Mr. Duerrenmatt Buys New Shoes

Extract

The returns are in. A Swiss playwright has been “discovered.” A year ago the name of Friedrich Duerrenmatt suddenly studded the hopeful theatrical gossip of the alert drinkers in the Salisbury, Cranbourne, and Arts Theatre. No director worthy of the name “Peter” was without curiosity. To acquire the production rights for The Visit of the Old Lady would be considered a virtual coup d'état for any ambitious directorial career. Travelers from the continent regaled us with stories: one had seen the play in Munich with Therese Giehse, a famous Mother Courage seen here in Benedek's film Kinder, Mutter, und Ein General; another had seen the great Kathe Dorsch as the Old Lady; yet another the Paris production (not a notable success) with that delicate, withered little bundle remembered from many French films, Mme. Sylvie.