Bertha
Kalich (1974-1939), born as
Beylke Kalakh in Lemberg,
Galicia (now Lviv, Ukraine), was primarily known for her
dramatic roles
in Yiddish theatre in New York City. Originally
brought to America by David Kessler, her roles were mainly
"women of the world..."
Kalich made her reputation in
Yiddish theatre playing in A Doll's House and
Fedora. She also followed in the
path of Sara Bernhardt, Charlotte Cushman, and other
actresses when she played the title role of Shakespeare's
Hamlet.
The famed Yiddish actor Herman Yablokoff stated of her:
"Madam Kalich was quite tall. She was stately, beautiful
and possessed of a speaking voice that was likened to the
deep, mellow tones of a cello." After performing with
Bertha Kalich he realized that "the magic of Bertha Kalich
was truly outstanding. Her diction in delivering
monologues, her laughter, her weeping were all modulated
so masterfully that it could well have been a virtuoso
playing on his instrument--the cello..."
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