GOD ON THE STAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 16

GOD ON THE STAGE.

A BLASPHEMY CHARGE. Two actore, an actress and their manager were charged at Vienna with blasphemy, because they performed the roles of God, St. Peter and Magdalene in Walter Hasenclever's comedy, "Marriages are Made in Heaven." The play and the accusation have a remarkable history. Hasenclever's ironic comedy, wae produced successfully in Berlin. In 1929 Max Reinhardt was about to produce it at the Theater in der Josefestadt, and the rehearsals had already started, when the clerical press and some of the Christian Socialists raised vehement protests, and the performance was withdrawn. In June,last:at a workmen's suburb, the Social Democrats gave several private performances of the play, but although an "Olympic" version was used, God being changed into Jupiter, St. Peter into Styx and Magdalene into Venus, the Public Prosecutor intervened. Even- before this, Dr. Eisler, a _ Social Democratic Deputy, complained in the National Assembly of the mode of procedure by the authorities, who, according to the laws of the Austrian Republic, had no right to prohibit the play. It should be mentioned that Walter Hasenclever, the author of the comedy, cannot be prosecuted.