Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-09-25
GIVE PLAY
OF RELIGION
"HENELE" PRESENTED IN THE
ORIGINAL ylppIsH
DRAMA is LOVE TRAGEDY OF
YOUNG JEwEss
Strong Plot Is Based uon the Ancient
ReIisiousBeIiefs and Customs
Of the Orthodox
Jews

jacob GoroonS reilBiOuS trdseuy Va
ssHenele' was given it's first presentation
on a Los Angeles stage at the Auditors
UNI last night before an audience which
included representatives of the most
prominent Jewish families in the city
The tragedy was given in the original
Yiddish, all the players, with one excep-
ton, speaking that tongue. Mr.. Teplitzo
who had the role of Tomasco Nikoiensky
Heneles false lover, spoke his lines in
German.
The plot of "Henele'' is involved with
the religious beliefs and customs OF the
Jewish people. 1t has to do with the
apostacy of a young girl and her subse-
onent betrayal by tie man who had won
her love- In brief, the story is as fol-
lows:
story OF the Play
Isik Sololoff, Galician innkeeper, has
befriended Nfkolensky, a gentle, who has
been appointed to the post of revenue
OFFICER. The man is made welcome
guests in his home until the patriarch
one day sees him embrace and KISS
Henele. his much beloved daughter. The
Jew drives the gentle from the house In
a rage, and Nikolensky, indignant at the
treatment he has received, plots revenge.
He induces Henele to meet him clandes-
timely, and finally secures her promise to
elope with him, renounce her religion and
become his wife. Though he cares moth
ing for the girl, he deceives her into low
ing him and the planned elopement is
carried out
Henele disappears from her home on
the eve of Pentecost and news of her
flight is brought to the fa--iily by an old
servant, who had found one of her let
tiers addressed to the revenue OFFICER.
The father at first refI5es to believe, but
the girls brother rushes from the house
to seek out and kill his sisters lover,
while the mother follows to find her
daughter and induce her to return home.
The Mother Is Killed
Running out to the street, the mother
is ridden down by Nlkolensky and SO Sc
riously hurt that she subsequently dies
from her injuries. The brother DISCUSSES
himself as a beggar and, learning that
his sister is to be taken to certain
church, there to be baptized in the Chris
tian faith, stations himself on the church
steps to await her coming. Henele ap-
pears, accompanied by nuns and priests,
to take the vows; and her brother be-
seeches her for aims. She gives him
coin. Doffing his disguise, he first taunts
her with her apostacy and then pleads
with her to give up her lover and return
to her home The girl consents and
leaves the church without entering its
doors
Later, however, her love for Nikolen-
sky again gains the upper hand and
she again seeks Christian baptism. AS
she is about to enter the church she
hears her fathers voice and faints away,
being carried into the edifice while I'M
conscious. Outside Nikolensky confronts
the old and trembling father, curses
him for Jew, and tells him that his
only purpose in marrying the girl is
to be revenged, announcing his intention
to cast her off, once she is his wife.
Within the church the baptismal rite is
performed and the marriage takes place.
The brother however, rushes to the
altar, at it's conclusion, and carries Hen
ele away by force only to discover that
he had arrived too late.
Attacked by Consumption
The last act of tn drama shows Hen
ele in rags, deserted by her husband.
dying from consumption, begging upon
the streets. Constantly her plant is an
admission that her fate has been de-
served that she is a woman without
race and without religion, outcast by
her people and scorned by Christians.
In this plight she is found by her fathers
servants who seek the old man out in
the synagogue--it is the day of atone
ment-and beg him to succor his dyin g
daughter. The father, however, is OBJ
durate. Henele he says, is dead to him.
Then the girl is brought into the syna-
gogue where the father relents and grants
her forgiveness, the congregation inton-
ing a confession of sins which she re-
peats after them. With the completion
OF the service Henele dies and the cur
tain descends.
There are occasional light touches in
the play. and humorous interlude, de-
plotting the love affairs of two servants,
one young and vivacious widow. More
over, wickedness is not allowed to go
unpublished, for Nikolensky, seeking to
avoid arrest for the killing of his wife's
mother, Is shot and killed by an officer
of the law
Work of the Players
The principal parts in last nights pres
entation were played by members of
the Yiddish company of New York,
minor roles being entrusted to local anna
teurs. Miss Ida Blum gave highly in
teresting performance of the unhappy
Henele, married, however, by one fault
Miss Blum. evidently accustomed to a
much smaller theater than the Auditor
ium, spoke in so low tone of voice
that she could not easily be heard in the
more remote parts of the house Jack
White. as the brother, was well liked
by the audience; and Miss Goodings, as
the young widow, was thoroughly accept
able. Excellent interpretations of their
respective roles were contributed also by
II. Shapiro, as the father and Miss Las
ker. as the mother.
The scenery provided for the perform
quirements.