The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30

"A German Shakespeare"-it does
not surprise to learn that Robert
Aliseh. author Of The Eternal Femi-
nine has so been termed by some of
his admirng confreres. No play OF like
Importance with the Misch comedy in
all the essentials of good drama has
been seen here for many days. Little
is known here Of Misch save that much
Of him IS known in Germany. In fact,
despite his comparative youth-he is
not yet fOrty-the dramatist is already
enjoying a tremendous vogue in his
own country. Berlin is his home. the
Royal Theater there the theater that
has the distinction of having success
fully introduced through many plays
3 this distinguished playwright to his
countrymen.
The Eternal Feminine" is the first
of the Misch plays TO be produced in
Q America To Margaret Anglin, who
saw the comedy in Berlin last year, we
owe the delight OF its acquaintance.
Clever Miss Anglini Just how much
Is owing to her in the whole produc-
ton viii perhaps never be known. To
begin with. hers was the unusual gift
OF knowing the good thing when she
saw it. Nor less fine was her faith
in the American Wit and heart that
she trusted TO recognize the beauty
and distinction of the comedy. But
there was more than this. Quite
Eliza bethan, understand was the
breadth of some Of the passa ges in the
comedy IS it stands in the original
The problem Of Americanizing without
emasculating the play was accordingly
one Of the many problems before Miss
Anglin There was further the prob
lem of its adequate translation. There
was still further the problem of dis
covering a manager willing to be
dreenec Of his beloved shekels in the
production OF a play that has neither
the problem interest, the erOtic inter
est the showgirl interest. nor any other
Of the fashionable means OF attracting
the days crowds
But Miss Anglin has triumphantly
disposed Of all difficulties. In Austin
Page she found a keenly sympathetic
translators in whose translation con-
siderable literary beauty as well as
deft and pointed expression Of the
Misch wit are to be found. Miss Ang-
lin, herself, 1 suspect, acted as cen
soE. how happily can be understood
only BY a look in on the play. In Frank
Perley, again, the actress found the in
dispensable manager enough gener-
Gus and audacious TO spend a small
fortune upon q production of the play,
almost uneaualed in its loveliness.
And here one may be permitted a
small local crow-say from the top Of
Telcgraph Hill-Miss Anglin found in
TO The Eternal Feminine" like a duck
to water
Why should we not be q little proud
Of this? The play had eleven weeks Of
American history before il arrived
here. Chicago saw it among other
places but the record mas been there
as everywhere SO far: critical appre-
ciatDn and public inaIJenrfon. Quite
frankly the Chicago Inter Ocean de-
clarcd Mr Mischs comedy above the
intelligence Of the Chicago playgoers.
They simply did not understand" 3"
Last Monday evening every point in
the comedy was taken and simply
rolled over by the audience in attend
snce The appreciation since has been
On a continual ecrescendo-since the
actors have become more used TO the
lines and Mr.. WorthIng TO his legs. 1t
is. u fact, the indisputabIe success Of
the engagement and one of the most
significant and honorable successes of
this and many seasons.
A German Shakespeare" though the
phrase IS affectionateIys extravagant,
there is much reason to dub Misch.
How Shakespeare would write if he
lived at the present time has frequent
ly been surmised. Most like Shake
speare as he did write Of all moderns
writes Robert A1isch. Yet il is not sug-
gesJed that 'there is any slavish imi-
tation. 1t is. however, palpable that
had there been no Shakespeare there
would have been no Nisch-as Weber
and List are the ''papas Of Wagner" :"
as Poiacco puts it. He is Of the direct
descent.
''what-who is this?" one found one