Viennese Interlude (1959)
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Colin Wilson
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
No
14 December 1959
14 December 1959
19 December 1959
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
No
14 December 1959
14 December 1959
19 December 1959
Director:
Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Stephen Joseph
Ann Hughesdon
Ann Hughesdon
Character
Dr Otto Steinmetz
Franz, a waiter
August Strindberg
Dr Otto Steinmetz
Franz, a waiter
August Strindberg
Actor
David Campton
Paul Levy
William Elmhirst
David Campton
Paul Levy
William Elmhirst
Why is this play significant?
This play marked Stephen Joseph's only misguided attempt to use a 'star' to promote Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. Colin Wilson was a writer who had found extraordinary success with his philosophical work, The Outsider. Knowing Wilson was interested in playwriting and hoping to capitalise win his success, Stephen commissioned Wilson to write a play for Scarborough. Sadly, the one act play was very poorly received and by the time it was produced, Wilson's star had waned.Notes
○ Colin Wilson was - at the time - a noted author due to the extraordinary success of his philosophical book, The Outsider. Although he had written several plays prior to Viennese Interlude, this was his first to be produced. The company's Artistic Director Stephen Joseph believed an association with Wilson would provide good publicity and a higher profile, particularly if presented in London. Sadly, this did not happen and Wilson's star shone briefly as his follow-up to The Outsider was not a great success.
○ Viennese Interlude was a short one act play presented without an interval.
○ An original programme credits Alan Ayckbourn in the part of the waiter Franz. However, the role was actually played by Paul Levy due to Alan Ayckbourn being called up for (a short-lived) National Service. He would later play the role in London in March 1960.
○ The short play imagines a meeting between the famed psychiatrist Otto Steinmetz and the writer August Strindberg.
○ Viennese Interlude was presented as a double-bill with August Strindberg's Miss Julie.
○ Stephen Joseph commissioned Wilson to write a full-length play for the company and although one was advertised in the 1963 season, Necessary Doubt, it was later withdrawn and never produced. Wilson never wrote a play called Necessary Doubt but it was the title for one of his genre novels.
○ Viennese Interlude was a short one act play presented without an interval.
○ An original programme credits Alan Ayckbourn in the part of the waiter Franz. However, the role was actually played by Paul Levy due to Alan Ayckbourn being called up for (a short-lived) National Service. He would later play the role in London in March 1960.
○ The short play imagines a meeting between the famed psychiatrist Otto Steinmetz and the writer August Strindberg.
○ Viennese Interlude was presented as a double-bill with August Strindberg's Miss Julie.
○ Stephen Joseph commissioned Wilson to write a full-length play for the company and although one was advertised in the 1963 season, Necessary Doubt, it was later withdrawn and never produced. Wilson never wrote a play called Necessary Doubt but it was the title for one of his genre novels.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.