Year: 1961
Type: article
Abstract: The fact that there is no published study in English of the history of the Hungarian theatre, and that the Hungarian theatre is generally dismissed as being practically non-existent prior to the middle of the nineteenth century in the English-language histories of the theatre, prompted me to lookjinto the matter to find out why.Three possibilities came to mind-lmmediately: (l) perhaps there really was no Hungarian theatre until the building of the National Theatre in Pest in 1837; (2) there is probably very little material on the subject; (3 ) the language itself may have been a barrier too difficult to overcome readily.Ihe first possibility simply was not plausible; even during the Middle Ages when the theatre was supposed to have been dead in England, it was discovered that the supposedly non-existent mimes and histriones were being periodically castigated in sermons.Items and expenses turned up in account books indicating theatrical per formances, and deduction from other writings suggested that the thea tre was definitely not quietly marking time.It therefore seemed only logical that under the supposedly calm, non-theatrical surface of Hun gary some type of theatre was in operation.I was reasonably cer tain that if I searched diligently enough I would find some material on the subject in Hungarian, German, French, Italian and perhaps Latin.In the quest for materials I was aided immeasurably by Dr. ii Elamer Hankiss and Dr. Dezso Keresztury of the Theatre Division of the National Szech&nyi Library in Budapest, and Kultura, the UNESCO hook agency, also in Budapest.There was no shortage of source mat erials.There was, however, considerable disagreement as to certain data, and it was necessary to consult many authors and primary sources in order to clear up some of the ambiguities.Some of the answers were arrived at through comparing the various sources, graph ing the results, and evaluating, sometimes through a secondary agency, in order to eliminate the contradictory data.With few exceptions authors indulged in editorializing, wishful thinking, and second-guess ing to differing degrees, and the resulting subjective observations had to be weighed carefully in the light of whatever facts were available.The primary sources consulted were microfilmed copies of periodicals, such as Becsi Magyar Merkurius (Viennese Hungarian Mercury) Magyar Hlrmondo (Hungarian News).Magyar Kurir (Hungarian Courier),
Author: Richard Matthew Watzulik
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W578648984