(Mr. Anno is a German manager who Put on the stage “The Lady from the Sea” in Berlin for the first time March 4th, 1889, Ibsen being present.)
MUNICH, February 14th, 1889
My dear Professor:
YOUR kind letter which I received yesterday I now hasten to answer. So Mr. Anno desires that on the programs and in the performance the name “Bolette,” which is not known to Germans, be replaced by “Babette” or some other girl’s name. As the scene is not laid in Germany the reason advanced by him for the change can hardly be his only or chief one. I suppose that he has still another one and I therefore accede to his wish with pleasure. Babette may therefore be put in its place, — provided, of course, that Arnholm’s saying that the name is ugly will not seem inexplicable to a German audience. As to this I can have no sure opinion, but trust wholly to you in this matter also.
I must, however, decidedly object that there should be placed on the program “Ein Seeinann” or “Ein fremder Seemann” or “Ein Steuermann.” For he is not any of these. When Ellida met him ten years ago he was second mate. Seven years later he hired out as common boatswain, consequently as something considerably less. And now he appears as passenger on a tourist steamer.
To the crew of the ship he does not belong. He is dressed as a tourist, not as a travelling man. Nobody should know what he is, just as little should anybody know who he is or what he is really called. This uncertainty is just the chief point in the method chosen by me for the occasion. I kindly ask Mr. Anno to have attention directed to this during the rehearsals, otherwise the true vein of the presentation might easily be missed. But if the expression “Ein fremder Mann” possesses a comical flavor for the Berliners — could not the program have merely “Ein Fremder?” I have nothing to object to that. But should not even this improve the matter, then I do not think there is anything to do but to let the eventual gayeties have their free course. It is to be hoped they do not cause any more serious or lasting harm.
It is a great comfort for me to know that you, my dear professor, will have an eye upon the rehearsals, at least the last ones. For there may be so many things in the foreign conditions with which manager Anno is not quite familiar. And so I hope for a good result.
According to a telegram from Christiania “The Lady from the Sea” was performed there for the first time the day before yesterday and with quite extraordinary applause. From Weimar, where the play was to be given about this time, I have not yet heard anything. With best regards, I am,
Yours truly and obligedly,
HENRIK IBSEN