25. Professor Bernhardi
1
Abraham Sofaer and Bernard
Merefield in the play at the Embassy
Theatre.
box 3175
EXTRACT FROM
EVENING NEWS
Northoliffe House, E.C.4
16 JUNE 1936
DRILLIANT
AeIiNG N. A TII
NEW ILAr
WIT AND IRONT IN
the wicked skill with which the motives
of all the people in it are exposed.
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI“
It would be worth seeing for nothing
else but Mr. Abraham Sofaer’s splendid
performance in the title part; Mr.
ONE advantage still enjoyed by
Sofaer has just about the most beau¬
tiful voice on the London stage, apart
this tight little island of ours
from his acting ability.
is the ability to enjoy plays which
But there is also excellent acting by
arouse so much political and socio¬
Mr. John Garside, Mr. Bernard Mere¬
field, Mr. Ronald Adam, Mr. Alan
logical feeling in the country of their
Wheatley and others.
origin as to be banned there.
The Embassy Theatre has done few
Among such, plays, I understand, is
better things than“ Professor Bern¬
hardi.“
Arthur Schnitzler’s“ Professor Bern¬
J. C. B.
hardi, which the Embassy Theatre
now presents in an English version by
Messrs. Louis Borell and Ronald
Adam.
This is the sort of piece which our
own Mr. Somerset Maugham might
have written if there had been a
Jewish problem in England; it has his
wit and irony, and perhaps even morc
than his breadth of sympathy and
understanding.
Professor Bernhardi is a Jewish
doctor who prevents a Catholic priest
from giving absolution to a dying girl
when he does not wish her to realise
that she is dying.
His motives are humane and non¬
sectarian, but his action gives rise to
a tragi-comic edifice of intrigue and
electioneering, which he, for all his
dignity and common-sense is whiolly
unable to control.
Everybody proceeds to sacrifice the
simple truth in what they conceive to
be the interests of larger and finer
issues. And the author has the ulti¬
mate courage and insight to put Bern¬
hardi himself in the wrong, for not
conforming to custom in an affair in
which he has not strong convictions.
Only martyrs can afford to act on
moral principles, is his message, and
the point about Bernhardi is that he
does not want to go to the stake for
his action.
This play may sound solemn, but it
is immensely entertaining, thanks to#
1
Abraham Sofaer and Bernard
Merefield in the play at the Embassy
Theatre.
box 3175
EXTRACT FROM
EVENING NEWS
Northoliffe House, E.C.4
16 JUNE 1936
DRILLIANT
AeIiNG N. A TII
NEW ILAr
WIT AND IRONT IN
the wicked skill with which the motives
of all the people in it are exposed.
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI“
It would be worth seeing for nothing
else but Mr. Abraham Sofaer’s splendid
performance in the title part; Mr.
ONE advantage still enjoyed by
Sofaer has just about the most beau¬
tiful voice on the London stage, apart
this tight little island of ours
from his acting ability.
is the ability to enjoy plays which
But there is also excellent acting by
arouse so much political and socio¬
Mr. John Garside, Mr. Bernard Mere¬
field, Mr. Ronald Adam, Mr. Alan
logical feeling in the country of their
Wheatley and others.
origin as to be banned there.
The Embassy Theatre has done few
Among such, plays, I understand, is
better things than“ Professor Bern¬
hardi.“
Arthur Schnitzler’s“ Professor Bern¬
J. C. B.
hardi, which the Embassy Theatre
now presents in an English version by
Messrs. Louis Borell and Ronald
Adam.
This is the sort of piece which our
own Mr. Somerset Maugham might
have written if there had been a
Jewish problem in England; it has his
wit and irony, and perhaps even morc
than his breadth of sympathy and
understanding.
Professor Bernhardi is a Jewish
doctor who prevents a Catholic priest
from giving absolution to a dying girl
when he does not wish her to realise
that she is dying.
His motives are humane and non¬
sectarian, but his action gives rise to
a tragi-comic edifice of intrigue and
electioneering, which he, for all his
dignity and common-sense is whiolly
unable to control.
Everybody proceeds to sacrifice the
simple truth in what they conceive to
be the interests of larger and finer
issues. And the author has the ulti¬
mate courage and insight to put Bern¬
hardi himself in the wrong, for not
conforming to custom in an affair in
which he has not strong convictions.
Only martyrs can afford to act on
moral principles, is his message, and
the point about Bernhardi is that he
does not want to go to the stake for
his action.
This play may sound solemn, but it
is immensely entertaining, thanks to#