Jew Suss

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 37, 22 March 1935, Page 54

Jew Suss

SYNOPSIS. In .an inn. at Wildbad, Josef Suss Oppenheimer and his friend Landauer meet Karl Alexander, 2 cousin of the reigning Duke of Wurttemburg. ‘Suss has a presentiment that the Prince is his stepping stone to power and by servility and extreme generosity ingratiates himself with Karl. His belief is confirmed by the prophecy of his uncle, Rabbi Gabriel. Karl Alexander will shortly be the Duke of Wurttemburg. The prediction’ is verified, Karl becomes the Duke of Wurttemburg with Suss as his Financial Counsellor. Unknown to Karl, Suss has a -fiftecu year-old daughter, Naomi. The Jew, understanding his master’s weakness for the opposite sex, guards his motherless child by placing her in the custody of the Rabbi, who resides in the quiet forest of Hirsau. To the Coronation Ball ‘Suss_ invites Magdalen Sybille, the daughter of the Lord President of the Council. He -has fallen in love with her at their first meeting on the Wildbad road,. Karl, espying the Demoiselle Weissensee, orders Suss to arrange that the girl be conveyed to his bedroom. Suss objects. Karl in: sists. And the Jew, rather than endanger his power, sacrifices the gir] he loves. Weissensee, notwithstanding Suss’s offer of honour and promotion. is embittered at the outrage of his daughter and resolved to be revenged oun the. Jew. Meanwhile Suss, having secured the release of Seligman, , accused of the murder of a Christian girl, has become the greatest of the Jews. He is surprised at his uncle's a

insinuation that he is not.a Jew. In answer to his questioning, the Rabbi. tells him his mother, residing in the distant city of Frankfurt, has sent for him to explain everything. -‘Suss proposes going to see his daughter, but the Rabbi insists that he must go to Frankfurt, and so the third act concludes ; ; ACT IV. Scene IK, There is the sound of cheering in the distance, but close at hand «a door opens and footsteps upproach. Suss: Mother, you sent for me? Mother: Oh, my son-my beautiful wonderful son-Oh mny Josef, I’m so proud of you. ‘Why! you're’ more . handsome than ever, You are. And your. coat-what a beautiful material, so expensive and rich. (Cheering increases). Mother: Listen to them and all for you, Josef. Show yourself at the window, speak to them, you are theif hero. You have saved the life of one of our race. Suss: Come, we shall speak to them. . (He opens the casement and the cheering becomes louder). Suss: Once again, thank you. What more can a man hope for than. to be able to help his people? But now [ must ask you to excuse me: there is one here who has an even greater claim on me than you-my mother. You will not grudge me a few hours with her, will you? (Cheering again and eries of "No’’). (The casement closes and Suss returns). : Mother: The way they treat, you, you might be the Emperor himself, my son

Adapted by Robert Waldron from the famous -novel by Lion Feuchtwanger Rabbi (entering): Have you. told him? . Mother: But Gabriel, not now. He has only just arrived-and _ the people. Rabbi: He should be told now.- Fetch the papers. (A key is inserted in a lock, the draucr is opened and there is the sound of the rustle of paper). Suss: What's. all this? . What are you talking about? Why this air of mystery? Rabbi: Read this-(paper rustling). Mother: Oh, no, no-need I stay? Rabbi: No, you can go. (Door closes). Suss: But I don’t understand: These are letters-love letters’ to my mother-from Marshal yon Heyersdort. . . Rabbi: Jacob Oppenheimer loved your mother. He met her three months before you were born. He married her and regarded you as his son. Suss: ‘It can't be-you. don’t mean. Rabbi: Yes, Josef. Suss: Marshal -von Heyersdorf my father-Marshal yon Heyersdorfthen I am not a Jew. Marshal von Heyersdorf’s son-all my slaving and scheming and: suffering unnecessary -you tell me this now, now, -: after I have saved Seligman. After I have become the greatest of all the Jews --the only Jew, who in spite of being a Jew has more,power than any nobleman in Germany Rabbi: What are’ you ‘going to do? Will .you arrest me? It will- only help on your career if- you: hand me over to a Church Court for keeping a born Christian so long in’ the false faith, P Suss: I-I don’t know. Rabbi: Will you accuse your mother’ 2 Give her a scolding because she hus been silent so long. or thank her because she gave you such a knightly father. Suss: I’m going to Hirsau-to Naomi. Rabbi: So be it. Come with me to the child. She will tell you. Suss: Yes, yes, Naomi’ will decide. (Music). Scene II. (Sounds of a storm, rain and wind and the trees swishing). . Karl: What a night, Weissensee, to bring your Duke a treasure bunting! Weissensee: Patience, Highness. Here is the Jew’s house; within its wall is hidden. my little surprise and Suss’s secret. IXarl: Come on then, what are we waiting for? ; (Footsteps approach and a knock is heard on the door.) Karl: Open! Why do you keep your Duke waiting? So the Jew has kept this to himself, He’s hidden it from me the scoundrel Hum-what a peach of a girl! Weissensee: The demoiselle is the daughter of our good Jew. This Highness, is my little surprise. Karl: A masterpiece of a girl, an Oriental dream. Won’t you ask us (Continued in Col. 2 next page.)

