Page 186 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2021. Opereta med obema svetovnima vojnama ▪︎ Operetta between the Two World Wars. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 5
P. 186
opereta med obema svetovnima vojnama
now that we saw it, we can forgive Mr. Haskell’s nervousness [Em-
phasis by the author].19
From Haskell’s perspective, this Budapest production must have been
undertaken for the money and experience, as it did not mean much in ca-
reer terms compared to his US and London works.20 He claimed the root of
every problem was that his English was not understood. So despite the suc-
cess and the rumours in Variety that he was planning to secure two new
pieces for Budapest,21 when he was asked by a journalist “When do you come
to Budapest again?” he answered “Never. Never more. Never.”22 He contin-
ued working using his usual strict methods in the USA, and at the 1936 Os-
cars was nominated for the best dance direction.
Haskell also answered very diplomatically when he was asked about
Erzsi Péchy, a star of the show.23 She publicly expressed her disapproval to
the show and the whole genre:
What shall I say? If I said I like it that wouldn’t be true. I was meant
to be an operetta actress and I would like to remain one; this new
genre which is very popular all over the world is not for me. But for
this one time I do that because the management asked me.24
Her contract for 200 performances in the theatre was soon to expire
and she already wanted to leave the production by the end of February.25
She was asked to star in the next revue, but she went abroad instead. László
19 Budapesti Hírlap [Budapest News], January 31, 1925. The antisemitic conservative
paper, A nép [The People] reviewed the show as “staged insanity”; but on the same
page it published a paid advertisement for the theatre which called the show “sen-
sational”. Also, according to the list of those who attended the premiere, a certain
Mrs. Albert Frühwirth was present, whose identity is unknown, although there is a
chance she was related to Mátyás Frühwirth, the editor-in-chief of this paper. A Nép,
February 1, 1925.
20 “Mr. Haskell – let us hear with what impressions do you leave Budapest? A strange
smile lights up on his face, he shakes his head. This shake expresses very much. I must
not speak – he answers – I can’t speak. Then he lights a cigarette and looks for a tele
graph in his writing desk.” Mr. Haskell takes leave. English transcript of an article in
Ma Este, February 19, 1925. OSZK SzT Irattár 374.
21 Variety, March 11, 1925.
22 Mr. Haskell takes leave.
23 Ibid.
24 Esti Kurír, January 30, 1925.
25 Az Est, February 26, 1925. Her cover, Eta Hajdú took over her role from April 15,
1925.
184
now that we saw it, we can forgive Mr. Haskell’s nervousness [Em-
phasis by the author].19
From Haskell’s perspective, this Budapest production must have been
undertaken for the money and experience, as it did not mean much in ca-
reer terms compared to his US and London works.20 He claimed the root of
every problem was that his English was not understood. So despite the suc-
cess and the rumours in Variety that he was planning to secure two new
pieces for Budapest,21 when he was asked by a journalist “When do you come
to Budapest again?” he answered “Never. Never more. Never.”22 He contin-
ued working using his usual strict methods in the USA, and at the 1936 Os-
cars was nominated for the best dance direction.
Haskell also answered very diplomatically when he was asked about
Erzsi Péchy, a star of the show.23 She publicly expressed her disapproval to
the show and the whole genre:
What shall I say? If I said I like it that wouldn’t be true. I was meant
to be an operetta actress and I would like to remain one; this new
genre which is very popular all over the world is not for me. But for
this one time I do that because the management asked me.24
Her contract for 200 performances in the theatre was soon to expire
and she already wanted to leave the production by the end of February.25
She was asked to star in the next revue, but she went abroad instead. László
19 Budapesti Hírlap [Budapest News], January 31, 1925. The antisemitic conservative
paper, A nép [The People] reviewed the show as “staged insanity”; but on the same
page it published a paid advertisement for the theatre which called the show “sen-
sational”. Also, according to the list of those who attended the premiere, a certain
Mrs. Albert Frühwirth was present, whose identity is unknown, although there is a
chance she was related to Mátyás Frühwirth, the editor-in-chief of this paper. A Nép,
February 1, 1925.
20 “Mr. Haskell – let us hear with what impressions do you leave Budapest? A strange
smile lights up on his face, he shakes his head. This shake expresses very much. I must
not speak – he answers – I can’t speak. Then he lights a cigarette and looks for a tele
graph in his writing desk.” Mr. Haskell takes leave. English transcript of an article in
Ma Este, February 19, 1925. OSZK SzT Irattár 374.
21 Variety, March 11, 1925.
22 Mr. Haskell takes leave.
23 Ibid.
24 Esti Kurír, January 30, 1925.
25 Az Est, February 26, 1925. Her cover, Eta Hajdú took over her role from April 15,
1925.
184
