fbpx
Wikipedia

Leah Kleschna

May 08, 2024

Leah Kleschna is a drama in five acts by C.M.S. McLellan produced for the first time on Broadway by Minnie Maddern Fiske, Harrison Grey Fiske and the Manhattan Company with set design provided by Frank E. Gates and E. A. Morange.

Lena Ashwell as Leah Klaschna (Act V)
The Play-pictorial, 1905

The play opened under the direction of Mr. Fiske at the Manhattan Theatre on December 12, 1904, and had an original run of 131 performances. Leah Kleschna returned to Broadway at the same venue in September 1905 for an additional 24 performances and in 1924 for a short run at the Lyric Theatre with Helen Gahagan as Leah.[1]

Leah Kleschna opened to positive reviews in London on May 2, 1905, at the New Theatre with Lena Ashwell in the title role. The production by Charles Frohman's company resulted in the threat of legal action by Mrs. Fiske who claimed she had purchased the English rights to the play.[2][3]

On December 10, 1913, the silent film Leah Kleschna premiered with Carlotta Nillson playing Leah, House Peters as Sylvaine and Hale Clarendon as Kleschna. The picture was directed by J. Searle Dawley and produced by the Famous Players Film Company.[4] A year or so later Nillson played Leah once again in a Daniel Frohman road production of the play.[5]

Synopsis edit

  • Act I: Kleschna's Lodgings in Paris.
  • Act II: Study in Paul Sylvaine's House at St. Cloud.
  • Act III: Same as Act II
  • Act IIII: Same as Act I
  • Act V: Lettuce field near Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Leah Kleschna is the daughter of a manipulative master jewel thief who has raised her to follow in his footsteps. When Leah is confronted by Paul Sylvaine, the owner of the house her father had sent her to rob, she is persuaded to contemplate her life as a thief. Eventually Leah returns the jewels she stole, abandons her father and leaves Paris to work on the country farm she was raised on. The story comes to a happy conclusion when a few years later Sylvaine reunites with Leah and a romance ensues.[6]

Reception edit

The New York Times, December 13, 1904, wrote:

"Evidence of a popular success were not wanting at the Manhattan Theatre last evening when for the first time was seen a new play by C. M. S. McLellan, hitherto known to New York playgoers as "Hugh Morton," author of several comic opera books, among which the most notable perhaps was that of The Belle of New York which endured a large measure of success, both here and in London. On this occasion Mr. McLellan has made an excursion into a more serious type of drama. But it is only fair to state that such appeal as the play made last night was in large part due to the exceptional brilliant acting of at least five of its chief protagonists. One or two of the minor roles might have been better played, but making due allowance for the usual conditions of nervous exaggeration incident to a first night, it may be said with conviction that the acting of George Arliss, John Mason, Charles Cartwright, William B. Mack and the star herself, provided an ensemble such as is rarely excelled."[7]

The Standard: (Source: The New York Times; May 3, 1905) [8]

"It is a piece far out of the common, and holds out the promise that in Mr. McLellan a new power has arisen."

Daily Chronicle: (Source:The New York Times, May 3, 1905) [9]

"There hitherto were seven wonders of the world. The eighth is added ... that the author of The Belle of New York should be also the author of Leah Kleschna, the strongest piece of sheer stagecraft we have known from any source for years."

Original cast edit

[10][11]

Musical adaptation edit

Composer Harry Lawrence Freeman adapted Leah Kleschna into a grand opera in three acts, composed in 1931. The score was never published, but manuscript copies exist at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts[12] and Columbia University's Rare Book & Manuscript Library.[13]

Sources edit

  1. ^ Leah Kleschna profile, Internet Broadway Database]; accessed March 30, 2018.
  2. ^ The Play-pictorial: Volume 6 – 1905; pg. 56; 1905 via Free Google eBook
  3. ^ Leah Kleschna in London, The New York Times, May 3, 1905.
  4. ^ Leah Kleschna , imdb.com; accessed March 30, 2018.
  5. ^ Orpheum Theatre, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, February 12, 1915, col 1; pg. 4
  6. ^ Mrs. Fiske and Wyndham in Striking New Plays - The Washington Post; December 18, 1904 ;Pg. 46
  7. ^ Brilliant Acting In Mrs. Fiske's New Play-New York Times; December 13, 1904; pg. 9
  8. ^ Leah Kleschna" In London-New York Times; May 3, 1905; pg. 9
  9. ^ Leah Kleschna" In London-New York Times; May 3, 1905; pg. 9
  10. ^ The catalogue of the American Play Co., with original casts, Volume 2 By American Play Company; 1911; pg. 143; 1905 - Free Google eBook
  11. ^ The Play-pictorial: Volume 6 – 1905; pg. 56; 1905 via Free Google eBook
  12. ^ "New York Public Library / Leah Kleschna : grand opera in three acts".
  13. ^ "Columbia University Libraries / H. Lawrence Freeman papers, 1870-1982".