(Continued from previous page). to come in? (Lhey enter into the "pally. ° Karl: What’s your name, demoiselle? Shulamite Salome shall we lay someone’s head at 'your feet? Don’t be afraid I won’t eat you. (Old lady’s voice is heard). Chaperone: Naomi-child-Naomi. Karl: Ah, Naomi! I am your sover-eign-you and your father’s Duke und Lord-come here and kiss the hand of your sovereign. So much for that-that was a real surprise Weissensee — cunningly arranged. We'll have some-fun with our Jew over this. And now-Ah, she’s gone! I'vightened as a deer! Weissensee: Those Jewesses are beautiful in ‘their youth, Highness. They

seem the best of all-unique. Karl: Yes, yes, good Weissensee be a6 discreet as you-are clever-go now, wait for me outside. I'll see you later. (Music). Scene II. Karl (ascending the staircase and shouting): Naomi, where are you? Where are you, you little devil? Karl: Naomi! Naomi! Your Duke wants you. Chaperone: Highness? Karl: What are you doing here; you old witch? Is the girl in that room? Chaperone: Please, Highness-please! (Sownd of slight scuffle). Karl: Get out of my way-begone! Karl (knocking on door): Are you there, Naomi? Don’t be frightened. (Continued on Page 60.)

Drama of Jew Suss | Adapted From the Novel by Lion Feuchtwanger

(Continued from page 56.) child-don’t be stupid, open the door, Open the door I say, or TH burst it in. You won’t answer? Very well, Chaperone: Highness, you can’t go in! It is the girl’s bedroom. Naomi is only a’ child. (Sound of door gwing). Karl: Can’t I-go away or I’ knock you down-as she’s not here! Where are you, you little devil? (There is the sound of hurrying footsteps and a voice calling). Weissensee: Highness! Highness! Karl: What’s the matter, Weissensee, I thought I told you to wait outside. Weissensee: The child is dead. Karl: What’s that? The child is dead? Weissensee: She took her own life. jumped from her bedroom window. Karl: Good God! Weissensee. Better come away now, ‘Highness, Karl: No, no! That would look as if I were afraid of the Jew. Findi the carriage. Dispatch it to Suss. Tell him to meet me here without delay. Karl: No other message. Do as I tell you. Weissensee: But Highness-Yes. Highness. Seene IV. Suss: Is the Duke guilty of her death? Rabbi: You are guilty of her death. Suss: If I had gone away with herfar away, very far-in solitude. Naomi, Naomi, Naomi can one speak with the dead? Can I speak with her? Rabbi: If you set your feet upon the right path then she will have peace -the Duke still waits for you. He is outside-he wishes to speak t0 you alone. I shall send him to you. (Door closes). Suss: Naomi, my child-my daughter revenge is mine, saith the Lord God of Hosts-revenge is mine saith the Jew, Suss. Karl (entering): Beaman, Suss. Do not give way to your grief. I have seen the girl. I-know what she was to you. I understand. But you still have other things in your life-you have the favour of your Duke. Let it be a comfort to you.

