The sun., 1905-05-23
1.-THE POLISH DCSE."
The Yiddish Bertha Kalioh Welcomed in
Her English Debut.

For almost ten years now those wise IL
matters theatrical have been aware Of the
fact that in the Yiddish theatres of the
Bowery there was found to be develop
ment of dramatic and histrionic art which
while tinged with the roughness and even
unoouthness of purely popular art, had
yet simplicity, intensity. and, in the large
sense a sincerity. the like Of which is not
to be found on the English speaking stage.
Some years ago Jacob Adler made his
way uptown. though still speaking the
jargon with an English support. Last
night Bertha kalich, famed in the Ghetto
as the Polish Duse in the Ghetto everything
mem appeared at the American Theater,
playing Sardou's melodramatic Fedora
in English.
An audience largely composed Of her
admirers of the lower East Side welcomed
her with ecstatic applause and mountain
to weigh her in the balance found that in
spite of her grandiloouent title and the pre-
vailing crudeness Of her methods she is an
actress Of a range and intensity OF power
Of which the native stage has few or no ex-
amples. In spite OF lack OF technical
refinement Of expression Kalich proved
herself unouestionably an artist Of very
high power
The selection of the vehicle for her debut
in the English language was most happy.
Her accent (which is less marked on the
whole than that of Modjeska, and less in
clined to mennerisms Of intonation) was
alliated by the illogical logic Of the theater.
personage to speak IN a foreign manner.
The character Of Fedora, too, with it's
plentiful Ia ok Of individuality and the stark
emotionalism Of its few simple outlines.
made the lack Of intimate and vernacular
quality less apparent; Here. above every
thing, salient strength and vitality tell.
Frau Kaich's voice dixie that Of the orig
inal D's is inclined be dry and metallic,
but it has poignancy OF emotional appeal
Of the highest order. Her personality,
in which youth and maturity blend. is OF
the order Of the kestrel, alert and with ner
vous force-at once sinuous and trenchant.
Every fiber Of her masque and pastique
contributes to the sum total OF expression
In the not infrequent passages in which
opposing emotions contest for mastery
love and revenge. joy and fear-the effect
perhaps lacked distinctiness of outline and
accurate adjustment Of values.
And the effect Of slurring was not di-
minished by the sound of the prompter
which was unceas inglv heard in the land.
But in the great simple crises the power Of
the actress was manifest. The spinal
thrill. which has been called the ultimate
test of art. followed every outburst.
What will be the ultimate fate of this
remarkable actress on the English speaking
stage it is not necessary to predict-proph-
ecy being as vet no part of dramatic
criticism. To achieve the finish of detail
and the refinement Of nuance, which is one
Of the virtues OF our rather negative and
bloodless hstronism-to say nothing Of
the intimate vernacular of the modern
realism at which she aims is a work of
some moment.
But Frau Kalch has time. ambition and
and an emotional sincerity and intensity
which are priceless. The adventure is
we'll worth the time and energy of our man.
ayers If it succeeds, our stage will have
gained a new and powerful infuance.