25. ProfessonBenha
EXTRACT FROM
NEWS CHRONICLE
72-78 Fleet Street, E.C.4
Date —
—
THEATRE
DOCTOR AND A
Pk.-51
PLAY ON JEWV
HATRED
PROFESSOR BERNHARDl.“ By Arthur
Schnitzle
EMBASSY THEATRE
By the Drama Critie
This play is very different from
the famous Anatol dialogues,
and yet the Schnitzler irony and
wit inform the whole of it.
Atthe beginning we imagine we are
to see a dramatic clash between Medi¬
eine and the Church.
Professor Bernhardi, director of the
Elizabeth Institute, politely and firmly
prohibits a Roman Catholic priest from
entering a ward and consoling a dying
girl with his absolution.
UNAWARE SHE IS DVING
The point is she does not know she
is dying, and the doctor thinks his
duty lies in keeping the knowledge
from her the priest naturally thinks
it his duty to save her soul.
As Bernhardi is a Jew the incident
leads to all kind of complications, and
the majority of members of the board
vote for his resignation.
There is even a fuss in Parliament,
and the Professor is tried on religious
grounds and is imprisoned.
The play has -uddenly become
political and deals in the main with
the Jew hatred in Vienna.
AGREAT GULF
There is a long scene between thel
Priest and Professor Bernhardi when
released from prison, but it’s only
upshot is that a great gulf divides the
Jew from the Roman Catholic.
Abraham Sofaer in the leading part
is immense. This actor is always
good but seldom has the part worthy
of his powers. All the professors and!
doctors are distinctly characterized by
askilful cast, and the whole play, if a
trifle pointless. claims your attention
from beginning to end.
E. A. BAUGHAN.
box 31/5
HXTRAOT FROM
DAILY MAIL,
Northeliffe House, E.C.4.
7 6 JUNE 1936
Date
VIVID
ACTING IN
SCilWTZLER
PLAY
By CLIVE MACMANUS
DROFESSOR BERNHARDI
was a Jew. A Roman
Catholic patient in his hospital
was dying, but did not know it.
Apriest was refused admittance
because the doctor thought the
sight of him would shorten the life of
the patient. So Dr. Bernhardi was
sent to prison for two months for
##
religious obstruction,“ and all Vienna
was in a ferment.
That very briefly is the story of
* Professor Bernhardi,“ produced at
the Embassy Theatre last night.
It is less a play than a talking
match, but the author is Arthur
Schnitzler and the talk is very good.
An appreciative audience buzzed with
discussion during the intervals.
A long cast with only one woman in
it (and she was seen for only five
minutes) was headed by Mr. Abraham
Sofaer, who made the doctor a digni¬
fied and appealing figure.
Mr. Ronald Adam presented a poli¬
tician whose very sophistries seemed
n
convincing. Mr. Bernard Meredith
was a priest of character, intelligent,
gentle, and impressive.
The scene between priest and doctor,
in which they discussed the basic in¬
eident of the play, was beautifully
played.
Mr. Heinrich Schnitzler, who pro¬
duced
Professor Bernhardi,' was
warmly received at the close.
Aude. Bgs
EXTRACT FROM
NEWS CHRONICLE
72-78 Fleet Street, E.C.4
Date —
—
THEATRE
DOCTOR AND A
Pk.-51
PLAY ON JEWV
HATRED
PROFESSOR BERNHARDl.“ By Arthur
Schnitzle
EMBASSY THEATRE
By the Drama Critie
This play is very different from
the famous Anatol dialogues,
and yet the Schnitzler irony and
wit inform the whole of it.
Atthe beginning we imagine we are
to see a dramatic clash between Medi¬
eine and the Church.
Professor Bernhardi, director of the
Elizabeth Institute, politely and firmly
prohibits a Roman Catholic priest from
entering a ward and consoling a dying
girl with his absolution.
UNAWARE SHE IS DVING
The point is she does not know she
is dying, and the doctor thinks his
duty lies in keeping the knowledge
from her the priest naturally thinks
it his duty to save her soul.
As Bernhardi is a Jew the incident
leads to all kind of complications, and
the majority of members of the board
vote for his resignation.
There is even a fuss in Parliament,
and the Professor is tried on religious
grounds and is imprisoned.
The play has -uddenly become
political and deals in the main with
the Jew hatred in Vienna.
AGREAT GULF
There is a long scene between thel
Priest and Professor Bernhardi when
released from prison, but it’s only
upshot is that a great gulf divides the
Jew from the Roman Catholic.
Abraham Sofaer in the leading part
is immense. This actor is always
good but seldom has the part worthy
of his powers. All the professors and!
doctors are distinctly characterized by
askilful cast, and the whole play, if a
trifle pointless. claims your attention
from beginning to end.
E. A. BAUGHAN.
box 31/5
HXTRAOT FROM
DAILY MAIL,
Northeliffe House, E.C.4.
7 6 JUNE 1936
Date
VIVID
ACTING IN
SCilWTZLER
PLAY
By CLIVE MACMANUS
DROFESSOR BERNHARDI
was a Jew. A Roman
Catholic patient in his hospital
was dying, but did not know it.
Apriest was refused admittance
because the doctor thought the
sight of him would shorten the life of
the patient. So Dr. Bernhardi was
sent to prison for two months for
##
religious obstruction,“ and all Vienna
was in a ferment.
That very briefly is the story of
* Professor Bernhardi,“ produced at
the Embassy Theatre last night.
It is less a play than a talking
match, but the author is Arthur
Schnitzler and the talk is very good.
An appreciative audience buzzed with
discussion during the intervals.
A long cast with only one woman in
it (and she was seen for only five
minutes) was headed by Mr. Abraham
Sofaer, who made the doctor a digni¬
fied and appealing figure.
Mr. Ronald Adam presented a poli¬
tician whose very sophistries seemed
n
convincing. Mr. Bernard Meredith
was a priest of character, intelligent,
gentle, and impressive.
The scene between priest and doctor,
in which they discussed the basic in¬
eident of the play, was beautifully
played.
Mr. Heinrich Schnitzler, who pro¬
duced
Professor Bernhardi,' was
warmly received at the close.
Aude. Bgs