box 31/5
25. Professor Bernhardi
EXTRACT FROM
Oteniser
Attached is a Cutting From
HOTTINGHAM JOURNAL,
Parliament Street, Nottingham.
The Evening Standard
LONDON’S FIRST EVENING NEWSPAPER.
(Sub. rates—13s. gtr.—incl. postage.)
47, SHOE LANE, LONDON,
Date — 46 8E 1936
DATE JU
PROFESSOR BERNHARDT
Realistic Play at the Embassy
Theatre.
Intolerance Theme
(From Dur Own Correspondent).
of Fine Play
London, Monday, Night.
A fine disgust wich political
GIRL in a hospital at Vienna veaches
maneuvring behind race and religious
A
differences on the Continent, is
that happy prelude to certain death, a
inspired by
Arthur Schnitzier's
period when she is unaware of her illness
* Professor Bernhardi' which was
presented at the Embassy Theritre,
and thinks she is recovering. Her Jewish
to-night.
doctor, assuming it his duty to see that she,
This is an English version of an
dies happily, refuses to allow a priest to
Austrian play and if tne play is faith¬
enter the sick-room lest his presence should
ful to the original (as the English
tell the girl she must die.
version is by Louis Borell and Ronald
For that he is persecuted, mouthed at by
Adam) it is not difficult to understand
how a political mountain can grow out
hypocrites, slandered and humiliated, and
of a racial mole hill—at least on the
eventually sent to prison on a charge o.
Continent.
obstructing religion.
Professor Bernhardi, a
Jewish
His one instinctive act is twisted into
director of an Austrian hospital,
party propaganda and material for any¬
refuses to permit a Catholigc priest 10
body who wants to stop him from ful¬
give the last rites to a dying girl
filling his real part in life, that of a
because she does not realise she is
scientist who heals.
dying. Political capital is made ont
of the incident and the Jew is sent to
prison for two months.
The aufhor makes a brave attempt
Schnitaler'’s
Such is the theme of Arth
1
explain everyone's viewpoint—
remarkablz; fne play. Professor Bern¬
polittcians, Catholics and Jews—and
hardi,“ produred at the Embassy Theatre!
the fact that he ’succeeds in putting
everyone in the rüght-assording 10
last night. The fact that this play has
his lights—may not be his foult. Per¬
been banned for a number of years is an
haps everyone was right.
ironic comment on its own vital theme—
John Stobart makes a personal
that the man who speaks truth is an
triumph of ihe tile pert, and a very
unwelcome fellow. For this as far morethan
big cast succeeds in giring the play
a picture of religious persecution: it is an
realistic. atmosphere. It is an in.
indictment of all intolerance, and is still,
teresting, play and throws some new
light on the non-Aryan controversy.
alas, highly topical.
It received last night the presentation it
deserved. From an excellent cast one
couid select perhaps Mr. Abraham Sofaer
ner e
for his strength as the doctor, Mr. Ronald
Adams for his masterly political hypocrite,
Mr. John Garside, Mr. Simon Dale and Mr.
HXTRACT FROM
Peter Ashmore, who made much of a very
D. B.
few lines.
DAILY MIRROR,
Geraldine House, Rolls Buildings, Fetter Land
E.C. 4
1 6 JUlE 1938
LAST NIGHT's
DEN TensOS PIHLST
NEW PLAY:
Title: Professor Bernhardi
to be a Jew, prevents a priest from #ng her.
Author: Arthur Schnitzler.
The incident raises a storm, in which pas¬
Theatre: Embassy.
sions, prejudices, jealousies and intrigues are
unleashed. and a bitter campaign launched
RV DUR DRAMATIC CRITIC
against the doctor.
VIHIS is a new version by Adam and
Is complete obedience to conviction possible
or expedient in an imperfect world? That is
Louis Borell of a play in which the
the question which is argued at length. and
famous Viennese author (who recently
often in an interesting manner.
There are some good performances, notably
died) deals with a controversial sy5ject
by Abraham Sofaer as the Jewish doctor, and
rather in the Shaw manner.
Retiald Adam as his former friend, who,
In a medical institute a girl is dying—but
through his political position becomes involved
B. B.
in the controversy
does not know it. The director, who happens
1
S
EXTRACT FRON
Wrwung Rat¬
M 9
Doctor
Or
O
Pilest?
