
ment.
IT has been an artistic success and
such a popular one that the newcomer
has been snapped up for an immediate
tour among the vaudeville stages. with
| a combination of the same polygiot en-
| tertainment, and aside from the sensa-
tionai side Of the affair there Is real
merit-merit Of a high order in bis per-
| formance-such merit as would, think,
| demand a return to the field in other
characters, particularly as the actor
| tells me that he has a repertoire OF 400
| different parts.
Always an Actor.
| He is q. forcefuI personality. this new
Shvlock. and one that viii be heard from
| in a. large way During the fifteen years
| that Mr.. Adler has been In the city,
| playing parts and managing theater
| on the Rowery. he has established and
| held an entirely different clientele from
that which he hopes to call his from
this time on. And he shows determine
| ton of a right sort for one who has sue
eeeded SO signaIly Che has made both
| fame and money. In one branch or art
| to be willing to sacrifice his present po-
sition In the hope of attaining another.
| But that he Will win out in the end with
his art I am positive.
He has always been an actor. He was
/ one at heart when a boy long before he
gave I'D his government position at the
age of seventeen to Join others who were
already upon the stage.
Born at Odessa and coming to the
Russian capital early IN life he saw g
strenuous battle between him and sue
cess He, a Jew. in Russia and deter
mined to make his way before the foot
|; lightsi It seemed suicidal. And before
long the inevitable happened. Within
month after he had received persona
: authority from Minister Toistoy TO pla.
in St Petersburg. word was sent hin
2 overrulling the permission with an orde
{ denying to all Jews the right of appear
/ ing upon the theatrical stage in Russia
: Back to His Home.
The continent was left open to hin
2 | (Ilis parents had come from Frankfort
, on-the- Mainl, and there was Away
r London. And so time passed and pros
D perity was at least beckoning 10 tn
$ young actor, despite his racial handicap
I Some twenty years ago he was invited
e by friends to return TO Russia, wher'
e permission was granted him to appea
. with a Russian speaking cofnpany-h
c stin using his own Yiddish. His atteHp
: was so well received that an engage
iment was offered him at 100 roubles
performance 10 tour the country. bu
contracts in London detained him an
other and further combinations sool
Imade it impossible fer him 10 retur1
and renew the triumph OF night in hi
r former home country.
II His own description OF this men1orabi
n performance in his old town, Eliza beth
II gradt, is worth repeating:
,f 1T seemed q dream that I should b
C permitted TO return and play here agair
Y And when the day came when wa
j. actually TO appear, every hour seemed
e year in passing. At o'clock the theal
ricaI square was flied with carriage
d I was told that there were no more tici
= cts left, and that the late-ccmers wer
st unwilling 10 go away from the door
II I finally reached the theater. dresses
J. end went on the stage.
= Before the Aristocracy.
s. "And when I spoke and heard the III
re- familiar Russian replies TO my own (;
,e rniliar Yiddish 1t flashed upon me whs
a. II all meant, Wnen looked out IN u