The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26
FIRST TO BRING DUSE HERE
New York Career OF the Late TheOdoF
RoseafeId and His Brother.

hoeeniebo anu hb urOtuer'
Theodor RosenfeId, who died the other
day az Carlsbad, where during the summer
he conducted the Passage Theatre, is well
remembered in New York.
The regime Of the Rosenfeld brothers
here although brief was notable. Carl,
who survives his brother and has a theatre
In Berlin, was the artistic member Of the
combination. while Theodor looked after
the business end. They were the first to bring
to New York Eleonora Duse. Josef Kain2
and the Meiningen actors.
The Rosenfelds appeared first in New
York with the famous Mlliputians, whom
they introduced at Niblo's Garden In the
early eos. These clever dwarfs made a
great financial success and journeyed
prosperously from one city theatre to
another,
Carl could do anything necessary TO
produce the fantastic pieces performed
and even wrote them himself. He trained
the diminutive actors how to speak every
line, taught the ballet how to make Its
steps, told the scene painter what sort Of
marine blue he wanted and gave the con
ductor the right tempt for all the music.
II was often an amusing sight when this
Dulhy, HOIlu hutlildu PIIouVttCd epOut
the stage TO show a lancer just the effect
he wanted.
No detail Of their work was too trivial for
these two men. Theodor in the business
administration OF affairs was just as prac-
tioai az his brother, and nobody In this
land OF business could fool him.
With the money they earned from their
troupe Of dwarfs the brothers took the
Thalia Theatre and for one season showed
what a German manager could do. In
addition TO the Meiningen actors, Josef
KAinz was brought here for the first time.
Adele Sandrock was another importation.
In this same season they produced for
the fret time here Hauptmann's Before
Sunrise
II was the first New York engagement
OF Eleonora Duse that showed the real
artistic epirit OF the brothers; The Italian
actress was scarcely known here even by
name. She had been famous in Italy for
years and her fame had become interna-
tional through her appearances in Vienna
In 1892.
at the Fifth Avenue Theatre and won her
way In a new country 20 sd ~ aStrns sS a 5ep pc y Sep
In before, She even played Cvprienne In
sDivorcons" during hat engagement and
acted In ia Femme de Claude None OF
these dramas ever again appeared In the
limited repertoire tina she acted here.
Their confidence in a play that made a
Rreat sensation In Germany, n in every
country but the United States for that
matter, led the brothers to produce Han.
nele" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. but IL
had only a few performances, A short
season Of plays In English followed aud
then the two returned to Germany. where
they found the theatrical situation more
10 their taste. Carl now has the manage
ment Of the Luisen Theatre and the Passage
Panopticum in Berlin.
The " brothers started from the
humblest beginnings. There was exhib-
ted not many years ago In Vienna a me-
chanioal figure not unlike our wi Ajeeb Of
halloWed memory at the Eden Mutee. tbs
machine talked, answered questions
PLAYED very good chess and cards.
Once some OF the precious Archdukes OF
Austria decided TO expose this wonder,
which they did by proving what the whole
world knew--that a dwarf was inside IL
In recognition OF this noble tervice the
Rer wan told 10 shut up shop and
oSase fs~windling' the loyal subjeots Of the
The two Rosenfelds had been interested in
exploiting this mystery. They say dis
ohsrRed IN the dwarfs who had been aocus-
toned 20 crawl inside the automatic man.
II occurred TO them that this btunted talent
might be utilised, and Carl wrote a little
farce for them that was acted az a small
suburban theatre IN Vienna. The plan
pleased and out Of thls grew the Lilliputians
And the career Of the Rosenfelds.