New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-28
FOREIGN DRAMA
Artzibashef's War Play and the
Yiddish Drama

WAR Play in -Four Acts Translated BY Toms
se tier from the Russian q Mchael AfSio"5 W., ~
The Bozzoi Plays" l. limo, ~. Ih, IS. Ne"
YORK Alfred A Knop'
SIX PLAYS or THE YIDDrsH THEATRE. Rs
David Pnsh: sholom All. Perez Hirschpein ;
by isaac Goldbers Pm. ID. l2no. Up. vii. 2lp
Boston: John ". Luce x Co.
Hats off 10 Michael Artzbashefl He
has succeeded where others, his su-
periors in reputation and presumably
in talent-his betters certainly IN
Weltdnschdulng and aspiration -haye
failed. He has written war play
which is worth our while, poignantiy
human, a contribution 10 international
dramatic literature which deserves %
live. The dramatists and poets Of Bel
GUM and England the Russian An
dreyev-and several Americans have
wrestled with symbolism ard allegory,
with final judgments and Olympian de
nunciations and have come 20 grief.
They attempted the impossible. ArtZi-
bashef, with a far justcr appreciation
of the limitations, but also OF the pos
sibil.ties of the theatre, has not az
TEMPTED il. lie has merely written q
human story; he has avoided visions,
and the result is a play which comes
home TO all the world, which may be,
which will be. understood and anpreei-
ated and deeply felt in Germany and
Austria and Hungary as In England
France and Italy, in the neutral couB
tries of Europe and here in the United
States.
lie has not attempted TO turn world
cataclysm into mere literature. mere
drama. He has not tried to force an
earthquake within the picture frame OF
the modern theatre. He has not vent
ured to st in judgment IN the play
house and to give the verdict OF pos
terity. Instead, he shows us the rum
wrought by the war IN single Russ an
family in n small Russian town far
away from the battle line and invasion,
and the result is more telling than all
the labored attempts Of symbolists
straining after vision. The play is Of
universal interest. Just because 10 Is so
simple, so human. The destruction Of
new generation, the Sutcrings OF its
elders. the agony Of It's women. the de-
privation of children OF their rights.
the ruin of hopes and happiness all
that Artzibashef shows us within the
four walls and in the garden Of his re-
tired old officers home is repeated daily
throughout the length and the breadth
Not the causes, but the results Of war;
not symbolism, but naked facts, are
Artzibashefs concern, and ours. The
wider view, the world meaning, he
leaves TO his audience 1t sees.
war" places Artzibashef in the fore
most rank of the contemporary dram
atists Of Russia. by the side of the
author of THE Cherry Orchard" Its
development of character is admirable
the sympathetic exposition. for in
stance, of the old warriors peculari-
ties through his wife's fond humoring
and management OF them; the picture
of the wife herself. her jealousy of her
daughter. whose husband returns home
saved where her son has died. And II,
in that daughter. the Artzibashef OF
"saninc" shows himself, the character
is Mt least consistently developed, and
We have Ellen Keys testimony that
such things, too, do happen. Love
turned to repulslon by the mutilation