Liebele
S. 1
box 11/4
T. Mornung Phal
6.Vog.
THE MORN.
awch
HIS MAJESTYS.
THE AFTERNOON THEATRE.
NLIGHT O° LOVE“
(“ LiEBELpr.*')
By Aurnon Schwirzten.
Translated by G. VALENTINE WILLTANS.
Fritz Lobheimer Mr. Hxnky AINLEY,
Hans Weiring Mr. H. R. Hiosrr.
Theodor Kaiser Mr. CHARLES MAUDE.
A Gentleman Mr. JAMES HEARN.
Miss MARGAREr HALSTAN.
Christine
Miss MARGAREr BussE.
Mizi Schlager
Lina Miss Hrrry KENvoN.
Katherine Binder, Miss Sypser FAIRBROTHER.
Act I.—Fritz’s Chambers.
Act II.—Christine’s Room.
Act III.—Christine's Room, two days later.
Time: The Present—Vienna.
So far, with the exception of two plays which
were none too successful, the Afternoon Theatre
has trusted to plays which have been tried else¬
where. Yesterday, however, was given the first
of three matinées—the others are on Tuesday and
Thursday next—of“ Light o’ Love, a transla¬
tion of“ Liebelei, an early play of Schnitzler’s
dating back to 1896. Sehnitzler’s work is not
unknown in this country; one or twoof his shorter
pieces have been produced by societies, the most
striking being that, of which the English title is
" In Hospital,“ produced at the Court some three
years since.“ Light o' Love'' is a story of
student life in Vienna. Fritz has turned from
Christine, the daughter of Hans Weiring, an old
violinist attached to the theatre, to a married
Iady whose name is not disclosed. Her husband
discovers Fritz’s letters, calls on him, and
demands satisfaction. There is a duel, in which
Fritz is killed; his body is buried before
Christine learns what he really meant when he
told her he was going away fe: a day in the
country. He was to üight a duel, and it is, of
course, a special bitterness that the duel was not
on her acconnt but on that of the woman who has
supplanted her. Her father, remembering the
joylessness of his sister’s upbringing, seeks to
comfort Christine; he will not cast her out; they
will be more to each other now than ever before.
Christine is not to be comforted and breaks
away. Her father looking after her as she goes
down the street says that she will never return.
The only other characters in the piece are Fritz's
ehum Theodor Kaiser; Fritz’s lady friend Mizi
Schlager, a much less reflned girl than Christine;
achild, Lina; and Katherine Binder, a gossiping,
prying neighbour of the Weirings. Only the
third act is dramatie, the first two acts depicting
in leisurely fashion the life of the Latin Quarter
of Vienna. The play is produced by Herr Maxi
Behrend, and one mayassume that the atmosphere
of the original play has been the better preserved.
If so, one can only say that that atmosphere is
somewhat oppressive. Every nation has its oun
way of enjoying itself. But the spectacle of one
nation endeavouring to enjoy itself in another
nation’s way is rarely exhilarating. Hence it is
quite possible that“ Light o’ Love?’ would have
been better company had our actors been given a
free hand, had the Viennese atmosphere been
left to take care of itself. One wonders, again,
whether the play is well cast. The story suggests
Bohemian lightheartedness, culminating in
tragedy for the one thoroughly sincere character,
Christine. Now, whatever Mr. Henry Ainley
may be, he is not lighthearted. Recklessness
does not become him, and if his Fritz is reckless
after the Viennese fashion one can only say that
Viennese recklessness is uncommonly like English
dejection and despondeney. Mr. Ainley’s per¬
formance is, of course, thoughtful, or it would not
be Mr. Ainley, and in many ways accomplished.
Tet one feels that many an inferior artist might
betterservethe play. Mr. Charles Maude has, on
S. 1
box 11/4
T. Mornung Phal
6.Vog.
THE MORN.
awch
HIS MAJESTYS.
THE AFTERNOON THEATRE.
NLIGHT O° LOVE“
(“ LiEBELpr.*')
By Aurnon Schwirzten.
Translated by G. VALENTINE WILLTANS.
Fritz Lobheimer Mr. Hxnky AINLEY,
Hans Weiring Mr. H. R. Hiosrr.
Theodor Kaiser Mr. CHARLES MAUDE.
A Gentleman Mr. JAMES HEARN.
Miss MARGAREr HALSTAN.
Christine
Miss MARGAREr BussE.
Mizi Schlager
Lina Miss Hrrry KENvoN.
Katherine Binder, Miss Sypser FAIRBROTHER.
Act I.—Fritz’s Chambers.
Act II.—Christine’s Room.
Act III.—Christine's Room, two days later.
Time: The Present—Vienna.
So far, with the exception of two plays which
were none too successful, the Afternoon Theatre
has trusted to plays which have been tried else¬
where. Yesterday, however, was given the first
of three matinées—the others are on Tuesday and
Thursday next—of“ Light o’ Love, a transla¬
tion of“ Liebelei, an early play of Schnitzler’s
dating back to 1896. Sehnitzler’s work is not
unknown in this country; one or twoof his shorter
pieces have been produced by societies, the most
striking being that, of which the English title is
" In Hospital,“ produced at the Court some three
years since.“ Light o' Love'' is a story of
student life in Vienna. Fritz has turned from
Christine, the daughter of Hans Weiring, an old
violinist attached to the theatre, to a married
Iady whose name is not disclosed. Her husband
discovers Fritz’s letters, calls on him, and
demands satisfaction. There is a duel, in which
Fritz is killed; his body is buried before
Christine learns what he really meant when he
told her he was going away fe: a day in the
country. He was to üight a duel, and it is, of
course, a special bitterness that the duel was not
on her acconnt but on that of the woman who has
supplanted her. Her father, remembering the
joylessness of his sister’s upbringing, seeks to
comfort Christine; he will not cast her out; they
will be more to each other now than ever before.
Christine is not to be comforted and breaks
away. Her father looking after her as she goes
down the street says that she will never return.
The only other characters in the piece are Fritz's
ehum Theodor Kaiser; Fritz’s lady friend Mizi
Schlager, a much less reflned girl than Christine;
achild, Lina; and Katherine Binder, a gossiping,
prying neighbour of the Weirings. Only the
third act is dramatie, the first two acts depicting
in leisurely fashion the life of the Latin Quarter
of Vienna. The play is produced by Herr Maxi
Behrend, and one mayassume that the atmosphere
of the original play has been the better preserved.
If so, one can only say that that atmosphere is
somewhat oppressive. Every nation has its oun
way of enjoying itself. But the spectacle of one
nation endeavouring to enjoy itself in another
nation’s way is rarely exhilarating. Hence it is
quite possible that“ Light o’ Love?’ would have
been better company had our actors been given a
free hand, had the Viennese atmosphere been
left to take care of itself. One wonders, again,
whether the play is well cast. The story suggests
Bohemian lightheartedness, culminating in
tragedy for the one thoroughly sincere character,
Christine. Now, whatever Mr. Henry Ainley
may be, he is not lighthearted. Recklessness
does not become him, and if his Fritz is reckless
after the Viennese fashion one can only say that
Viennese recklessness is uncommonly like English
dejection and despondeney. Mr. Ainley’s per¬
formance is, of course, thoughtful, or it would not
be Mr. Ainley, and in many ways accomplished.
Tet one feels that many an inferior artist might
betterservethe play. Mr. Charles Maude has, on