The Denver Jewish news., 1923-04-11

tlNii tIit
1T was peculiar coincidence. The
play was produced on the very day
that the 1905 revolution broke out in
fact. on the reverse of the page which
contained the review of the play was
the account of Father Gapons visit
The review was favorable; yes. the
play was real success, artistically
Financially-well.t the two things don't
always go together.''
.And how was The God of Ven
genance' first pro''nerd:" inquired.
Was it recognized as n masterpiece
or did it receive the kind of pure
minded criticism with which il has
been greeted occasionally in New
York;
Both. l sent it to no less n person
that Max Reinhardt himself. He read
II and became enthusiastic about it. He
declared that he would give it the
best production that was humanity pos
sible. He picked his east with scrupl-
ulous discrimination. What cast that
was, At least five of the actors and
actresses have since developed into the
finest talents of the Russian and Ger
man stage. Rudolf Schildliraut was
the uncle; Tilla Durieux played Hin
del; Wangel. who later retired into II
convent, was the mother; the famous
Eisoldt played one of the girs--I don't
recall just which one. But that was
a performance
As to the criticism, some of it was
so severe that we actually feared the
the trouble to inform the Crown Prince
of the evil and dangerous nature of
the play, and they urged him to pre-
vent its continuation on the public
stage. Fortunately for me the Prince
did not take their attacks on trust
he determined to attend the play him
self and form his own independent Opin-
ion. | remember him sitting in his
box, leaning forward and looking
chrewdly at the stage. while my wife
sat in the next box. trembling with
anxiety. But the Crown Prince did
not find anything communicating in the
play he signified his approval. and the
critics had to hold their tongues
1.-The uncle is, to my mind, the real
miracle of that play" ! ventured to
say. There is sdmething hmiIuelE
acter: it is as spontaneous and as
true as reflection moving in II mir
ror." Mr.. Asch looked demure, and l
hurried on.
which of your books do you like
best?"
What did you say? Which of my
books / like best? Ah.' He shrug-
ged his broad shoulders and looked
down at me with Quizzical reproach.
But that is an -unbcIucme-q
ton. When feel very Jewish then
think my Kiddush Hashcm is the
greatest I have written; but other
times. when l am feeling more cOsmo-
poliant. / think that is n chauvinistlc,
bad book" l laughed. Mr.. Asch was
surprised into Il smile.
Il like my historical works." he add
FED, almost bashfully.
And Mottka Camel is nowhere?' l
replied. with some Indignation. For
my part like Mottke as a boy better
than any other in literature. And what
a pnthetically hungry baby he was !!
That chapter about the rotten apples,
and then again where Mottke is chas-
ed over the roofs with the boots in his
hand. The freshness. the reality. the
humor and anguish of that book =
| Mr.. Asch merely raised his eye brOws
and repeated, doubtfully. 'Mottke Gan
eff" yet there was glimmer of deep
satisfaction in his eyes. He had not
| ''builded better than he knew"
When was The God of Vengeance
first produced?' II asked. more in or
der to start him speaking again than
to know the exact date, for he had been
walking in silence for some time-per..
haps remembering the days when
Mottke really existed
| "Oh, 1907; the same year that Gorlds
Nights Lodging was first staged. We
saw GOrki frequently in France. 1t
| happened, by some coincidence, that
his wife and son had taken house
on the same street as we. in the same
little town. One day as my wife was
out walking she saw n tall, thin figure
hurrying along on the opposite side of
the street. Some one who was with
her told her that it was Gorki. She
came to know Madame Cork and they
my own boy. Nathan, also made friends ;
they went to the same school. Chalia-
pin came often to see Cork; and like
true Russians they would sit up all