[27. Bergens Tidende, October 10, 1878.]

    [28. Bergensposten, October 11, 1878.]

The next season A Winter’s Tale was given in H.P.  Holst’s translation and adaptation of Dingelstedt’s German acting version Ein Wintermaerchen.  The press greeted it enthusiastically. Bergens Tidende[29] says:  “A Winter’s Tale was performed at our theater yesterday in a manner that won the enthusiastic applause of a large gathering.  The principal actors were called before the curtain again and again.  It is greatly to the credit of any theater to give a Shakespeare drama, and all the more so when it can do it in a form as artistically perfect as was yesterday’s presentation.”

    [29.  April 20, 1880.  Cf. also Bergensposten, April 21, 1880.]

Concerning Othello, third in order in the Shakespearean repertoire in Bergen, the reviews of the first performance, November 13, 1881, are conflicting. Bergens Tidende[30] is all praise.  It has no hesitation in pronouncing Johannesen’s Iago a masterpiece. Bergensposten[31] calls the performance passable but utterly damns Johannesen—­“nothing short of a colossal blunder.”  Hr.  Johannesen is commended to the easily accessible commentaries of Taine and Genee, and to Hamlet’s speech to the players.  Desdemona and Cassio are dismissed in much the same fashion.

    [30.  November 14, 1881.]

    [31.  November 15, 1881.]

A few days later, November 18, Bergensposten reviewed the performance again and was glad to note a great improvement.

Bergens Addressecontoirs Efterretninger[32] agrees with Bergensposten in its estimate of Johannesen.  “He gives us only the villain in Iago, not the cunning Ensign who deceives so many.”  But Desdemona was thoroughly satisfying.

    [32.  November 15, 1881.]

Whatever may have been its initial success, Othello did not last.  It was given four times during the season 1881-2, but was then dropped and has never since been taken up.

Three different groups of Hamlet performances have been given in Bergen.  In September, 1883, the Ophelia scenes from Act IV were given; the complete play, however, was not given till November 28, 1886.  The press,[33] for once, was unanimous in declaring the production a success.  It is interesting that an untried actor at his debut was entrusted with the role.  But, to judge from the press comments, Hr.  Lochen more than justified the confidence in him.  His interpretation of the subtlest character in Shakespeare was thoroughly satisfying.[34]

    [33.  Cf. Bergens Tidende, November 29, 1886; Bergens
    Aftenblad, November 29, 1886; Bergensposten, December 2, 1886.]

    [34.  Cf. Bergens Tidende, November 30, 1886; Bergens
    Aftenblad, November 29, 1886; Bergensposten, December 1, 1886.]