DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-17 Friday, April 1, 1955 . Buttering Up Economy Theater's History Abounds In Many Jewish Contributions Without the background of a theater in Judea, Jews have made great contributions to the stage, especially since 1800. The impressive "A History of the Theater" by George Freedley and John A. Reeves, just issued in a revised and augmented edition by Crown Publishers (419 4th Ave.. N.Y.16), tells a fascinating story of the development of theatrical art throughout the world and recounts many interesting facts about Jews and their participa- tion in the arts relating to the stage. Describing "the legendary East," the authors point out that the very idea of a theater was anathema to monotheistic Judeans "who opposed with all their might and with terrific integrity the polytheism and anthropomorphism of the pagan nations which might have built a theater for them as they did for Egypt, Greece, China, and Rome." But in the Old Testament, we are told, "The Song of Songs" and "The Book of Job!' were marked for use by drama-minded people. "Outside the Holy Land," we read, "the Jews were not so anti-theatrical. The colonists established in Alexandria un- doubtedly wrote and performed plays which stemmed both from the Old Testament and Greek drama." On the other hand, there is a wealth of material in the modern Israel, whose principal theaters in Tel Aviv are out- lined in a description of modern theatrical activities. Sharett Fetes Judge Rosenman, Ex. U. S. Presidential Advisor • JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Premier senman at a luncheon attended David Ben- Moshe Sharett last week honor- by Defense Minister Labor Golds. Gurion, Minister of ed Judge Samuel I. Rosenman, Myerson, justices of the Supreme former advisor to President Roo- Court and members of the Knes- sevelt and Truman, and Mrs. Ro- set. TITLE INSURANCE ANYWHERE IN MICHIGAN Butter and other dairy pro- ducts, which two years ago were virtually non-existent in Israel, are now being manufactured at Tnuva Dairy with Israel Borid aid. • Prepare and extend Abstracts of Titles to Lands in Wayne," Oakland, and Macomb Counties. Both Owner's and Mortagee's Policies Anywhere in Michigan Midwest JWB Biennial Meeting in Milwaukee The various Israeli companies, the authors of this monumen- tal history of the theater state, "appear in -various parts of this tiny new nation which has, perhaps, a larger intellectual group Charles Aaron, attorney and proportionately than any country in the world." communal leader of Chicago; They proceed to state: "Habimah came frotn Czarist will address the banquet of the Russia, where its studio was fostered by no less a figure than midwest JWB biennial meeting, Stanislaysky. Fortunate enough to leave the USSR in 1923 at the Milwaukee Jewish Com- on a foreign tour, it has had great success in London, New munity Center, Saturday eve-. York, Paris and other world capitals. It finally settled down ning. Mr. Aaron is president of in Israel where, as a Hebrew language company, it has ' achieved great success, as have Ohel and , the Comedy Theater. Through a special arrangement with agencies throughout the State, the Abstract and Title Guaranty Company is in a position to issue title insurance on real estate prop- erties located anywhere in Michigan. This service is avail- able at the main office or any of the branch offices in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. See us for any of the following services: the National Jewish Welfare Board. Prepare Reports on Condition of Taxes to Real Property Located in Wayne; Oakland, and Macomb Coi,ties Act as Escrow Agent in All Matters Involving Real Estate Transactions For the most part they have drawn on foreign plays for The banquet also will feature their repertoire as they still lack an Israeli dramatist of the an address by Alan J. Altheimer, first rank. - Messrs. Freedley and .Reeves relate the presentation of plays president of the JWB midwest that have been successful in other lands by the Israelis, the stag- ing in 1947 of "Oedipus Rex," produced by Tyrone Guthrie, of London. We are told : "After the Habimah's appearances in New York in 1948-49, it returned to renewed efforts in re-establishing itself and drew back the temporarily dissident Zvi Friedland. Ohel, a workers' theater, is largely supported by the trade unions, as was the Volksbuehne in Berlin. The comedy, also known as the Teatron Kamert, which was host to Peter Frye, is