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From the NY Times
review,
"'Deluge Well Received"
January 11, 1927
"...Influenced, no doubt, by the play's success
in Sweden and Germany, the Habima players
included it in their repertoire. Last night's
performance moved with a vitality which pleased
the Habima's Jewish constituents as much as its
Broadway adherents.
The play is
sardonic comedy, intelligible not only to those
conversant with Hebrew but to English
theatregoers as well. What seemed to please the
audience most last night were the pantomimic
scenes.
The plot deals
with several persons in various stations of
life, marooned in a saloon of a small town along
the Mississippi after a cloud-burst. Momentarily
awaiting the bursting of the dam and the
approach of a flood, they become united, despite
their personal animosities, and swear eternal
friendship. The gambler forgives his rival on
the Stock Exchange. A woman declares her love
for her betrayer and he promises to marry her
as they escape. An impoverished investor wins
promises of general assistance. Under he shadow
of a catastrophe they all make vows of loyalty
and promise to help each other if they are
rescued. Here the Habima players sing Hebraic
chants effectively.
The lights go on
again in the saloon. The telegraph ticker begins
its staccato. It is reported that the deluge is
slackening. All are saved. Now the true sides
of their characters are revealed. As soon as
the fear of death has been removed, all forget
the fine pledges of friendship.
Miss H. Gruber
played Lizzie, the woman, with a rare
understanding. to one only slightly familiar
with Hebrew her performance seemed sharply
etched. D. Itkin, who portrayed Stratton, the
bartender, and A Baratz, his assistant, were
generally amusing. The others in the cast also
played well..." |
