Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
QUEER PLAYHOUSES
In New York That Are Pat
ronized by Aliens.
PLAYS I'M FOREIGN TONGUES
Nightly Delight Audiences of Differ
emit Nationalties.
LEADING JEWISH THEATER
LEADING JEWISH THEATER
Where Dramas by suderman and
Hauptman Are Given Long Be-
fore They Appear on Broadway.
for The Star.

Written for The Star.
It has been said that to know New York
thoroughly is as good as trip abroad, for
| the great teemins East Side is like the
map OF Europe with bit of Asia thrown
in Here not half a mile from Broad
way, are types and jargons belonging to
Italy, Russia and China; quaint shops and
strange cafes, where still stranger foods
are served; a Riaito frequented by players
whose names are unknown to US, but are
household words to the denizens of the
district; and most interesting of all, the
aters filed nightly by large audiences who
come to hear plays given in their own
tongue.
In the very heart of the Bowery stands
the Peoples Theater, large and pretentious,
with signs in Yiddish which proclaim that
melodrama is going on within. The place
is always crowded, and there is no fash
tonable lateness about it's audiences They
scramble in as soon as the doors are open.
Stout matrons with children at their heels,
pretty, dark-eyed Jewesses. long-bearded
patriarchs vegetable vendors, oil clothes
men-they are all there, they and their
families. 1t is a good-natured, animated
crowd. AS the theater fills there is a hum,
then buzz, and presently the gallery be-
gins shouting and stamping its impatience
The melodramas offered are like our own
thrillers of the Two Little Migrants" or
ucIr bul liie SCeUe-y ana costumes are
cruder. For instance, the small boy who
holds up the moon wobbles till that planet
describes circles not mentioned in astron-
omy. And when the play rises to climax
the moon is occasionally thrust aside en-
tirely, and the eager, excited face of the
boy shines down instead.
Though the plays are acted In Yiddish,
the scenes are laid in New York-Ellis
Island, the Ghetto, the wharves of the East
river. Many of the characters are drawn
from everyday life, East Side cantors, rag
pickers or emgrants.
The bill is changed every night, and the
plays are often put on with but a single
rehearsal, the actors relying upon the
prompter, who sits in a shell by the foot
lights and reads the whole play in voice
audible to the furthest corner of the house,
a fact that does not seem to upset in the
least the rapt attention Of the audience.
Audience is Strangely Moved.
And what an audience 1t Isl, 1t is never
still moment. 1t weeps openly at the
heroine's wrongs-tears trickIe down the
greasy cheeks of men, some of whom would
cheat customer out of his eye teeth! 1t
rises to hiss the villain or applaud the hero,
and yells of "Shame!' when the finty-
hearted father turns his child out of doors.
The acting is usually good. If 1t isn't
the gallery is loud in its criticism.
There are many little by-plays not
scheduled on the bill. Often a news5oy
or bootblack saves his pennies and brings
to the theater huge bunch of flowers
sometimes wrapped in newspaper), which
he throws to the leading lady, at which ex-
hibition of gallantry the cat calls of the
gallery rise to shrieks, and pretty Miss
Lobel has to bow her thanks again and
again.
Between the acts the whole house Is
astir. The theater Is even more stylish
place for visiting than a sidewalk or door
step. Friends in the dress circle recognize
friends In the balcony. and greetings are
exchanged. often in English.
where's David Jabrowsky?" some one
calls up to the gallery.
HE amt here tonight" a voice shrilIs
back. He's got de mumps!'
The most intimate family matters are dis
cussed. Any who listens may know
that the Stroskys have got a new baby.
and Rachael Oldstein has achieved a fine
hat 'offen the lady where she works.
There is never dull hour In the Peoples
Theater. When the play is done the audi
ence jostles into the street to open air
booths, where hot tamales and sandwiches
are sold, and those who can afford 1t
stand munching under the street lamps.
their faces smeared and happy. And this