Evening journal., 1910-04-12
AVENUE PLAYERS
in BIG TRIUMPH
COnneSS 6 Edwards Co. Pro-
duCe Israel zanGwilI'S Play
"The Melting Pot"
SECOND COMPANY TO
PRESENT STRONG PLAY

/
The local premier at the Avenue Theatre
last night Of 1.-The Melting Pot" written
by Israel Zangwill, was of particular in
tcrest from many points of view In the
first place it is new pay. the Conness
and Edwards Stock Company being the
second company authorized to produce IL.
The only other company who can use the
play is the Walker Whiteside Company,
who opened their Chicago season with il
Sunday night after a long run Of crowded
houses in New York So 1t has happened
that Wilmington is particularly favored.
since the intense interest the play aroused
In New York is causing its coming TO be
oolSed forward to with eagerness by cities
all over the country, and there is sharp
competition to secure 1t. Charles T.. Mil
Ter is the second actor to play the part Of
/ David" created by Walker Whteside,
and Miss Margaret Pitt is the second
actress to play the part Of Vera created
by Crystal Herne, Walker Whiteside S
leading woman. An interesting coincidence
is that Miss Pitt was also the second wo-
man 20 play the leading part in sag Har-
Dor" created by Crystal Herne, and writ
ten by Miss Herne's father. Their playing
the same parts is an especially pleasant
happening since Miss Pitt and Crystal and
Julie Hcrne have been intimate friends for
years.
The play itself is wonderful. Israel
zangwil. the author OF "rhe Children Of
the Ghetto" and other Jewish stories
which have been a strong force In break
ing down race prejudice and familiarizing
the world with Jewish life has based this
story upon an intensely dramatic theme.
The drama however, is lightened by a.
great deal Of humorous incident Vera,
the daughter Of Russian official OF the
proudest blood Of the Fatherland, is stir
red by the atrocities and wrongs heaped
by her people upon the Jews. So strong is
her sympathy that she aids the Jews ac-
lively in spite Of her fathers anger, and
is sentenced to Siberia. Fleeing from Rus
sla to escape Siberian exile. she comes to
New York and engages. in settlement
work. Here she meets David, violinist
OF rare genius, and Jew. lie too has fled
from Russia, crazed with awful memories
Of the massacre of his father and mother.
The TWO fall in love and hope to marry
when David shall have secured position
In an orchestra and can support a wife
Vera's father marries second time and
brings his wife to America. in search Of
Vera. Father and daughter have an af-
fecting meeting for they stnl love each
other When Vera confesses, in response
to her fathers proposition of millionaire
husband. that she is engaged to a Jew.
/ the father Is Mortified that she could
marry one accursed by the church Of her
fathers She pleads with him. saying they
{ all serve the same God, and finally he
S half gives in. but the step-mother an
( nounces her immediate intention of re-
r turning to Russia.
< \ Then there is meeting between Davic
y and Vera. As they are talking. an alto.
r gether delightful good fairy comes in tn,
y shape of round little orchestra con.
). ductor. who offers David place I'm his
n orchestra. and proposes TO give a perform
p anoe of the music David has composed
@ David faiters that sometimes when he
is playing. the massacre OF Kishinev
comes back to him. his mother lying dead
- and bleeding. and he cannot play. The
conductor gets him out of this mood and
leaves Vera and David radianuy happy
over the future and their coming mar
c riage
r Nera's father enters with anguish,
- David recognizes IN him the officer who
< commanded the death Of his mother Vera
p turns in horror from her father, and begs
10 David on her knees not TO renounce her
q crying. THY people shall be my people
n and thy God my God" But David can sec
nothing but a sea Of blood between them
. forever barring them from each other
a Love finally wins. Vera and David marry
Nera's father returns 10 Russia. and tn,
q play ends with the roof garden at th,
settlement where Davids piece is to b'
a performed.
The strong emotional acting called fo
in "Thc Melting Pot" could easily degen
crate into melodrama. The CONFESS an,
], Edwards Company have not had a We
. hicie which has tested as well their qua
/. ity Of acting and shown their real power
!. The scenes between Vera. Miss Pitt he
father. Marc McDermott; and David
i. Charles r. Miller, display great acting
! Terms of praise might be multiplied bu
! only 90 strong and simple a word seem
ftting 10 dignity. Samuel Klawans. Mis-
Katharine Brook, Miss Mabel strlcklan,
ard Miss Ethel strickland we're especial,
well cast in this play