The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-25
AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES

BelascO-"Marta of the LowIands."
Nine. Bertha Kaiich ard her excellent
cornpany-she Is always backed up by a
company OF unusual merit-was warmly
welcomed 10 the Belasco Theater last
night by one Of the most brilliant au-
diences Of the season. for her presenta-
ton Of the Spanish drama. Marta OF the
LcwIands." by Angel Guimera. trans
lated for the English-speaking stage by
Wallace Fitzpatrick and Guido Marburg.
II is play with an unusual setting and
with characters intensely picturesque
none of them. save one, above the rank OF
peasants. 1t is not to be expected that
among people of this type, ignorant, in
tensely superstitious. childish almost in
their outlook on the problems of life,
there could be much subtlety of emotion.
refinement of feeling. or analysis Of the
finer things in the realm OF thought that
come with good breeding and the higher
view Of the complexities OF life.
But because of this very unusualness
the play is intensely interesting. strik-
ingly novel. and appealing. It shows
human nature in the raw; the elemental
emotions affecting men and women who
live. love. and have their being simply
as men and women. without any of the
questions OF psychology that affect the
more highly-trained peoples Of a loftier
stratum OF society. The story of the
play deals with a poor peasant girl
Marta. who has never known life: who
has fallen into the hands of mana
weak enough power in himself, but hold
ing. in reality. the power, nearly. OF life
and death over the people the goat
herds and farmers who live on his es-
tate. Unfortunately, Marta is pretty. and
this man, the master. has fallen In love
with her. She is to him but a chattel,
one Of the things on his estate which
ne owns, like his goats and his mill and
his farm. His farm is deeply mortgaged.
and his debts are about 20 oyerwheIn
him. so that his only salvation lies in a
marriage with a rich girl. Before this
can be accomplished Marta has TO be
married of. and so the master gets
goatherd OF his, brings him down from
the mountains 20 the lowlands. and gives
him Marta TO wife. He believes all the
time that thus he can secure his own
future and continue to love Marta as be-
fore.
The dramatic interest in the story
comes from the fact that with the ad-
vent of Manelich, the simple goatherd.
something like A soul awakens In Marta,
and she not only loves her husband but
comes 10 see the horror into which the
master. Sebastian. has led her From
that time on she lOathes the man who
has made 1t impossible for her to come
10 her husband with clean hands. and
here are all the elements of tragedy.
Manehch has been kept in ignorance of
the name OF the man whose actions have
made Marta a byword and laugh among
the peasants. When he does find out who
II is. the peasant soul of him revolts
also. the land OF women and men In the
Lowlands seems a shame and disgrace
20 him; the mountains where there are
only dumb beasts seems the only fair
land. And so. meeting the master. who.
failing in his rich marriage. has come
TO claim Marta as his own. and is fight
ing with her. who has come TO despise
and hate him. he fights him. chokes him
with his hands, and the play ends with
Marta and her husband of 20 the noun
tains and cleanliness and-presumably,
happiness.
II is not a pleasan: story, perhaps,
but IL is a powerful one, and most IN
deniably an interesting one. The story
OF these peasants grips you and holds
NrOur attention. your heart, and your
sympathy. and this whole picture of ele-
mental. strong life. strong love and sim
pie faith. impresses itself with intense
vividness upon the memory and imagi-
nation.
But IL is a play that less beautifully
acted than II is might easily become a
thing for laughter and scorn; and if
Marta Of the LOwlands has won as
IL has a large success, il is due very
largely 70 the fact that II is so pre-
sented that the audience sees that it is
felt-that 1t is beautifully acted. and es-
peeially BY the central character. Marta.
played by Bertha Kalich; Is touched with
genius
Washington has seen all too little Of
Miss Kalich. but she won hosts OF adj
mirers by her performance OF The
KreutZer Sonata" last year, and she has
undoubtedly added TO them by her per-
Torrance in the play under considera-
ton. The part IS one that calls for the
expression OF the deepest and most stir
ring emotions OF the human soul; the
portrayal she gives OF a girl undevel-
oped in soul, bowed down underneath the
weight Of wrong Of which she has IN
derstOod so little, is intensely pathetic
and moving.
In the more strenuous moments Of the
play Miss Kalich rises TO great heights
OF tragic feeling and carried her au-
dience away will the power OF her ex-
preston and the intensity Of her feeling
Her performance was mastery through
out.
Inc company supporting Nine. Kalich
is one selected with great care. and even