»The Play’s the Thing«
Cabinet Shaken by Amorous Drama
M. P.s at Blows
From Our Special Correspondent
Vienna, February 12. – A drama of tempestuous love has brought about what
verges on a Ministerial crisis here, and events during the last two days in that
august body, the Austrian Parliament, have been
themselves dramatic.
On Thursday Parliament heard the amazing news
that the current deficit exceeds 42 milliards of crowns. One would have supposed that
this disclosure of appalling bankruptcy would have set the Assembly agog. But no.
Members took it calmly – in fact, with bored indifference. There were a few stifled
yawns, a brief mechanical debate, and the House passed to another topic.
Forbidden
Yesterday the same Parliament was informed that the play, »Reigen,« which Arthur
Schnitzler wrote 24 years ago, and which is now being produced in Vienna, has been forbidden by the Minister of the
Interior, because it contains certain amorous scenes which exceed what this Clerical
Government considers to be the limits of decorum.
No sooner had the subject been broached than a veritable maelstrom engulfed the
House. M. P.s pounded on benches, whistles and catcalls echoed from the opposing
sides. Clerical and Socialist members moved toward each other with brandished fists
and blows were exchanged.
Fiery Cross of Class War
Cries of »the Minister of the Interior must go!« »Out with the rascal!« were
heard.
The Minister, Herr Glanz, replied by
describing the Socialists as the protectors of indecency, to which Otto Bauer objected vociferously. Karl Seitz (Majority Socialist), an ex-President of the Republic, declared that if the
Clericals are determined to employ violence the Socialists will retort with forcible
resistance.
The admission of the State’s insolvency had left the Government intact, but the
Social Democrats, who have humbly accepted the miserable lot of the Austrian worker as inevitable, are heard issuing a summons
for armed class conflict because adultery is committed on a darkened theatrical
stage.
Packed Houses Now
The Minister’s decree has been defied by the Socialist Mayor of Vienna, who has given orders that Schnitzler’s production shall proceed
unmolested. And so, naturally the play, which had been presented to modest audiences
of aesthetes, is now being given before packed houses.
»Is the author responsible for the public?« exclaimed Dr. Schnitzler, when I
interviewed him. »Shall I stand at the door and psycho-analyse each person entering
the theatre to determine whether he is impelled there by erotic motives?«
»Reigen«, I may add, was first performed last year in Russia, in the Moscow, Petrograd, and Irkutsk theatres.
