Hadda Pada | Page 2

in
Denmark in 1912, while he was still a student at the University of
Copenhagen. Originally written in Icelandic, it was translated into
Danish and submitted to the Royal Theatre, a fortress difficult of access
to the newcomer. This theatre did not even fully recognise such masters
as Ibsen and Bjornson until they stood on the heights of achievement.
Our author was but twenty- four years old, unknown, and offering his
first play.

From the outset "Hadda Padda" caused the directors unexpected trouble.
It took them four times as long as usual to come to a decision. They
finally accepted it "on account of its literary merit," but without any
obligation on their part to produce it, as the scenery of the last act was
of "such daring and dangerous character."
There was but one thing to do and Mr. Kamban did it. His play was
published by Gyldendal, the most distinguished of the Scandinavian
publishers. He sent a copy to Georg Brandes, as do thousands of
authors from all parts of the world. Next evening he received a letter
from the great critic, telling him that he had read the play, and asking
Mr. Kamban to call on him at his home. A few days later, when he
spent four hours with Brandes at and after table, the latter told him that
he received on an average twelve volumes a day from different authors
of every nationality, and were he to do nothing else, he could not read
even one twelfth of them. "But I am going to write an article about your
play," he concluded. Thus was Mr. Kamban's place as an artist assured.
In spite of the unanimous recognition the play received from the press,
the theatre still refused to produce it, as nearly all the authorities agreed
that it would be "hardly possible to stage." Finally, the new chief of the
theatre, Count F. Brockenhuus- Schack, determined to carry the matter
through. The author then undertook to stage the play, designed the
scenes, and arranged the mise-en-scene to the minutest detail. On
November 14, 1914, the first performance took place. He sat in the
latticed author's box. The first three acts went smoothly, interrupted at
times by applause. The fourth act, the one talked about and difficult,
was still to come. The fate of the play depended on this act. The curtain
rose, and with the slowness of life the act proceeded. The silence of the
audience was uncanny. Toward the end, the foremost theatrical critic of
the city rose to his feet and raised his hand as if in horror. The curtain
fell. Not a hand stirred. A whole minute elapsed and Mr. Kamban left
the box, refusing to himself to admit the failure. Then suddenly a wild
enthusiasm broke loose and lasted several minutes. According to the
regulations--unique in Europe--of the Royal Theatre, the curtain may
not be raised for any author or actor except at a jubilee. The public,
however, refused to leave the theatre till the manager had escorted Mr.
Kamban to the dais in front of the curtain, and there he expressed his
thanks to the audience.

After four months in Copenhagen, "Hadda Padda" toured the
Scandinavian Countries, and preparations were being made for its
production in Germany, when the war broke out, and the German
theatres were indefinitely closed to foreign dramatists. That is why, two
years ago, he came to America.
K.

CHARACTERS
SKULI, the town judge. LADY ANNA, his wife. HRAFNHILD, called
HADDA PADDA; KRISTRUN; their daughters. LITTLE SKULI, their
grandson. RANNVEIG, Hadda Padda's nurse. THE SHERIFF OF
BREIDABOL. LADY MARGARET, his wife. INGOLF, law student;
OLOF; their children. STEINDOR, Olof's husband, the sheriff's
secretary. SIGGA; DODDI; MAGGA; Steindor's and Olof's children.
AN HERBORIST. NATIVE AND FOREIGN SUMMER TOURISTS.
There is an interval of a year between Acts I and II; of a week between
Acts II and III. One night elapses between Acts III and IV.
PLACE: Iceland. TIME: Present.

HADDA PADDA
ACT I
(A luxuriously furnished drawing-room in the house of the Town Judge.
On the right, in front, a door. In the middle rear an open door draped
with rich, heavy, deep-red curtains. On the left a large window. In the
corner, between the window and the door, a grand piano, behind which
stands a palm, the leaves spreading over the piano. In front, on the left,
a divan. Alongside of it is a pedestal with a black terra cotta statue on
it.)
(Hadda Padda and Kristrun are sitting toward the front, in large deep
arm-chairs, throwing a crystal ball to each other. Near by is a small
table, covered with a piece of velvet, on which the ball had lain. Hadda
Padda is very sunburnt.)
RANNVEIG [enters from behind. She is knitting, keeping the