Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-06
HE THEAT e R .
Columbia Theater.

A remarkable play was exhibited at the
Columbia Theater last night THE
Melting Pot has the interest that must
attach to something written from the
heart. Outside the stage technique. OF
which Mr.. Zangwill should. with his fte-
quent experiences in theatric production.
be master. and beyond the literary
charm which has so long distinguished
his work, there is in this play the ex-
preston Of intense feeling which has the
shock and appeal OF human cry. Inc
author has embodied in this work sob
of protest against the sufferings that
devout and sensitive people have en-.
dured for ages gone by and an Outburst
OF joy as the light shines on the future
1t is a sociological drama: one in which
hard. solid thought takes the place OF
sentimentalfty: work of great artlstlc
value and of philosOphic suggestion 1t
discusses the world and its assemblaee
of nations in the same spirit that Ibsen
discusses the home. 1t bears the same
relation to the ordinary problem play
, that calculus bears to the rule OF three.
The work of reducing so big thought
as the play involves to the limitations
or stage expression has been we'll per-
formed. The difficulties have been met
with fine craftsmanship.
The play of emotion is quick and vivid.
Yet 1t is Il work that appeals first of all to
the intelligence. If It finds favor with
seekers for diversion it must be with those
who are ready to follow the complexities
OF chess board rather than those VINO
are content to observe the chance TALL of
playing cards 1t Is the announcement of
well-thought-out system Of ethics and
economics.
The proposition submitted by the play Is
that America-or rather New York city
is the great melting pot in which racial
hatreds must be fused and transformed.
An example of the bitterest persecution
| known to history. the persecution Of the
I nnr,In hNy< ta0
basis of the plot. The love Of young
man for the daughter of a Russian officer
who killed his family at Kishenef leads
to one of the finest dramatic situations
mutual discovery of identity IS made. And
the spirit Of the new world in which the
past must be forgotten and responsibility
FOR the future met animateS a beautiful
reconciliation. Reverence for tradition is
manifested in faithful reproduction Of
mum Der of orthodox Hebraic customs; and
at the same time the feeling of modern
patriotism is expressed with dignity and
power.
The principal figure of the drama is
young musician, a composer OF highly
sensitive nature. The type lends itself to
the emotionality necessary to display the
powers of an actor. The burden of inter-
est falls almost entirely on the shoulders
of this character played with wonderful
delicacy and intelligence by Mr.. Walker
Whiteside. The role is as strong In Its
te1nleramentaI Quainy as lHdt VI INC
Music Master. and Mr.. Whiteside's ar
tstic achievement is no less than that of
David Warfield. The finest standings OF
feeling are depicted in constant play. Mr..
Whiteside has abundantly fulfilled the ex-
pectations he awakened when. number
of years ago. he appeared. with scant
popular appreciation but with eminent
efficiency. in repertory of classical
plays. Miss Crystal Herne has te dis
tinct merit Of lending herself gracefully
and effectively to the composition OF stage
pictures. An excellent piece Of acting Is
done by John Blair as the Russian noble
man. whose meeting face to face with
the sole survivor of the kishenef massa-
ere constitutes the great dramatic mo-
ment of the piece. Henry Vogel gave an
impersonation of an orchestra leader
which. without marrng the symmetry OF
the performance. took immediate rank as
an individual hit.
The enthusiasm amounted to an ovation
for Mr.. Whiteside and for Mr.. Zangwill.
The latter took occasion to explain
scene which had been curtailed by the
premature lowering sof the curtain. Presi-
dent Roosevelt was an interested auditor.
and manifested his appreciation with
frank spOntaneity. 3D. H