Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26
T He THEAT ER.
Bslasco Theatar.


Another portraiture of the many which
have been recently introduced into the
theatric rogues gallery was seen for the
first time IN this city at the Belasco Thea
ter last night Leah Kleschna differs from
the urbane Raffles, or the astute antagonist
of Sherlock Holmes. Prof Moriarty, in be-
ing a woman. Playwrights are innately
chivalrous, and, excepting when depicting
an out-and-out monster like Lady Macbeth
or Hedda Gabbler, they are most generous
In CLOSING deficiencies Of feminine charac-
ter. The fact that Leah Kleschna is
thief does not prevent Mr.. G. NJ S. Nc
Clellan from endowing her with most of
the moral graces nor from securing a ma
trimonial alliance at the conclusion of the
play which insures her social prospects OF
an enviable nature. The presentation Of
play by Mrs. Fiske invariably commands
thoughtful attention, and usually such at
tention is well repaid. This is hardly the
case with Leah Kleschna. 1t has numerous
didactic passages in the dialogue, but lacks
argumentative consistency. After suggest
ing that crime may be averted by suaS1on
instead of by punishment, the author gives
his hero the opportunity of testing his views
in practical manner. Had he proceeded
purely as criminologist to extend forgive
ness and encouragement to the girl thier
whom he found in his apartment the expert
ment would have been worthy of studious
scrutiny. But the denouement leaves
uuupt dS W WIttHeI tilS Ucio udS pSOh
governed by his reason or his affections;
whether he is a courageous and resolute
explorer in psychologist fields or mere
Quixotic adventurer into the realms OF
penny romance.
The play has a strong element of melo-
drama, and In this lies it's most potent APP
peal to interest. The performance reveals
many fascinating character studies, whose
personalities are sufficient to maintain in
terest independently of plot or theoriZng.
George Arliss has the role of a scapegrace,
which he presents with excellent comedy
effect, without disturbing its normal ma
levoance.
This Raoul Berton is SO interesting a fig
ure in the story that the mystery preserved
as to his ultimate fate is more or less to be
resented. Frederick De Belleville as
kleschna, the thief captain, gives the role
50 much of his natural courtlineSS that its
sinister side is to be left largely to the I'M
aginaton, and for this very reason the in
depreciation is the more picturesque and
striking. Another capital character is that
of Schram, portrayed by William B. Mack.
Schram is ow-browed nut-headed scamp,
but capable of emotion for all that and
plausible type of humanity. A hint is
thrown out that this trio Berton, Klesch
ma and Schram. may have fallen into the
clutches of an intangible detective, whose
coming is announced with much eclat, just
before the close of act ". Yet it seems
hardly probable that they should be thus
taken in group, with doors and windows
at every hand, while the most conspicuous
member of the coterie, Leah herself,
marches out to freedom unchallenged. Mr..
John Mason assumed the role of the i'm
pressonable criminologist with quiet dig
nifty and with moments, when required, of
convincing warmth of expression. To him
falls most of the sermoniZing which gives
the play any possible claim to recognition
as suggestion in social economy. Last
night he proceeded through his speeches
with rapidity which rendered some of the
words he uttered unintelligible excepting
the auditor followed him with close atten-
ton. This extreme rapidity of speech is
characteristic of productions with which
Mrs. Ffske is associated, and sometimes
leads to an indistinctness of utterance for
which the gain in an impression of emo
tional tensity does not comp
Mrs. Ffske in the title role is again re-
vealed intellectual rather than an
emotional actress. woman of fine artistic
perception and obvious self-reliance, she
proceeds to the attainment of her effects
with confidence quite justified by her
suits. Her Leah Kleschna Is a life-like
reasonable picture of a girl whom fate has
endowed with fine character and Scant
worldly advantage. 1t does not make the
sympathetic appeal which would exist If
Leah's own fortitude and resourcefulness
played a greater part in her salvation; but
it is a correct and convincing portrature Of
a highly interesting type. The concluding
scene showing the lettuce field to which
Leah repairs to spend her life in toilsome
expiation is a creation of great pictorial
beauty, whose charm lends an atmosphere
of sentimental probability to the very eX-
traordinary union which concludes the play
And while but slight foundation has been
laid, at least within the auditors range of
observation for the overmastering affection
which spTaug up between the girl thief and
the parlamentarian. 1t Is impossible not to
be glad that the author has seen fit to end
his story with hope and sunshine.