The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 9, 1927, Page 12

J ewish Peasant oR “The Idle Inn,” ‘Based on Jewish Folk Tale, Produced at Irving Place Theatre Reviewed By A. B. MAGIL When in 1921 Jacob Ben-Ami made his debut on the English-speaking stage under the management of Ar- thur Hopkins, one of the plays he appeared in was Peretz Hirshbein’s “The Idle Inn,” which he had per- formed successfully in Yiddish. I didn’t see the play, but if I remem- ber correctly, it proved a flop. “The Idle Inn” was probably too intimately Yiddish for successful translation, lacking as it did the melodramatic appeal of “The Dybbuk.” ‘Now Ben-Ami, back on the Yid- dish stage again, has revived this classic of the modern Yiddish drama at the Irving Place Jewish Art The- atre. He appears in the leading role, alternating with Anatol Vinogradoff. The latter played the part on the night I saw the performance, handl- ing it capably, ° Steals Bride. “The Idle Inn” is based on a folk tale and its people have an elemental simplicity and heartiness. Maita, a country girl, is in love with her cousin, Itzik, a gay, handsome, blustering lad. But her father, Bendet, -hds other plans for her and arranges a match with Leibush, the son of, a neighbor. There is an old inn, said to be haun- ted by evil spirits, which Bendet pro- posed to rebuild for the young couple. At the wedding feast three mys- terious merchants appear and bring gifts for the bride. While the cele- bration is at its height, Itzik steals her away from under the very nose of* the _bridegroom. They wander about in the forest, where im a scene of alternate lovemaking and recrim- ination, they are discovered by Ben- det, who rescues his daughter after a struggle with Itzik. In the final act Bendet, goaded by the evil spirits, becomes insane and sets fire first to the idle inn and then to his own house. Yiddish Pastorals. A simple tale, told with beauty and tenderness. Peretz Hirshbein is the poet among Yiddish prose writers. He is the first true pastoral writer In modern Yiddish literature and he has brought the gaicty and sadness of Russian Jewish peasant life upon the stage. Because he believed in the beauty of that life, in its earthy wholesomeness and spontaneity, he wrote with conviction and depth. He ean be lyrical without growing maud- FRITZ WILLIAMS Plays the role of the Dollar-a-Year- Patriot, in “Spread Eagle,” Jed Har- ris’ new drama at the Martin Beck Theatre. lin, naive without being commonplace. In the third act of “The Idle Inn,” the scene between Itzik and Maita tn - the forest, there is luxuriant writ- ing, words that break into flame got smolder in the darkness. The play’s chief weakness is its unconvincing end. “The Idle Inn,” for all its romantic wistfulness, is comedy, and the tragic conclusion bears no organic relationship to the spirit of the play. Uneven acting, often strident and exaggerated mar the play’s essential delicacy. Once more the Yiddish ac- tor, trained in naturalistic schools with the emphasis on the individual rather than on the play, stumbles over any role that happens to be outside his particular genre. There is, how- ever, good work by Helen Zelinskala, as Maita, Anatol Vinogradoff, as Itzik, and Gershon Rubin, as Maita’s grandfather. Rumor has it that Minnie Maddern Fisk and Margaret Anglin, with Otis Skinner as their guest star, are planning to produce “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” as the first of a series of revivals to be offered here. The New Plays” MONDAY “THE SECOND MAN,” a new play by S. N. Behrman, will be pre- sented at the Guild Theatre on Monday night by the Theatre Guild. l In the cast are Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Margalo Gillmore and Earle Larimore. TUESDAY “RUTHERFORD & SON,” by K. G. Soerby will be revived by the Lenox Hill Players at the Grove Street Theatre Tuesday night. THURSDAY “ONE GLORIOUS HOUR,” a comedy by Gerhard Falkenberg, will open next Thursday night at the Selwyn Theatre. The cast is headed by Vivienne Osborne and includes: Ullrich Haupt, Joseph