On December 17, 1949, in the Radin
Auditorium, there was staged A mayse mit a prints (A Story
About a Prince), a musical comedy in four acts by David
Licht, based on Goldfaden-Dobrushin (previously played in
Argentina under the name, A kale vil a prints (A Bride Wants a Prince): director --
David Licht; music -- Misha Streitman; sets -- H.A. Condell;
dance director -- Julia Levin. The play was performed on sixteen
weekends and for a special performance for the delegates of the
Arbeter Ring convention.
Joel Entin, in the book Fertsik
yor Folksbiene (Forty Years of the Folksbiene) writes:
"It is playful, droll, a
magic-story, a prophesy in reverse of the tragic-beautiful birth
of Yiddish theatre. Everyone stands and moves so correctly and
nicely that it is a joy to lok at them. They are not trained
singers, but they sing so in tune and with such heart that even
with untrained voices one hears them gladly. The exuberant,
sweet, harmonious ensemble is enjoyable."
Der Lebediker writes:
"A Mayse Mit a Prints is perhaps David Licht's most
mature and solid undertaking. He adapted the material very well
and all the details are splendidly taken care of ... There is
wit, humor, and satife in the story as well as, even, a point of
view."
On March 25, 1950, at the Radin
Auditorium, Peretz's In polish oyf der keyt was
performed, again in honor of the Folksbiene's thirty-fifth
anniversary, and a journal in the name of the Folksbiene was
published, edited by Boris Levin, Mordkhe Yoheson, Chaim Zaner
and B. Stabinowitz.
On December 9, 1950, at the Radin
Auditorium, H. Leivick's Di khasene in fernwald (The Wedding
in Föhrenwald) was performed, directed by David Licht, with
music by Vladimir Heifetz and scenery by H.A. Condell. It ran
for sixteen weekends.
Dr. Jacob Shatzky writes about the
play in the book, Fertsik yor Folksbiene (Forty Years of the
Folksbiene):
"The ensemble of the Yiddish
Folksbiene has finely portrayed the tragedy of this mitzvah to
stay alive. This play is deep in stillness and still in depth.
David Licht must consider this offering, with justifiable pride, as its greatest directorial victory in America."
And Sh. Niger stated in the book,
Fertsik yor Folksbiene (Forty Years of the Folksbiene):
"It was quite satisfying to sit in
the theatre and to see that the Folksbiene and its artistic
director David Licht had successfully transported us to the
poet's wonderful world, and he created for us the spiritual mood
that he intended.”
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