Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The synopsis of the Italian version of this play gave a very poor idea of its dramatic quality, and I regret I was compelled to write about it without having read the translations, owing to the thing being sent in at the last moment before production. It is a fine play in its way, on rather old-fashioned lines of emotion. Apart from the patriotic and political motives it is the old story of husband and wife being estranged for want of mutual understanding, going their own ways and coming together at a moment of crisis. Anna, the wife of count Lamberti, thought he did not love her and took pity, in an innocent way, on his Polish secretary, Cezky. When the latter's love was repulsed by her, driven mad by jealousy he denounced Lamberti to the Austrians for his complicity in a conspiracy against them: in this crisis Lamberti and Anna find out their real love for one another. Cezky commits suicide. That is the emotional story. On the political side we have clearly drawn types of the period, 1854 - the count’s mother on the Austrian side and in league with a Tyrolese-Austrian diplomatist; the fiery young grandson, Giacomo; the band of patriotic conspirators and so forth. There are some fine scenes - one, where the old Countess and her Austrian put pressure on Anna to reveal the names of the conspirators and Lamberti comes unexpectedly to her rescue, and another when Lamberti refuses to run away and calmly awaits his arrest. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street

Licensed On: 13 Mar 1918

License Number: 1455

British Library Reference: LCP1918/5

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66187 S

Performances

Date Theatre Type
19 Mar 1918 Comedy Theatre, London Unknown Licensed Performance