External links edit

May 08, 2024
leah, kleschna, drama, five, acts, mclellan, produced, first, time, broadway, minnie, maddern, fiske, harrison, grey, fiske, manhattan, company, with, design, provided, frank, gates, morange, lena, ashwell, leah, klaschna, play, pictorial, 1905, play, opened, . Leah Kleschna is a drama in five acts by C M S McLellan produced for the first time on Broadway by Minnie Maddern Fiske Harrison Grey Fiske and the Manhattan Company with set design provided by Frank E Gates and E A Morange Lena Ashwell as Leah Klaschna Act V The Play pictorial 1905 The play opened under the direction of Mr Fiske at the Manhattan Theatre on December 12 1904 and had an original run of 131 performances Leah Kleschna returned to Broadway at the same venue in September 1905 for an additional 24 performances and in 1924 for a short run at the Lyric Theatre with Helen Gahagan as Leah 1 Leah Kleschna opened to positive reviews in London on May 2 1905 at the New Theatre with Lena Ashwell in the title role The production by Charles Frohman s company resulted in the threat of legal action by Mrs Fiske who claimed she had purchased the English rights to the play 2 3 On December 10 1913 the silent film Leah Kleschna premiered with Carlotta Nillson playing Leah House Peters as Sylvaine and Hale Clarendon as Kleschna The picture was directed by J Searle Dawley and produced by the Famous Players Film Company 4 A year or so later Nillson played Leah once again in a Daniel Frohman road production of the play 5 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Reception 3 Original cast 4 Musical adaptation 5 Sources 6 External linksSynopsis editAct I Kleschna s Lodgings in Paris Act II Study in Paul Sylvaine s House at St Cloud Act III Same as Act II Act IIII Same as Act I Act V Lettuce field near Wiener Neustadt Austria Leah Kleschna is the daughter of a manipulative master jewel thief who has raised her to follow in his footsteps When Leah is confronted by Paul Sylvaine the owner of the house her father had sent her to rob she is persuaded to contemplate her life as a thief Eventually Leah returns the jewels she stole abandons her father and leaves Paris to work on the country farm she was raised on The story comes to a happy conclusion when a few years later Sylvaine reunites with Leah and a romance ensues 6 Reception editThe New York Times December 13 1904 wrote Evidence of a popular success were not wanting at the Manhattan Theatre last evening when for the first time was seen a new play by C M S McLellan hitherto known to New York playgoers as Hugh Morton author of several comic opera books among which the most notable perhaps was that of The Belle of New York which endured a large measure of success both here and in London On this occasion Mr McLellan has made an excursion into a more serious type of drama But it is only fair to state that such appeal as the play made last night was in large part due to the exceptional brilliant acting of at least five of its chief protagonists One or two of the minor roles might have been better played but making due allowance for the usual conditions of nervous exaggeration incident to a first night it may be said with conviction that the acting of George Arliss John Mason Charles Cartwright William B Mack and the star herself provided an ensemble such as is rarely excelled 7 The Standard Source The New York Times May 3 1905 8 It is a piece far out of the common and holds out the promise that in Mr McLellan a new power has arisen Daily Chronicle Source The New York Times May 3 1905 9 There hitherto were seven wonders of the world The eighth is added that the author of The Belle of New York should be also the author of Leah Kleschna the strongest piece of sheer stagecraft we have known from any source for years Original cast editNew York London Leah Kleschna Minnie Maddern Fiske Lena Ashwell Kleschna a k a Monsieur Garnier Charles Cartwright Charles Warner Paul Sylvaine John B Mason Leonard Boyne Sophie Chaponniere Frances Welstead Betty Callish Schram William B Mack William Devereux General Berton Edward Donnelley J G Grahame Raoul Berton George Arliss Herbert Waring Madame Berton Cecilia Radclyffe Mary Barton Claire Berton Emily Stevens Daisy Markham Valentin Favre Etienne Girardot Bertram Steer Herr Linden Robert V Ferguson A E Drinkwater Anton Pfaff Charles Terry W Hubert Johann H Chapman Ford A W Bascomb Reichmann Monroe Salisbury Henry Williams Baptiste James Morley Reginald Walter Frieda Marie Fedor Dora Gray Charlotte Mary Maddern Mrs Stanislaus Calhaem 10 11 Musical adaptation editComposer Harry Lawrence Freeman adapted Leah Kleschna into a grand opera in three acts composed in 1931 The score was never published but manuscript copies exist at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts 12 and Columbia University s Rare Book amp Manuscript Library 13 Sources edit Leah Kleschna profile Internet Broadway Database accessed March 30 2018 The Play pictorial Volume 6 1905 pg 56 1905 via Free Google eBook Leah Kleschna in London The New York Times May 3 1905 Leah Kleschna imdb com accessed March 30 2018 Orpheum Theatre Fairbanks Daily News Miner February 12 1915 col 1 pg 4 Mrs Fiske and Wyndham in Striking New Plays The Washington Post December 18 1904 Pg 46 Brilliant Acting In Mrs Fiske s New Play New York Times December 13 1904 pg 9 Leah Kleschna In London New York Times May 3 1905 pg 9 Leah Kleschna In London New York Times May 3 1905 pg 9 The catalogue of the American Play Co with original casts Volume 2 By American Play Company 1911 pg 143 1905 Free Google eBook The Play pictorial Volume 6 1905 pg 56 1905 via Free Google eBook New York Public Library Leah Kleschna grand opera in three acts Columbia University Libraries H Lawrence Freeman papers 1870 1982 External links editThe full text of Leah Kleschna at HathiTrust Digital Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leah Kleschna amp oldid 1170008422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.