SCHNITZLER PROBLEM
PLAY
Challenging Production
at the Embassy
By Our Dramatie Critic
PROFESSOR BERNHAkol,“ by Arthur
Schnitzler; English version by Louis
Borell and Ronald Adam. Embassy
Theatre.
A Roman Catholic girl is dying. It is
lagreed that nothing can save her; but
she does not know this. A priest has
been sent for and arrives. The Jewish
idoctor refuses to admit the priest onthe
supposition that this would reveal to the
girl that she was going to die and give
ther a“ fright'’ in her last moments. She
kites
“without the consolations of
religion. Did the doctor do right?
This is the problem set by the late
Arthur Schnitzler, the usually facetions
creator of Anatol, in his obviously
Isincere but contentious play,“ Professor
Bernhardi,’ which had an enthusiastic
reception at the Embassy Theatre last
night.
One has to wait to the end to learn
Schnitzler’s ultimate attitude, which is
that the doctor was“ foolish.“ He did
not understand the psychology of a
devout Roman Catholic patient, who
would rejoice to see a priest in any
circumstances, whatever his coming
might be taken to mean. There have been
cases, indeed, in which lives have been
saved by this.
In between, Schnitzler, who was him¬
self a Jewish doctor, quite naturally
makes Bernhardi (Mr. Abraham Sofaer),
the doctor in the case, an out-and-out
hero, who is sent to prison for what
seems to have been regarded in Austria
as a crime.
DELIGHTFUL LAST ACT
There are times when this point of
view does not prove entirely convincing
—especially as we see nothing of the girl
herself and have no chance of knowing
what her all-important wishes would
have been. But in a delightful last act
Schnitzler, the agreeable satirist, comes
to the rescue of Schnitzler, the Jewish
propagandist, and we finish in friendly
fashion.
From either standpoint the play is at
least challenging and admirably acted.
Mr. Sofaer’s performance as Berhardi
makes one feel that he would be exactly
the man for a really good play about St.
Paul. His dignity, intelligence, and sym¬
pathetic candour were beyond cavil. Mr.
Ronald Adam puts in a happy little per¬
formance as the Minister of Education,
with Mr. Bernard Merefield, excellent
also, as the priest.
25. Professor Bernhardi
EXTRACT FROM
Oteniser
Attached is a Cutting From
HOTTINGHAM JOURNAL,
Parliament Street, Nottingham.
The Evening Standard
LONDON’S FIRST EVENING NEWSPAPER.
(Sub. rates—13s. gtr.—incl. postage.)
47, SHOE LANE, LONDON,
Date — 46 8E 1936
DATE JU
PROFESSOR BERNHARDT
Realistic Play at the Embassy
Theatre.
Intolerance Theme
(From Dur Own Correspondent).
of Fine Play
London, Monday, Night.
A fine disgust wich political
GIRL in a hospital at Vienna veaches
maneuvring behind race and religious
A
differences on the Continent, is
that happy prelude to certain death, a
inspired by
Arthur Schnitzier's
period when she is unaware of her illness
* Professor Bernhardi' which was
presented at the Embassy Theritre,
and thinks she is recovering. Her Jewish
to-night.
doctor, assuming it his duty to see that she,
This is an English version of an
dies happily, refuses to allow a priest to
Austrian play and if tne play is faith¬
enter the sick-room lest his presence should
ful to the original (as the English
tell the girl she must die.
version is by Louis Borell and Ronald
For that he is persecuted, mouthed at by
Adam) it is not difficult to understand
how a political mountain can grow out
hypocrites, slandered and humiliated, and
of a racial mole hill—at least on the
eventually sent to prison on a charge o.
Continent.
obstructing religion.
Professor Bernhardi, a
Jewish
His one instinctive act is twisted into
director of an Austrian hospital,
party propaganda and material for any¬
refuses to permit a Catholigc priest 10
body who wants to stop him from ful¬
give the last rites to a dying girl
filling his real part in life, that of a
because she does not realise she is
scientist who heals.
dying. Political capital is made ont
of the incident and the Jew is sent to
prison for two months.
