11. Postscript to the Vienna Burgtheater Crisis

Shortly after these lines were written, the Burgtheater matter entered a new stage. It now seems certain that Paul Schlenther will become director of the Burgtheater. There is nothing to be added to the above statements of principle by this turn of events. If Burckhard is not to remain director of the Burgtheater, there are few who can replace him as excellently as Paul Schlenther. This critic has an all-round knowledge of dramatic literature and the theater. He has a perfect, modern taste. For years he has had the opportunity to gain practical experience in the field in which he is now to be active. The future director of the Burgtheater must possess a ruthless energy. That Paul Schlenther possesses it has been proven by what has leaked to the public from the content of the negotiations with him. This justifies the hope that he will be able to follow only his firm artistic convictions both in the selection of plays to be performed and in personnel matters.

If Schlenther is to be appointed to this important post, his authority and artistic insight in Vienna must be highly valued. And they are right to do so.

In principle, Schlenther is also one of the most suitable personalities. The director of a theater should not be a man who has emerged from the acting and directing profession. Experience teaches that such a man always selects plays according to the demands of acting, not according to the needs of dramatic literature. He will always ask himself: does this play give good roles? This question cannot be the first consideration. The first is: must this play be performed for its literary qualities? Then the actors must be given the task of performing the play in an appropriate manner. The director must always defend the rights of literature against the demands of the acting profession. No actor can do that, no director can do that. Only a man who has a living relationship with literature can do that. Only a dramatic poet or a theater critic can do this. The representatives of dramatic production and the judges of this production are the right people to run the theaters. It is therefore fortunate that Paul Schlenther was chosen as director of the Burgtheater. It would be desirable for the court theaters in particular to imitate the example set in Vienna.

Schlenther will lead the Viennese court theater in the modern sense. He will have to fight hard against the prejudices inherent in the Austrian character. It is not certain that he has a very clear idea of the difficulties that will come his way. But he will have the strength to take up the fight even against those forces whose presence he does not foresee. Perhaps his reign will be even shorter than that of his predecessor. But he will undoubtedly achieve something useful in a short time.