The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1922-03-01
Maurice Schwartz and
the Jewish Drama
BY EBERT AIDLINE-TRoMMER

hdurlCe SCuWdTtZ, tue uhAeSeoi "a 'AAN
2iddish Art Theatre, told me the 9th
or day, ARE greatly interested In all
that tells them or reminds them OF
traditional Judaism of days gone by.
That is why play like the 'Dfbbuk
has met with such unprecedented sue
cess on the stage of the 1iddlsh ART
Theatre this season. That is also why
Peretz Hirschbein's idylls-the Idle
Inn, The Green Fields. The Black
smiths Daughters, and other plays
of similar character-have found
such enthusiastic audiences among our
American born youth who had never
before had an opportunity to see lie
as it actually is. among the jewish
people in the countries whence their
parents have come. 1t is to be re-
sretted that no such idylls have as
yet been created based on Jewish lie
in America"
Maurice Schwartz, in the four years
he has spent in producing literary
drama on the stage has proved him-
self not alone daring limo
vator. but also one of our most talent
ed actors, and, what Is still great
rarity in the Yiddish theatre, di-
rector Of most unusual ability.
1t was during rehearsal of new
play-and new plays by old and well
known, as well as by new authors are
being constantly put on at the Hid-
dish Art Theatre that Schwartz got
away from the stage to give me an IN
terview. or, rather to have a heart to
heart talk-for Schwartz. in spite OF
his really great achievements for the
Yiddish stage, is very democratic and
unassuming.
cit is remarkable" he continued,
what n change has taken place in
the audiences Of our Yiddish theatres,
at least of those theatres that are
striving to present genuine literature.
Only a few seasons ago, before Mr..
Wilmer and myself opened the hrst
home for literary dramma at The irv-
ing Place Theatre. n play Ike the
'Dibbuk' would be put on only on spe-
cial occasions, such as benefits, and
performances for organizations that
wished to have this or that classical
work produced. 1 dare say, the 1ld-
dish Art Theatre has succeeded m
creating new audience or, rather
If not exactly new, then one conf
posed of our intellectuals who nave
come back now that they can see REM
drama on the Jewish stage.
"The late David Kessler with whom
1 played in the same theatre for
number of years was my inspiration
and at the same time, indirectly, my
instructor in the dramatic art. 1t Is
n matter of common knowledge that
Nesslcr used to chafe under the bur
den of cheap melodramatic parts in
which he was forced to appear. /, too,
suffered from this and vowed that AZ
soon as possible 1 would apply all my
energy, all my efforts to build home
for literary drama in Yiddish.'
ScnWaTtZ has. III uttt. h'Pe
promise. The Yiddish theatre has
been metamorphOsed. True. not all
of the Yiddish play-houses have been
affected but at least two of the ten
Yiddish theatres in New York are pro-
ducing none but literary plays. ana
this means much higher percentage
than we have in the English theatres
in this country Schwartz is also to
be complimented upon the actors ana
actresses he helped bring out by max
ing it possible for them 70 appear in
good dramas and comedies. Among
these. to mention but Il few. there are
Ben Ami. Celia Adler, Jennie VALERIE,
Ludwig Zatz. Greta Meyer. Nine. APP
fel, NUM- Weisenfreumd, Mark
Schweid. and many other young ar
lists. not to mention himself. Schwartz
is quite young man not much over
so and( like Ben Ami, he. too, has
been tempted by number of offers
to leave the Yiddish stage and devote
himself to the English theatre. He has
remained on the Yiddish stage In his
three-fold capacity-that of innovator,
realistic actor and director.
Talking of Schwartz as II director
it must be mentioned that, had he
not distinguished himself as an artist
he would still be famous as II director.
No matter what one may think OF the
merits-or demerits-fOr this or that
production at the Yiddish Art Iheatre'
the opinion of the public Is unanimous
when it comes to approaching Schwartz
Us regisseur He combines the adj
ity of n true artist with the talent OF
pedagogue who understands thoroiS
hn..- IL, i11nI,.,r.A bis knnMleurl. 10 Tic