New-York tribune., 1912-02-08
IRVING PLACE THEATRE
"Glaube und Heimath. -

Director AmberC has put tho German
speaking public Of this city deeply into
his debt by producing NJ the Irving Place
Theatre Karl Sch1nhcrrs $ historical drama,
Claude und Tfcimath" This play won
the schiller prize in Germany and the
Grillgarzer prize in Austria, and II has
been acclaimed I'm both countries as a
notable addition 70 German dramatic 1T
eraturc. Its theme. though somhre -
poignant and of intense human interest
for it deals with the conflict in the hearts
of the poor pcasant folk Of the Austrian
Alps between their religious faith and
their love of tho soil 20 which they have
been rooted for generations.
At the height Of the Catholic reaction. a.
tho beginning of the seventeenth century,
the Austrian government ordered the ban
ishmcnt Of all subjects who would not re-
uouncc Protestant'sm In Sch0nhcrr's play
the government j. represented I'm a noun
tain community by "a h.got"d officer, iilled
with inquisitoria zeal. who stops at n
cruclties in stamping out hcrCsy. Hc seems
10 believe that hc IS serving tho Virgin
Mary in bounding the poor Luthorans. Th'
chief peasant character in tho tragedy is 8
Protestant with a Catholic wife, who tries
10 conceal his religious allegiance in order
to save his home. to which both he and hi
old father are attached But when ne s""s
poor ucighbor. a woman. run through
by the kascr's envoy for refusing 10 sur
render hcr Bible his soul rcvolts and h."
proclams himself Lutheran and a candi-
date for tanishmeut.
His Youngest son wants 10 60 with him.
but. being under age. must stay behind In
IN" care ~ tn" Church When tho hoy dis
covers this hc jumps into "A mill pond. and
the officer and the father both start TO
rescue him. The father brings him out
dead. ana h. tempted 10 slay the iugusitOr
with an axe. But. restrained By the in
junction which ho has read in his treasured
Bible Love your enemies be finally
holds out the hand OF pardon to- the pcrs'-
cutor The latter. after taking g. breaks
his sword 10 indicate that the fame Of his
bigotry has been quenched.
Schonhcrr aim is TO visualize tho pas
sions and atrocities OF d period OF religious
hate. and he succeeds iu doing II ny tho
simplest methods There Is no ih,atricality
about tho tragedy. which works ITSELF ont
naturally 10 a powerful climax. The action
is condensed. and mass effects arc produced
rh" commonplace or mo'odrama and traG-
'dy Tn" part n Chrls,opho Rou 'r,
peasant proprietor, was played with hno
eject by oscar kruger. Miss Crete Mcy-
or. m" singer. took tho role OF tho wife.
whose love IS stronger than her religious
prejudice and who prefers exile 10 desert
ing her husband She proved 10 ho a rapa-
blo actress iu serious drama ~ woll a. 100
the field of op"r"tta Mr. Link appeared
as the old father, clinging desperately 20
nl- hope OF dying ON home soil and rot
among strangers. but who finally is Coadad
into announcing his faith by tho atrocities
committed 10y tho kuiscrs representative.
Tho Characterization was excellent. capc-
ciaIly I'm IT'S restraint. NJ. Ehrhardt- Pla',u
was adequate a. the man OF IRE and blood.
The play Is somewhat depressing. but gouu-
iucIy moving Its success easily explains
itself The cast was