The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-14
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEATER- l. GOERS TONIGHT.

; See the St. Petersburg Dramatic Company at the Hyperion Theater.
 New Haven theater-goers are to have inc opportunity of seeing the St. Pe- tersburg Dramatic company, composed of Mir. Orleneff, Mime. Nasimoff and a wonderful group of Russian players, in the Hyperion theater this evening in their New York success, ''The Chosen People" by Eugene Cherekov.
 Thanks for this great opportunity are due to a number of American devOtees to classic drama, whose tremendous ef- forts last spring to retain these great Russian players for another season in this country, with view to touring the states, were crowned with success.
 The company come here under the auspices of the Friends of Russian Freedom, who have arranged this per formance in aid sof the fund now being collected to avoid new massacres. It is hoped by them that every humane per son will aid in this effort and thus help to relieve mankind of an unnecessary and most painful shame.
 In view of the fact that the play will be presented in the Russian language, Professor William Lyon Phelps read an English translation of '"The Chosen People, in Osborn hall Tuesday even- ing, and at the performance tonight an admirably written and well illus trated synopsis will be on hand.
 ''The Chosen People" has been select ed by the Friends of Russian Freedom, firstly, because it is an excellent exam pie of the modern Russian drama; sec ondly, because of the fact that it deals with one of the burning questions of the day in Russia, the Jewish question, and, thirdly, because it affords a de- lightful contrast between the Russian tyrannical government of the densest darkness and its freedom-loving and light-spreading people. IT,.
 Eugene Cherekov, the author, is a comparatively young writer but he has already made a name for himself in Russian literature, He belongs to the Gorki school and is loyal member of that class of his country's men of let ters who do not write with view to please audiences nor gain applause. His writings are a stern duty with him; life, real throbbing life, is his subject, truth guides his pen, and his back ground is supplied by his desire to help, to lead, and, above all, to be just. AL though an orthodox Christian by birth he shows in this drama a thorough comprehension of the social life of the Jews, as we'll as intimate knowledge of their struggle and their hopes.
 MT. Orleneff has been recognized by our best dramatic critics as born ar- tist. Difficulties with the Russian cen- sorship regarding this play, and his desire to show to the world that there is also an art~loving and self-sacrtfic- ing Russian, brought him and his com pany, after a successful tour in Ger many and England, to this country. He left the university for the stage about twenty years ago, during which time he acted numerous roles with much credit and became famous in the part of '"Tzar Feodor'' some years ago.
 Mime Nasimoff, MT. Orleneff's leading lady, is a graduate of the best dramat- ic school in Russia, the Starslafsky school, and is well known as an emo- tional actress.
 The other twelve members who make up the cast of this play are finished ar- tists in their respective branches.
 To watch a performance of this group of finished artists one does not need to know the language, as they are not speaking their parts, but living them through, which makes it an intellectual treat for the aestetically inclined.