The Washington herald., 1907-09-22

Correspondence Of The Washington Herald
New York, Sept. H.-KaLch. Fernando
Eliscu, and now David Kessler gradu-
ates Of the Yiddish theaters on the East
Side, and now stars appealing TO a new
and different clientele for approval But
salasl we know that fools rush in where
angels fear to tread; likewise do we re-
ncail the fable Of the fox. the crow. and
the cheese. Some of these excellent.
players Of the East Side with their grave
methods and their grave voices, have
fbeen so often told that they are beau
Itful and have such me voices that in
Hopening their mouths they lose the
cheese.
Adler-yesI KaIich-yest But the line
7snust be drawn somewhere. Eliscu was
graphic and narrowing and tempera-
mental, and on the whole a becoming
hgure as Marta OF the Lowlands, for
she was in a romantic role, and where
the expression of deep passion is con-
cerned these children OF Israel can touch
as plaintive a note as any that forms the
:ourden Of the songs in the Old Tesla
Rnent
We have not yet seen the solemn Fer
insnda in her new setting Perhaps she
fwill realize all the rich promises she gave
Fof heroic development in somber realism;
but we have seen David Kessler, and We
confess reluctantly to a feeling OF fatigue
and mild shock Of disappointment.
He made his debut on the English
speaking stage at the Majestic last Mon
2 day in The Spell" a modern drama by
Samuel Shipman, much tinctured with
Yiddish pathos and East Side bathos. I
saw Ressler in one Of his jargon plays a
few years ago, and was deeply impressed
by his gravity. his extraordinary voice,
and collected method and I thought what
an addition he would make TO the roster
Of famous players If he would adopt the
English tongue
They said that English presented an
y 1nsuperable obstacle in his path to the
American stage. and he would never
learn 70 speak our language. But heard
him speak II this week in his rich. mel
low voice with remarkable hexibiIity and
beguiling charm
But there the charm of his perform
iance ended. In the first place The SPELL
IS as elemental as childs play. as barren
OF psychology as a skeleton, and as simple
as schoolboys primer. In the second
place, one was made painfully to realize
that the actor had been unkindly wrench
60 from his natural setting. and that
which appeared imposing and grand amid
other surroundings assumed a repelling
aspect Of poverty under the new condi-
tons. And so il came about that the an
sagement was shortened and the play is
70 be retired at once.
The SPELL tells the story of a Rus
sian immigrant TO the United States
who acquires fortune and marries a
woman who does not love him. He is
a banker. and she marries him for his
money, loving another man Too late
he fnds that her lover Is more TO her
than her husband. He discovers her in
fidelity, though it is made plain that the
woman does not actually commit herself
to adultery, He is distracted, but the
Zobler self Of the man asserts itself. and
linstead Of crushing the erring woman
The releases her A yea. passes by, and
"a change comes over the spirit of the
disllusioned wife. She returns repent
ant and begs to be forgiven. At first
he Will not relent but indubitable proof
OF her virtue most clumsily manufac-
tured for the occasion. persuadcs him
'of his unjust suspicious. and he folds
her in his arms as the curtain falls.
The theme might have inspired inter-
est in a better treatment. but the work
manship IS crude in the extreme, and
OF the hnesse Of playWrting We have
absolutely none. 1t is the type OF play
that goes with a burst Of enthusiasm in
our minor playhouses, where thrills are
the order, regardless Of time, manner, or
place. Add 10 this Mr.. Kessler's appar-
ent unfamiliarity with accomplished
methods and rather Disappointing person
atty, and ali we have left Is a Bowerv
drama, with an Indifferent actor, whose
only charm is his resonance His act
ing was splendidly restrained. appar-
entity too restrained, and while he ex-
pressed pathOs admirably in some or the
scenes. the sum Of it was that he olsen
chanted one by decided crudeness OF
manner and method.
Virginia Harmed is 10 play next week
at the Majestic She IS to be removed
from the Herald Square Theater. where
she has been playing Anna Karenina"
10 good houses for several weeks. The
removal is due TO the return Of Lew
Fields, who takes possession in his new
burlesque and musical show.
The attraction in Tostois play. aside
from Miss Harmed. is John Mason. and
wonderfully realistic railroad scene with
which the play ends, since Anna takes
her life by casting herself under the
train, though she appears a moment ar
ter to bow her ACCOMPLISHMENTS for the
effect produced by the steam, smoke. and
crashing Of the passing train Of cars. II
this railroad scene happened in the third
act instead Of the last. Il is safe 10 saw
that the play would prove twice as
strong an attraction as it does in connec-
ton with the tragic ending OF the he
T0ine
James O'Nein challenged fate this
week by opening at the Lyric in Sheridan
Knowles old play OF ''Virginius." It was
hardly TO be supposed that "virginius"
could be regalvanized into a semblauce
of vital energy as a means Of attracting
the public, but on the opening night peo-
PIE stood up IN the rear 70 see the show.
and unless the management has very
cunningly papered the house, the play
exercises some OF its old drawing power
IN spite of its antiquity.
One thing rlust be said at the outset
O'Neiil reno yed all skepticism Of his
ability to lend interest TO his perform |
ance SO much has been said of John
Mccullough IN this part, as If there had
been but one Virginius in the past, and
he originally Of California. But those
who saw Mccullough and now have seen
ONelll will be ready to concede that
there is not a hairs breadth OF advantage
m either side