box 31/5
25. Professor Bernhandr
#ntting from—The
Now
Dailn Gelegraptt ia.
1 6 JNE 1936193
Date of Issue
SCHNITZLER PLAY AT!
THE EMBASSY
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI
Be W. A. Darlington
Schnitzler’s“ Professor Bernhardi, ing
new and workmmanlike translation by
Louis Borell and Ronald Adam, opened last;
night at the Emnbassy.
It is an interesting play, for it sets thef
andience argning abeut its rights and
wrongs. And it is an incisive satire on thel
text.* Don't lact on prineinle—yon are
certai to be misunderstood.“
Viennese
Professer Bernhardi is
physician who forbids a priest to
adminster the last rites of the Catholie
Church ton dring patient on the ground;
that it will hasten her end.
Bernhnrit stunks smiln # Pnter.1

—
because he is a Jew, racial. religious and
92
political quarrels arise. The affair is mag¬
mified and distorted, and Bernhardi has to

stand a trial. Publie opinion elects to
e we
5
believe the evidence of a hysterical nurseg
Hagainst that of half-a-dozen more sober?
bwitnesses (including the priest himself),
and Bernhardi goes to prison.
This sterg wees Schmteler plentg of!
Pehance for a fantasia on the theine of
hiuman failings. Dr. Bernhardi himself is
Pshown as a completelg honest man—and
Stherefore a verg uncomfortable person to
have abont. There is a good scene in
hich he and the priest, respecting each
Tother as men, fail to find a wag across the
Tabres which divides their wag's of thought.
Abrahamn Sofaer (Bernhardi) and Ber¬
nurd Merefield plaged this well, thoughi,
Mr. Meretield wouid have been better if
Dhe had spoken up more. Ronald Adam
gace u neat skeich of a politician with a
gift for justifging private disloyalties on
the plea of publie expedlieney.