Suss: Yes, my Lord Duke. Karl: Sincerely and truly, Jew, I’m sorry for you but if you think I had anything to do with it, I assure you you’re on the wrong track. Who would have thought that the girl would misunderstand a little joke? Suss: Yes, my Lord Duke. Karl: I don’t want anything to come between us-don’t bear me a grudge -give me your hand, Bein! Now bury your dead, then hurry back to us at Stuttgart. (Karl. departs). Suss: You see how sly I have be--come, Naomi. I shook his hand, He eouldn’t understand-hurry back to Stuttgart-does he hope to. buy me with honours, money. Wrong my Lord Duke, wrong, my Lord Mur-derer-wrong, wrong, wrong. Scene V. Painter: Your Excellency is satisfied _ with the painting? Suss: It is very good-so like Naomi. Painter: Oh, thank you Excellency. Thank you! (The door opens and Karl enters with Marie). Karl: Ah, there you are-we thought we would pay you a little surprise visit. Your man told us you were engaged. Marie: Tell us, is it a lady? Oh-how ' exquisite! Suss: I am very busy, Highness. Karl: I’m -not complaining man, but I don’t want to lose touch with you. You’ve always been a faithful min-ister-but we used to be friends as well. Suss: Your Highness flatters me. Karl: So long as you realise that I am not ungrateful. The more you do for me, Suss, the more you will henefit. Marie: Ah, what a beautiful picturewho’s the pretty girl?’-who isSuss: My daughter. Marie: Your daughter? But-I never knew you were married. Oh well. no doubt you are wise to keep her out of the way. Karl is so very susceptible, isn’t he? Suss: She’s dead, Highness. Karl: Yes, yes-a great tragedyquite recent too. I forgot to tell tell you about it-so many things to think about. Well, we’d better be going. Suss-has work to dv.

Marie: Poor Jew, not even your grief must interfere with your work. Suss: My grief will only make me work the harder, Highness. -. Karl: That’s right-that’s Toour mutual benefit, eh? Come, TIL show you the confidence I have in you. I'll appoint you Finance Di-rector-you shall sign all edicts. . yourself and be answerable to no man. Well, good-night, Mr. Finance. Director. . Suss: Good-night, Highnesses. (He’. rises). Karl: ‘No, no, you need not show us out-you get to your desk. Suss: Landauer, see their Highnesses. to their_ carriage. Suss: I’ll appoint you Finance Direc-tor---you shall sign all edicts yourself and be answerable to no man--did you hear that Naomi? Your murderer has made me his Finance Director-I shall sign all edicts myself and be answerable to no man. The Duke has given me power, the power to revenge you, my child. [L will draft an edict-an edict that will shake the state of Wurttemburg to its foundations. (Landauer approaches). Suss: They are gone, Landauer? Landauer: Yes, Josef! Suss: Then let this edict be known within twenty-four hours to every man, woman and child within the length and breadth of my Lord the Duke’s dominions :- We, Karl Alexander, Duke of Wurttemburg and Teck, declare that should emergency: taxes not be paid in full immediately upon .demand: distraint shall be made upon the goods and chattels of the hougeholder in question up to the value of twice the amount of the unpaid taxes. Landauer: But JosefSuss: Go, do my bidding. See it is promulgated within | twenty-four hours. — ; Landauer: Yes,-Excellency. (Departs). Suss: His Highness Karl Alexander Duke of Wurttemburg and Teck wishes to buy me off, to repay me for the death of my child. The fool! The seven-fold blinded fool-wrong my Lord Duke! Wrong my most exalted Lord: Murderer! Jew Suss is not so simple and dense; he is no serf or peasant or yokel. that an ordinary obvious revenge should content him-he plans his vengeance more subtly-he seethes and stews and cooks it with great eare-re-venge Naomi-revenge. End of Scene V.