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: 21 Mik 1936
Stage Sidelighis
By T. W. MERCER-
SA
WTEINNN
with the lid off
[ONE swallow does not create a to Shavian or Ibsenish treatment. His
summer, and one new produc- own method not infrequently betrays
tion is hardly enough to fill a week, a hint of both. Nevertheless, his sub¬
Yet Arthur Schnitzler's brilliant ject, form, and manner all alike seem
Professor Bernhardi, pre- Proper to unquiet Vienna.
play,
On its surface the story seems both
sented at the Embassy, is so full of
clear and simple. A girl is dying in aß
exciting drama that I am quite un¬
Viennese hospital, where the rate of“
conscious of any shortage of material.
mortality appears unduly high. Only
* Professor Bernhardi?’ cannot be one thing can be done for the dying
labelled or ticketed. It is neither a patient. She can be left to die in
peace.
comedy nor a tragedy; and I will not
Enters a Roman Catholic priest de¬
demean it by calling it a problem
termined to administer the Last Sacra¬
play.
ment, and so give the girl thet
It is a large slice of present-day
final peace of God. Professor Bern¬
politics lifted direct from the realm
hardi is equally determined that her 5
of actuality and presented unaltered
last moments shall not be unreason¬
in the world of the theatre.
ably disturbed—and it is the doctor
who has his way.
Admirably done into English by
Ronald Adam and Louis Borell, the
But Modern Science and the
play has truth written all over it.
Catholic Church have clashed. The
Whether its author succeeds in trans¬
clash immediately develops into a
muting that obvious truth into im¬
mediately precious wisdom is a ques¬
political controversy. Austrians at¬
tion I
will not even attempt to
tack the Jewish doctor. Catholics“
answer.
denounce the rationalists.
The story on which Arthur Schnitzler
The Government cannot possibly re-
builds his play would be exactly suited
main an impartial spectator of events)
that threaten to destroy the State and
smash the Constitution.
EXPERT EXPONENTS
BERNHARDI has to stand a
D public trial on a charge of“ re¬
ligious obstruction.“ He is sentenced
to a term of imprisonment. But these
happenings are no more than the
framework of the play. Its substance
is the clash of opposing principles.
Its drama is its revelation that all
sorts and conditions of men behave
as party politicians.
Not all the politicians plax the
N* Professor Bernhardi“ ut the
Party game in Parliaments. They in¬
Embassy Theatre—Abraham Sofder
(est the Church and are present in
und Ronald Adam.
every scientific institute. Everywhere
the politician survives by diluting bis
eternal principles in the name of ex¬
pediency. All argue like expert;
sophists, and the author allows each
one to uphold his case.
This close debating animales the
play. I'never expect to hear more
expert exponents of their respective
creeds than Abraham Sofaer, who
states the casr for scientific rational¬
ism; Bernard Meredith, who cham¬
pions the Church; and Ronald Adam,
who here plays the perfect politician.
The only woman in the play is a
nurse, whose presence is unneces¬
Sary.
The politician's final lines are un¬
diluted cynicism. In so many words
he tells tormented Professor Beinhardi
he has behaved like“ a damn fool.?
Possibly all men of“ principle“ so
behave in times of crisis. But that
final dash of cynicism only enhances
the flavour of the play.