Omaha daily bee., 1905-05-24
At THE PLAY HOUSES.
Leah KIeschna" at the New Theater,
Council Bluffs.


Council Bluffs.
Mrs Fiske and company in Leah Klesch-
ma" drama in FIVE acts, by Z. NJ. s
Mcclellan. under direction of Harrison
Grey Fiske. The cast
Paul Sylvaine ne......................J John Mason
Kleschna. known as Monsieur GARNER.
..........................C Charles Cartwright
SChram................... William h. Mack
General Berton..............Ed Edward DonnellN
RaOul Berton on.....................Geo George Arliss
Valentine FaNre.................. Claus Bogel
Herr Llnden........ ...,...... FRANK Eastwood
Anton Pfar...................... Iharles Ierry
Johann ....'''......'''..'.', John Emerson
RelChman nm. Monroe SALISBURY
Baptiste. ..........................Ja James Morley
Leah Kleschna na......................M Mrs F1ske
Madame erton............. Gertrude Graham
Claire BertOn. Observation-Disclosures. Emily Stevens
Sophie Chaponniere. .......... Fernando ElisCu
Frieda. a..........................M Martha Roberts
Charlotte. tte.........................M Mary Maddern
Mr.. McLellan's essay in criminology is
satisfying. but not convincing. 1t is very
plausible argument in favor of a hardly
probable conclusion. 1t has the single fault
attaching 10 all similar plays, that it starts
with a premise favorable to the result, and
pursues an inevitable course to the desired
ending. Logic has little If anything 10 do
with the type Of plays; one and all, they
show what may be- but not what is likely
to be. In morals human experience is
much more dependable guide than dramatic
suggestion, and il is not at all likely that,
despite Mr.. McLellan's able presentation
of a suppositious case, that the gentle art
Of burglary will languish because the light
has been let into the dark souls that
now submerged in the darkness Of error.
Indeed the author hardly holds forth any
such conclusion, but rather gives US the
impression that having saved Leah, the
rest of the Kleschna association may 60
hang. So be it, The play he has made is
|
point, and is most intelligently rendered by
Mrs. Fiske and her associates. 1t has bat
one fault-the inevitable and cloying happy
ending" When will writer's who pretend
to deal with life learn that things do not
end happily in life, and that grown up men
and women have come to know this and are
not afraid to face the truth? The interest
| OF the public in Leah Kleschna, beyond
what might be supplied by even a slight
exercise OF the imagination, ends at the
| close of the fourth act. when she walks
! out Of her fathers home alone. The final
act Is hardly a credit to the intelligence
Of the public to which Mrs. Fiske appeals.
| II is we'll enough in story papers, but it
| isn't reality.
| In the character of the girl who was
/ trained a thief and who knew no shame in
! her stealing. until her womanhood asserted
!
has achieved another notable triumph in
! the way Of Illuminating the inner depths
| OF an authors conception. She makes the
thought live. 1t is not an emotional role;
| Leah is a self-contained, always controlled
| mentality. Her awakening is more from
| her own consciousness, evolved from the
| stirring of an impulse Of her inner being,
! and while the specious pleading Of the
! enthusiastic reformer may have had a
stimulating effect on it, her real salvation
was of her own. The kindly intervention
al the psychological moment of the gener-
! Gus minded Sylvaine was undoubtedly OF
much assistance, coming as it did when her
resolve was half taken and needed probably
the quickening influence of a stronger mind
to give it real life and 10 this extent he
shared in the actual rejuvenation of a soul
The charm of the artist lies in the delicate
methods she adopts. Leah is not coarse
| she is not ultra refined; she is merely d
| girl who has gone along a certain course
| of life because she knew no other, and in
| which she felt no shame till she reached a
! certain point When she saw the WRONG
she turned TO the right, emotionless. calmly
following the dictates of reason rather thai
the impulses Of goodness. but arriving a.
the same end ana probably by a straightel
path. II is one Of the finest characterize
tions in a long line Of artistic triumphi
listed to the credit OF Americas foremos
actress.
Mr.. Mason, as the argumentative theo
rizer, who tries TO give his thoughts NOR,
than mere potentiality and seeks his op
portunity for actuality where he finds It
faithfully portrays the character so lonl