The aufhor makes a brave attempt
Schnitaler'’s
Such is the theme of Arth
1
explain everyone's viewpoint—
remarkablz; fne play. Professor Bern¬
polittcians, Catholics and Jews—and
hardi,“ produred at the Embassy Theatre!
the fact that he ’succeeds in putting
everyone in the rüght-assording 10
last night. The fact that this play has
his lights—may not be his foult. Per¬
been banned for a number of years is an
haps everyone was right.
ironic comment on its own vital theme—
John Stobart makes a personal
that the man who speaks truth is an
triumph of ihe tile pert, and a very
unwelcome fellow. For this as far morethan
big cast succeeds in giring the play
a picture of religious persecution: it is an
realistic. atmosphere. It is an in.
indictment of all intolerance, and is still,
teresting, play and throws some new
light on the non-Aryan controversy.
alas, highly topical.
It received last night the presentation it
deserved. From an excellent cast one
couid select perhaps Mr. Abraham Sofaer
ner e
for his strength as the doctor, Mr. Ronald
Adams for his masterly political hypocrite,
Mr. John Garside, Mr. Simon Dale and Mr.
HXTRACT FROM
Peter Ashmore, who made much of a very
D. B.
few lines.
DAILY MIRROR,
Geraldine House, Rolls Buildings, Fetter Land
E.C. 4
1 6 JUlE 1938
LAST NIGHT's
DEN TensOS PIHLST
NEW PLAY:
Title: Professor Bernhardi
to be a Jew, prevents a priest from #ng her.
Author: Arthur Schnitzler.
The incident raises a storm, in which pas¬
Theatre: Embassy.
sions, prejudices, jealousies and intrigues are
unleashed. and a bitter campaign launched
RV DUR DRAMATIC CRITIC
against the doctor.
VIHIS is a new version by Adam and
Is complete obedience to conviction possible
or expedient in an imperfect world? That is
Louis Borell of a play in which the
the question which is argued at length. and
famous Viennese author (who recently
often in an interesting manner.
There are some good performances, notably
died) deals with a controversial sy5ject
by Abraham Sofaer as the Jewish doctor, and
rather in the Shaw manner.
Retiald Adam as his former friend, who,
In a medical institute a girl is dying—but
through his political position becomes involved
B. B.
in the controversy
does not know it. The director, who happens
1
S
EXTRACT FRON
Wrwung Rat¬
M 9
Doctor
Or
O
Pilest?
SCHNITZLER PROBLEM
PLAY
Challenging Production
at the Embassy
By Our Dramatie Critic
PROFESSOR BERNHAkol,“ by Arthur
Schnitzler; English version by Louis
Borell and Ronald Adam. Embassy
Theatre.
A Roman Catholic girl is dying. It is
lagreed that nothing can save her; but
she does not know this. A priest has
been sent for and arrives. The Jewish
idoctor refuses to admit the priest onthe
supposition that this would reveal to the
girl that she was going to die and give
ther a“ fright'’ in her last moments. She
kites
“without the consolations of
religion. Did the doctor do right?
This is the problem set by the late
Arthur Schnitzler, the usually facetions
creator of Anatol, in his obviously
Isincere but contentious play,“ Professor
Bernhardi,’ which had an enthusiastic
reception at the Embassy Theatre last
night.
One has to wait to the end to learn
Schnitzler’s ultimate attitude, which is
that the doctor was“ foolish.“ He did
not understand the psychology of a
devout Roman Catholic patient, who
would rejoice to see a priest in any
circumstances, whatever his coming
might be taken to mean. There have been
cases, indeed, in which lives have been
saved by this.
In between, Schnitzler, who was him¬
self a Jewish doctor, quite naturally
makes Bernhardi (Mr. Abraham Sofaer),
the doctor in the case, an out-and-out
hero, who is sent to prison for what
seems to have been regarded in Austria
as a crime.
DELIGHTFUL LAST ACT
There are times when this point of
view does not prove entirely convincing
—especially as we see nothing of the girl
herself and have no chance of knowing
what her all-important wishes would
have been. But in a delightful last act
Schnitzler, the agreeable satirist, comes
to the rescue of Schnitzler, the Jewish
propagandist, and we finish in friendly
fashion.
From either standpoint the play is at
least challenging and admirably acted.
Mr. Sofaer’s performance as Berhardi
makes one feel that he would be exactly
the man for a really good play about St.
Paul. His dignity, intelligence, and sym¬
pathetic candour were beyond cavil. Mr.
Ronald Adam puts in a happy little per¬
formance as the Minister of Education,
with Mr. Bernard Merefield, excellent
also, as the priest.