The Washington herald., 1907-11-22
THE KREUTZER SONATA -
Blanche Walsh and Company In
Strong Play.

AZ the National Theater last night Miss
Blanche Walsh and company was greet
ed b. a large audience. the evening mark
ing the initial presentation OF The
Kreutzer Sonata, a strong play by Jacob
Gordin Of life among a coterie Of Jewish
emigrants TO America II has been pre-
sented before quite recently in this city.
once in The Yiddish tongue by the ex-
celent company OF Yiddish players from
New York. and later by Miss Bertha
Kalich and a strong company IN English.
The play is gloomy from the inception
and while IL holds up 20 view some OF
the woes OF the Jewish people in their
wanderings. the main episodes are COM
mon 70 mankind in general Though
crudely expressed. the action IS entirely
consistent and nowhere yerges on the i'm
possible. as the same things are happen
ing. perhaps with variations, every day
and in every place. Mr. G0rdin has a
deep knowledge OF human character. es-
pecially those feelings which are charac-
teTistic OF his race, and In many in
stances displays an acute satirical sense,
but he creates an atmosphere Of undue
somberness and eliminates in an almost
repulsiye tragedy.
The story is the pathetic life history
Of Hattie Friediander. the daughter Of a
rich Russian Jew, who loves a Russian
officer and Is on the eve OF abjuring her
faith. when objections are offered by the
mans parents, and he. in a moment OF
despOndency, shoots himself. and the girls
father. in order 20 hide the scandal, and
the paternity OF her child. marries her To
an aspiring musician of a lower caste.
They all emigrate 10 America. and the
husband falls IN love with the frivolous
younger sister Of the wife, the family Of
the orthodox Jewish patriarch fau from
him by reason Of changed environment.
and finally the wife. who unQuestionably
bad much TO bear. becomes worked up 10
what is essentially violent insanity and
makes an end OF her misery by Staying
her husband and sister.
The present company gives an effective
Interpretation OF the drama, hut after
viewing the performance OF the Eiddish
company and Nine Kalich. no remark
able additional interest Is developed. Miss
Walsh's strong Qualities are no doubt
along emotional lines. and in the chsrsc-
ter and sorrows OF Hattie Friedlander she
finds excellent opportunity for the EXPIRES
sion OF intense emotion. and she makes
the role one Of deeply pathetic interest
IL Is a character very many degrees high
er in refinement. cOmpleXity. and subtlety
OF nature than the one which she assumes
in the straight Road. but one would
wish 10 see her in something higher yet
involving more romanticism and depth Of
personality.
The great secondary figure OF the play
is Raphael Friedlander. the Hebrew OF
the old school. which IS well played by
George Summer. He grasps with clever
ness the iron-prejudiced. Talmud-read-
ing head Of the family. and was partic-
ularly effective in the scene az the close
Of the third act when all OF his tribe
fel; away. except the virtually Outcast
daughter and her gentle son. the latter
being winsomely impeTsOnated by Eu-
gene Forde. a Juvenile actor OF singular
intelligence. Others who played well are
Alma Kruger. as Celia; George ". How
ard, as Gregolre. Jean PatrtQuin. as
Bella; William FTavers. as Fiddler; VII
liam Wadsworth. as Samuel. and Vir-
ginia Bray. who appeared in the deeply
sympathetic role of Natche. the old
GENTLE servant OF the family.
The play is we'll set and the whole
performance moves smoothly. II Will be
continued for the balance Of the engage
ment