The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-05-13
LEAH kLESCHNA
h STRONG DRAMA

Leah Kleshna is play which offers
more food for thought than any offer,
ing heretofore made here by the Nc
Rae company Whether the auditor
enjoys the play or not IS another
question. but there can be no doubt
but that it Will set him or her TO think
ing.
Leah Kleshna is girl, a girl whose
father is known far and wide as a
clever and daring burglar. Her own
life has been lived out among criminals
and she is as skilled a burglar and
blackmailer as was ever known. But
at heart she is a good woman and when
she sees the light she follows 1t, even
though for time it seems to lead her
to the river bank, there TO end her
troubles in the oblivion which turks
beneath the murky waters of the Seine.
The man who wrote Leah hIeShna
possessed more than superficial
knowledge of criminology. He knew
the types which he portrayed IN his,
play and he portrayed them faithfully.
Many of the types are not pleasing
but they are strong. If Leah kleshna
is not a great play it at least ap-
proaches greatness very closely.
"KIeshna," father of "Leah,' ac-
complished crook, avaricious, cruel and
hardened. possesses with all his faults
a grain of humanity which shows itself
in his distorted misshapen affection
for his daughter. The character is not
a pleasing one, but one can not but feel
that it represents type of man which
= Il,
"Raoul Berton' is the weakling
the depraved son of good family who,
from riotous dissipation, sinks to utter
degradation and finally steals the
Jewels which "Leah' has left behind
after Paul Sylvaine, the man who
believes that there is some good in all
men. has show her how vile is the life
which she is leading.
Excellent Judgment has been shown
in casting Leah Kleshna. Margaret
Oswald, in the title role, is thoroughly
satisfying, she manages to hold the
sympathy of the audience through the
first four acts and in the fifth act,
where she is seen in peasant garb,
working among the fields and at peace
with the world. she shows the change
which has taken place in her life in
a subtle way which is highly artistic.
Louis Morrison as "Kleshna' gives
a very finished performance. He is
convincing as usual and his conception
of the role must be just about that
which the author held.
James Dillon makes his first appear
ance in a leading role. that of paul
Sylvaine,' and he acquits himself in
most creditable manner. Dillon has an
excellent voice. a good stage presence
and is a hard worker. He was at his
best last night.
Griffith Wray gives very fine per-
Torrance in very difficult role. As
'Schram.' thief, backyard and ex
convict, who worships ''Leah' from
afar, he probably holds the sympathy
more strongly than does any one save
the star herself,
Charles Royal and Laura Hudson
make Just one appearance, but the short
scene which they have is delightful. It
supplies the only bit of comedy in The
bill, and it is remarkably well done,
Edith Elliott has only few lines in
the third act, but she is delightful, ds
she always is.
In general great care has been ex-
ercised in staging the play, about the
only iarring note being the down East
farmer personality with which Frank
Howe sees fit to invest the Austrian
peasant for whom Leah is found
working in the last act.
Last night 5 performance was for the
benefit of the student body of Mckinley
High School. ana the house was crowd
ed. The ladies of the company We're
presented with beautiful floral offerings
by the high school boys.