Tu
B
25. ProfesserEnhandi
M
Daiel
box 31/5
EXTRAGT PRON
h Scere
Jo 9•36
Date .
Professor Bernhardi.
—HIs play by Arthur Schnitzler, a
4
talented Jew, first made good at

the Embassy (Hampstead), now it
is at the Phenix and is making better.
I believe that they were a bit afraid of
it at first because it concerns the Jew and
the Roman Catholic, and the antipathy
which is age-long between them. In
Germany to-day I am certain it would
never have been allowed, because of the
anti-Semietic feeling; in this country we
are much larger-minded and recognise no
frontiers and no religious prejudice where
Art is concerned—within, of course, certain
well defined and obvious canons. This piay
is good art, very dramatic and extremely
well acted.
Bernhardi, a brilliant Jewish surgeon in
control of a Viennese hospital, forbids a
priest to bring the last rites to a dying girl
who blissfully imagines herseif to be
destined tolive. Ifshe secs the priest, she
will take fright and die miserably. That is
the surgeon’s argument, and the fact of
its soundness docs not prevent the Catholic
faction from stirring up every kind of ani¬
mosity against Bernhardi, ousting him
from his post and even throwing him into
Malfalenschranfelcfnfalschfaufer
prison in a triumphant wave of anti-Semictic
jealousy and bigotry.
The main point which is stressed is this,
that Bernhardi is a surgeon first, a Jew¬
4
sccond. I think it is a wonderful play.


Mr. Abraham Sofaer, himself a Jew, plays
Bernhardi and the high seal of excellence
has been most worthily bestowed upon him
for a magnificent performance.

BEEE