The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-11-05

comes a distinctive addition to the
citys public buildings. Fronting on
Central park west for the width of
an entire block, it has two additional
facades on the sides streets. The
seats are grouped in the shape of a
fan, with the mass of the audience for
feet and is ITO feet wide by 112 feet
high and with depth below the stage
of AZ feet The house will hold 1900
for opera comique and for drama 1850.
Strange to say the three plays that
have caused the greatest stir among
theatergoers during the past fort
night are by foreign authors. Israel
at the Criterion is by Henri Bernstein,
author of "The Thief "Herod," at the
Lyric, with William Faversham in the
leading role, is by Stephen Phillips
and Kyrle Bellows new vehicle. The
Builder of Bridges" is from the pen
of Alfred Sutro.
Paris first saw Israel at Nine. Re-
james theater, and Mr. Charles Froh-
man is producing it for the first time
in English in New York.
The piece is in three acts. The act
ion first unfolds itself in the
lounging room of the Rue ROyale
club. A group of young Parisians
are banded together out of a common
hatred for Jews of all classes Their
leader is Thibault de Crouchy. Fore
most in his hatred is the Hebrew
banker Gutlieb. Thibault decides to
force Gutlieb to resign from the club
and insults him. A challenge to a duel
of the duel and tries to prevent it.
She vainly implores her son TO give
I'D the duel and discloses to him the
fact that he himself is a Jew. The
young mans pride is dashed to the
ground. He fights. but barely scratches
his adversary: he is ashamed to face
his friends. He hides himself away
in his studio like a hunted animal
and there seems no way out but death,
but a solution of the difficulty ulti-
matey develops.
In making his protection OF
"Herod" Mr. Faversham has made
every possible effort to rival the one
made by Sir Beerbohm Tree. RE has,
of course profited by all Tat was there
accomplished, and this is really ac-
knowledged From Sir Beerhehn Tree
Mr.. Faversham was able 70 secUIe all
the costume plates that had been
tainted for the original production by
Percy Anderson, and the accidental
music which had been especially writ
ten for "Herod' by s. Taylor .; leridge,
who is a negro.
Herod the Great, from tho earliest
time, has been a favorite subject with
I:l,,ywrights, and more especially
with the writer's of the old moral and
mystery plays. In the l'ttef Herod
was ever pictured, as a FRI shtiul mon
ster.
]. was left to Stephen Philips to
de! ct Herod as reasonable being
ard with some regard fo' historic
f., is.
IT has been a very big eff0". on Mr.
part to prepc.:e this play
for the stage. Upward of two hundred
people are used in this production. Mr..
impersonates Herod, Miss
Julie Opp is Marianne, HerOd's queen.
There are some 80 speaking parts in
the play The more important roles,
other than Herod and Marianne, are
taken by HI. Cooper Cliffe, Morton Sell
ton, A. Halton Allen, Lionel Belmore.
Harry Redding, Olive Oliver, Mabelle
Crawley and Florence Auer.
"The Builder of Bridges with
Kyrle Bellew as the. star, is at the
Hudson theater. The efforts of a girl
to save her brother, an absconder,
from exposure forms the basis of the
action Although already engaged to
marry, she plans to shield the culprlt
by making herself attractive to the
only man who can aid him. Eventu-
aIlv she realizes that her engagement
was a mistake and that she loves the
one whose assistance she has hoped
for. A disclosure of her plans gives
him a wrong impression and the skill
of the dramatist is brought into play
CONTINUED on Page SIX