II, Theaterstücke 25, Professor Bernhardi. Komödie in fünf Akten (Ärztestück, Junggesellenstück), Seite 687

25 Professen-Bernhandi

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Ronald Adam's newest venture is to take over
the Phenix Theatre, following on Noel Coward’s
suecesstul season there.
Mr. Adum proposes to begin his scason with the
transfer of? Professor Bernhardi.“ Schnitzler’s play
which has been so successfulat dhie Embassg Theatre.
This will open next Tuesday, Juli' 14th. There
will be few changes in the cnst, which will be headed
by Abraham Sofaer and Ronald Adam himself.
Others in the cast include—ohn Garside, Earle
Grey, Bernard Merefield, Noel Howlett, Lconard
Sachs. Alan Wheatley and Anne Cotton. The English
version of the play is by Ronald Adam and Louis
Borell and it has practically an all-male enst 5f
18 men, there being only one subsidiarg temale
character.
The producer is Heinrich Sehnitzler, son of the
author. This play was banned in Germang and
Austria and the elder Schnitzler, who was also a
phivsician, wrote it with an expert knowledge of the
fücts.
Matinees, whlich will be on Wednesdars and
Fridays, will be at reduced priccs.
box 31/5

EXTRACT FROM
erung Teat
15 000 /050
Os Schnitzler Play at
the Phcenix
DOCTOR AND PATIENT
By Our Dramatie Critie

* PROFESSOR BERNHARo),“ adapted from
Arthur Schnitezler by Louis Borell and!
Ronald Adam. Phoenix Theatre.
A cordial and understanding welcome
awaited Schnitzler’s controversial but
lentertaining as well as sincere Embassy
play of Jewish doctor and Roman Catholic
priest on its promotion to West End
honours at the Phcenix Theatre last night.
The whole thing is so full of sparkling
inntelligence that even those who dis¬
agree most with Schnitzler’s main point
will none the less find the battle well
worth seeing and enjoying.
The vital flaw still remains—that
Schnitzler never allows us to see the girl
to whose death-bed Dr. Bernhardi refuses
to allow the“ consolations of religion.?'
In this way the chief evidence is only
prejudiced hearsay.
But, as comedy, every scene has its
value, and the acting makes almost every
character worth while. Mr. Abraham
Sofaer's sympathetic dignity as Bern¬
hardi has now a perfect foil in Mr. Earle
Grey’s peculiarly good Ebenwald.
Mr. Adam himself has developed his
part as the Minister of Education—with
an additional scene—into a magnificent
study of political bluff. Mr. John Garside,
las the medical Nestor, is another cheery
memory.
Some of the lines still lack a true con¬
versational ring: but there should ben
bienty of time to, Seeabout this.