The Washington times., 1906-02-25

At a time when great personalities in
the world of the theater seem TO be
swiftly diminishing in numbers, the
coming TO the English-speaking stage
OF an actress of the temperament, train
ing. and emotional qualities If Bertha
Kalich is extremely interesting. The
story Of what she has already done-in
the drama of other tongues than ours
is remarkable. The story. yet TO be
written. OF what she hopes TO do may
be Snore remarka BILE still. Iuc fact Of
the moment is that Bertha kaIiCh. who
this season makes her debut as an Eng
disappearing star. under tie direction
Of Harrison Grey Fiske. in MaeteTlinck' :
'Monna Wanna Is a woman Of such
personality and promise that it be-
hOoves every lover Of stage craft to
make mental note of her progress.
Madame KaIich was born in the city
Of LembeTg, Galicia, thirty years ago
Sls, came of q family in no way con-
nected with the stage, nor in sympathy
with II, The little girl, however, eyi-
deuced dramatic temperament at very
early age. and when d singer Of the
Lemberg opera came TO live in the
house across the street from her home
the child spent hours each day a the
window watching and listening To the
practicing of her distinguished neigh
Dor. And on one glad day the pTima
donna noticed the wistful, interested
face of the child over the way. and
they became friends. This friendship
led, eventually. to the admission of
Bertha kalich as a vocal student to the
Conservatory Of LemDerg.
At the age of fourteen the girl had
advanced as far in her musical studies
tha- she received an offer from the
manager of the local opera company
TO sing small parts in his productions.
The offer was accepted with misgivings
by the parents-With delight by the girl
herself Soon she was advanced TO i'm
portant roles. and after a season or two
at Lembcrg she was engaged as a
member OF the company at the Buchar-
est National TheateT- There she re-
mained until she became leading lady
in dramatic as well as in musical pro
ductions. Her position now established,
she went as visiting star TO many cities
of Roumania. Poland. Galicia. and Rus
sia: playing in the various tongues of
the places in which she appeared.
In the midst of her European triumphs
there came to Nine Kalich the manager
of one of the Jewish theaters in New
York city with an offer to engage for a
long period as a member of his COM
pany. The word America Conjured 10
her mind splendid dreams of success
but none of those dreams were the
equals of the realities that have already
been hers. She came to New York ten
years ago, and Immediately became the
idol of the foreign theater-going popu-
lation. The American play-goer may
scarcely be able to realize what a posi-
ton of honor the popular player of the
foreign 'theaters in New York holds in
the eyes OF his or her audiences There
is an admiration almost amounting TO
reverence there that our American play
ers never know.
Nine. Kalich tasted to the full the
delight of this adulation, and she took
adyantage of it by leading her willing
followers into the highest realms OF
dramatic literature Following her am
hilton. she presented IN German and in
Yfddfsh plays of Shakespeare, Ibsen
ToIstoi Sudermann. Hduptmann. SdT-
do,, and that greatest of Jewish drama
fists Jacob Gordin. But while she was
doing these great things at the Thalia
Theater. there came to her a new dream
of ambition. She saw in the American
playhouses q larger public before which
she wished to appear; and for six years
she devoted her every leisure hour tC
the study of English-in the hope that
some day her dream might be realized