In 1877, Richard III was brought on the boards for the first time, but apparently the occasion was not considered significant, for there is scarcely a notice of it.  The public seemed surfeited with Shakespeare, although the average had been less than one Shakespearean play a season.  At all events, it was ten years before the theater put on a new one—­Julius Caesar, on March 22, 1888.  It had the unheard of distinction of being acted sixteen times in one month, from the premiere night to April 22.  Yet the papers passed it by with indifference.  Most of them gave it merely a notice, and the promised review in Aftenposten never appeared.

Julius Caesar is the last new play to be presented at Christiania Theater or at the National Theater, which replaced the old Christiania Theater in 1899.  From October, 1899 to January, 1913 the National Theater has presented eight Shakespearean plays, but every one of them has been a revival of plays previously presented.

Bergen

Up to a few years ago, the only theater of consequence in Norway, outside of the capital, was at Bergen.  In many respects the history of the theater at Bergen is more interesting than that of the theater at Christiania.  Established in 1850, while Christiania Theater was still largely Danish, to foster Norwegian dramatic art, it is associated with the greatest names in Norwegian art and letters.  The theater owes its origin mainly to Ole Bull; Henrik Ibsen was official playwright from 1851 to 1857, and Bjornson was director from 1857 to 1859.  For a dozen years or more “Den Nationale Scene i Bergen” led a precarious existence and finally closed its doors in 1863.  In 1876 the theater was reopened.  During the first period only two Shakespearean plays were given—­Twelfth Night and As You Like It.

As You Like It in Stille Beyer’s version was played twice during the season 1855-56, on September 30 and October 3.  The press is silent about the performances, but doubtless we may accept Blanc’s statement that the task was too severe for the Bergen theater.[25]

    [25.  Norges Forste Nationale Scene.  Kristiania. 1884, p. 206.]

Rather more successful were the two performances of Twelfth Night in a stage version adapted from the German of Deinhardstein.  The celebrated Laura Svendsen played the double role of Sebastian-Viola with conspicuous success.[26]

    [26. Ibid., p. 304.]

The Merchant of Venice was given for the first time on October 9, 1878, two years after the reopening of the theater. Bergens Tidende[27] calls the production “a creditable piece of amateur theatricals,” insisting in a review of some length that the young theater cannot measure up to the demands which a play of Shakespeare’s makes. Bergensposten is less severe.  Though far from faultless, the presentation was creditable, in some details excellent.  But, quite apart from its absolute merits, there is great satisfaction in seeing the theater undertake plays that are worth while.[28] Both papers agree that the audience was large and enthusiastic.