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.
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