Kilgour, Effingham Pinto and Herbert Yost. The play is being produced by the Lepano Amusement Company in association with Murray Phillips. “JOAN OF ARC,” a dramatic version of Mark Twain’s story, will begin a series of matinees Thursday afternoon. Clara Clemens, Mark Twain’s daughter, will play the principal role. “IT’S A WOW,” a comedy by Bert J. Norton, will open Thursday night at the Theatre Masque, presented by Albert Bannister. The cast will include Leona Beutelle, Dorothy Tierney, Katherine Givney, Ethel Wright, Frederic Howard and Leonard Stillman, SATURDAY “THE TIGHTWAD,” by Robert Keith, will be presented by the Shubert’s at the 4$th Street Theatre next Saturday night. The cast includes: Alexander Clark, Marie Carroll, King Calder, Lucille Nikolas, Leah Winslow, Allen Moore and Rollo Dix. Kg 2 EE) ELE AE A) SAL A A) A A) > GUILD THEATRE. SIDNEY HOWARD'S THE SILVER CORD JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. Week of April 18th—NED McCOBB'S DAUGHTER Week of April 25th—THE SILVER CORD tie MONTH “ EVA LeGALLIENNE WEEK OF APRIL it Thurs. Eve., April 14. Mon. Eve., April 11..“Cradle Song” eg oat Bt 12....“Inheritors” ed. a pril 13..“Cradle So Wed. Eve., Apr. 13, _ “The Master Builder” The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ———————___. OPENING MONDAY EVE., 8:30 The Second Man A COMEDY BY S._.N. BEHRMAN 52nd Street, West of Broadway, Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:3¢ Week of April 18th——PYGMALION Week of April 25th—THE SECOND MAN IVIC REPERTORY TELEPHONE WATKINS 17767 Fri. Eve., April. 15..... “inheritors” ‘Sat. Mat., April 16..“Pwelfth Night” Sat. Eve., April 16...“Cradle Song” Eves at 8:30. CIRCLE 5078 East of B'’way. COR, 6TH AVE. & = ST. og 50c, $1.60 & $1.65 & Sat. Matinees -“Cradle Song” TIMES SQ. and CAST of 100 4 “A vivid, gripping and absorbing melodrama. fess that I enjoyed it as I haven't enjoyed a melo- —Alan Dale, American. drama in seasons.” ans MADISON SQ. GARDEN 49th and 50th ST. and Sth AVENUE TUESDAY, APR. 12th soe TWICE’ DAILY (except Sun.) 2 AND 8. incl. among 10,000 marvels PAWAH dal SACRED WHITE ELEPHANT owria GREATEST FEATURE OF ALL TIME More People—More Acts—More Zoo- logical Rarities—More Freaks—More ot Everything Than Ever Before ~ ADMISSION to all Uf, 75 to $3.50 (Incl.tax.) Children pone mesg 12 at reduced prices at all matinee performances, ex- cept Saturdays, to $1.10 seats and over. Branch Ticket Office: GIMBEL BROS. TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT GARDEN BOX OFFICES, Sth Avenue entrance. Neighborhood Playhouse 466 Grand St. Drydock 7516 Every Eve. (except Mon.) Mat. Sat. in A’ 1 mmedia dell’Arte Lyrie Bill THEATRE, 45 St. MARTIN BECK 8 Ave. Bvs. 8:30, aes. Wed. and sit ED HARRIS Presen ‘SPREAD EAGLE’ ay George S. Brooks & Walter B. Lister CARROLL Vanities Earl Carroll Mats, » Ith Ave, & Seth, St, WALLACK’S West 42nd _ Stree 42nd __ Stree’. Evenings 8:30. Mats. Tues., Wed., Thurs, and Sat. What Anne Brought Home A New Comedy — Drama Ne ee em HAMPDEN’S 1,,47.P 4,78 B, t Broadwa Evs. 8:15. 4 Matinees Wed. and Sat. watteER HAMPDEN in CAPONSACCHI THEATRE, WEST 42d STREET. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs. & Sat, 2:30. A. H. WOODS presents CRi By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer with JAMES RENNIE & CHESTER MORRIS Waldorf Th., 50th St., BE. of B'way : Mats. Wed. and Sat., 2:30 BROADWAY Sam HARRIS THEA. West 42nd St, WHAT PRICE GLORY Mata, (exc. Sat.) 50c-$1. Eves. 50c-$2, Bronx Opera House }!°th , Street. The Most Sensa- Ever Produced —— MUSIC AND CONCERTS N. Y. SYMPHONY Final Farewell WALTER DAMROSCH As Musical pg te Rog the Symphony Mecca Box Office open 11 A, M. tomor'w BEETHOVEN’S NINTH SYMPHONY Distinguished Soloists and Chorus I con- Also a Good Lenten Play The Ladder PRICES ___ PRICES EVES. BS, $1.10 10 TO $3.85. Twice Daily, 2:30 & 8:20 E. of haere Mat. Wed. rom tional Play 4 Po With HOWARD LANG, Pop. Prices. Concert of the Season MECCA AUDITORIUM To-morrow Afternoon At 3 of 300 Tickets at Steinway Wall, 113 W. Sith St., Room 1001 GEORGE ENGLES, Manager (Steinway Piano)