considered by many to be the most exciting playhouse in Israel." I "A History of the Theater" describes the activities of many Jewish actors ' and producers. Its reference. to Henry Bernstein (1876-1953) states that he "was a writer of astonishing versatility. Just when you thought it safe to dismiss him as a mere boulevard writer, he turned out a play of some merit. When you expected the most of him, he was the least rewarding, as a general rule. His tendency was to follow the fashion. For example, his play, `Elvire (1940), was anti-Nazi and was running when Paris fell. Needless to say it was closed hastily and its author was soon in America. He was a highly Semitic writer and many of his plays 'have either rebuked anti-Semitism or gloried in the accomplish- ments of his people." The authors relate the tragic experiences of Jewish actors in Germany: "With the advent of Hitler and the departure of the non-Aryan stars from Germany; the minor Jewish players were left almost entirely without livelihood. These, numbering several hundred, constitute three per cent of all the theater folk. Jews were excluded from most of the theaters or found it impossible to attend because of financial or other restrictions. A Jewish Cul- tural Society was formed in Berlin and soon established branches all over the country with a permanent dramatic and opera company in the capital and at least one touring troupe was formed. Their performances. are given in German for German- Jewish audiences." There are descriptions also of Jewish stars and plays in Russia and of Yiddish dramatists and producers. S. A. Rappaport (Ansky) Sholom Asch, 0. Perlmann, (known as Dymov and Kain), the Adlers and others are among those given special mention. We are told about the work of the Russian Eugene Nikolaye- vitch Chirikov (1864-1932), "the realistic author of the pro- Semitic 'The Jews' " and we learn that "Chirikov's sympathetic attitude toward the Jews along with that of Chekhov and Gorki" were responsible for the emergence of the Yiddish playwrights, Ansky, Asch and others. Merely to list the Jews who have played great roles in the theater would take columns of space. Suffice it to say that com- plimentary references are made to S. N. Behrman, George S. Kaufman, Benn W. Levy, Israel Zangwill, Ernst -Toiler, Franz Werfel, Arthur Schnitzler, Heinrich Heine, N. L. Zemach, the Brandes Brothers (Georg Morris. Cohen and Edvard), Juan Euge- nio Hartzenbusch, Sam Jaffe, and .many, many more. Great tribute is paid to Tanya Moiseiwitch, the brilliant director of scenes and costumes of the Shakespearean Festivals at Stratford, Ontario. Reference to this already has been made in the Commentator's columns of The Jewish News on March 25. The paragraph that concludes this fine book reads: "When all is said and done, the greatest thrill in life for theater-lovers is that moment when the house-lights dim, the latecomers scurry to their seats, the ushers' flashlights pierce the gloom like the ghosts of long dead actors, the footlights grow in intensity, the music dims and the curtain rises. Out of the darkness comes Bernardo's voice in Shakespeare's line, 'Who's there?' " And the Freedley-Reeves volume answers not only to this "who" qUestion but also the what, when and where of the theater throughout the ages, IN THE NORTHWEST 18294 Wyoming Nr. Pickford UN. 3-0543 section. , There will be a dramatic /*- port of midwest JWB activities and the presentation of the Os- car A. Kaufman Memorial Award, named for the former Detroiter who was vice-president of the _Midwest conference at Michigan's First Title Insurance Company Abstract and Title Guaranty Company 735 GRISWOLD ST. • WOodward 3-5810 DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN the time of his death. STANDARD INT TO. 8-0001 May We Wish A Happy Passover To The Entire Jewish Community CITRIN-KOLB OIL CO. 14445 LINWOOD DETROIT 6, MICHIGAN Serving Detroiters For Over 35 STANTIARD FUEL g ) OILS Years' FOR A JOYOUS PASSOVER DETROIT HEBREW BOOK SHOPS Offer you the largest and most beautiful selections of Israeli and Domestic Seder Trays (15 designs to choose from) Sterling and Patina wine cups— Imported crystal wine decanters—Holiday tablecloths and napkins—Chil- dren's records and books. PRICED TO FIT EVERY BUDGET SHOP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT OUR TWO STORES AND SAVE Still time to send Scrip checks to Relatives in Israel for Passover—Free 30% Food Bonus ON DEXTER 12226 Dexter Nr. Cortland TO. 8-6111