The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-16
Unusual Situations and Strik-
ing Tableaux Enthrall Au=
dience at Newark Theatre.
GOOD PROGRAMS AT ALL
THE OTHER PLAYH0USES
Shows at American Music Hall,
Waldmann's and Miners
Draw Big Crowds.
SF-SH HE HOUSE NEXT DOOR,"
AZ the Newark Theatre this

week, presents for our criti-
scism a new type of stage Jew, as far
removed from the ~gesticulating, nasal
tuangy, fat-footed Hebrew of yaude-
VILE as the sparkling diamond from its
uncut brother.
Here we have the Jew of polite So
Iciety. frock coat quiet and all.
we are allowed to peep into his house,
and discover that he lives very much
as we do; that he likes good books, is
fond of music and can appreciate a
good picture; that in most things he
thinks like we do, and b II we
didn't see Sir John Cotswold's view
point so clearly we could almost Tor
get our one particular prejudice against
aim. Heretofore the Jew of the stage
has been synonymous with hearty mer-
riment, unless his "act' was poor. In
sssThe House Next Door we find that
we have to Jake him seriously, perhaps
because his "act'' is good.
In brief the story runs like this! Sir
John Cotswold, testiest of baronets,
ands in his old 6 that his extrava-
CANT ways of living have left him
penniless. Little by little his estates
have been mortgaged until, at the
opening of the play, his wife and
daughter nave been supporting the
house as best they could. Sir Isaac
jacobson, a Jew of ability, whose father
was a ~ehairnaker on Sir Jonn 5
fathers estate, has accumulated money
rapidly and found himself able to buy
up all of Sir Johns property. He in
stalls himself and his family in the
house next door Sir John is Indebted
to him for six months rent.
With all the pride of generations and
the bitterness of failure Sir John hates
his prosperous Hebrew %neighbor. His
son Cecil. who has been studying music
for years, makes a wonderful hit in
grand opera. Sir Isaac's wife, a climb
ing Jewess, invites Cecil to sing in
her house, sending him 100 pounds in
payment. Sir John opens the note. goes
to his neighbor's house, and in bitter
terms ~denounces Sir Isaac for the IN
suit he has put upon his house. When
he learns that his son Cecil and his
daughter Ulrica are in love with the
children Of Sir Isaac, he becomes al
most apoplectic in his rage. He goes
to his home, where his children defy
him. Then, broken at last, he pleads
WITH ther.-to wait until he Is dead be-
fore they marry into a family of Jews.
Ulrica, touched by the pathos OF her
usually irascible fathers grief decides
TO obey and persuades her brother to
do likewise.
Cecil tells his father that he is in
debt to Sir Isaac for Fl, 900, advanced
when he was poorest, for the con-
~inuance of his musical education. Sir
John leaves the house to get the money
and returns in a few moments bowed
down by the realization that his credit
is gone In a scene with Sir Isaac he
! apologies for his former conduct, ad-
mits his Indebtedness to him, but re-
fuses to accept his friendship, telling
him frankly that he hates him too bit
terly. At last, however. realizing that
his stubbornness means the unhappiness
of everybody concerned. he pockets his
pride and accepts the inevitable grace
fully, yet bitterly, with the hatred or
the Jew still rampant in his heart.
The play decides nothing. 1t would
mean little or nothing If it were not
for the strength of the leading roles az
portrayed by ]. E.. Dodson and Frank
Losee. AS the grouchy, highly irritable
uoliiSotC I!idiltf Mi- DoNS"H A. ~ 49,
best. 1t is probable that never In his
life has he had a character so well
fitted to his power. All of the details
of his forceful acting r delightfully."-
satisfactory. 1t is in tiny byplay and
changes of facial expression that he
shows just what it means to be a great
actor. His audience is with him
from the beginning.
The character of Sir Isaac loses Moth
ing of it's dignity and strength as pre-
isented by Mr.. Losee. He makes Sir
Isaac a man to be respected and adj
mired, making the audience give him
its sympathy and admiration in spite
sof it's liking for the doughty old Sir
John. Miss Lorena Atwood, as Sir
iIsaac's climbing wife, makes the most