Habimah Opens Its Performances in New York: is Highly Praised

Habimah, Israel’s National Theater, opened its American run here last night with S. Anskys famous classic, “The Dybbuk,” in Hebrew, receiving tremendously enthusiastic audience reactions and professional criticism that almost uniformly praised the cast and the production. In theatrical circles, Habimah has been greeted with vast enthusiasm and respect as one of the greatest repertory groups in the world.

Two of New York’s three top critics, Howard Taubman of the Times and Richard Watts, of the Post, wrote highly favorable reviews Mr. Taubman spoke of the production’s “impressive consistency and integration of style,” declaring that “the entire company deserves to be cited.” Mr. Watts said the production “captures a stylized mood in acting, movement and makeup, giving the story the eerie quality of mystic folklore.” He highlighted the play’s “abounding picturesque ritual and vivid movement” which he said “was especially striking” in some scenes.

All of the critics had high praise for young Eva Lion who plays the bride. Special mention was also given in most of the reviews to the acting of Jehuda Efroni as the yeshiva student. Ari Kutai as the Messenger, Shmuel Rodensky as Sender, Shimon Yinkel as Rabbi Azriel, and Bat-Ami as the bride’s grandmother. In the Herald Tri-Sune, Walter Kerr wrote the coolest of New York’s reviews, being dissatisfied with the lighting and the sets–while others praised the sets very highly.

After concluding its current engagement in “The Dybbuk,” on February 22, Habimah is scheduled to do two modern Israeli plays here–“Children of the Shadows” and “Each Had Six Wings.” Then the company will go on a tour of some of the principal cities in this country and Canada.