This exhibition delves into Friedrich Wolf's controversial 1929 play 'Cyankali', exploring its themes of abortion, unemployment, and social struggle in the Weimar Republic. It examines the play's groundbreaking performance history, critical reception, and the political debates it ignited, highlighting its significance as 'Art as a Weapon'.
The page details the historical context and impact of Friedrich Wolf's controversial play 'Cyankali', first performed in Berlin in 1929. Set against the backdrop of the Weimar Republic's economic crisis, the play addresses the sensitive issue of abortion, particularly highlighting the struggles faced by women due to restrictive laws like paragraph 218. The narrative follows Hete and Paul, a couple grappling with job loss and an unplanned pregnancy, leading Hete to seek an illegal abortion after a doctor refuses assistance based on the law.
Friedrich Wolf, a doctor and playwright, infused his works with political messages, and 'Cyankali' was an early example, advocating for social change through theatre. The play's staging by a collective of young, often unemployed actors, in venues like the Berlin Lessing Theatre, garnered significant attention, sparking bitter political debates from New York to Tokyo. Despite causing a sensation and exceeding one hundred performances, it also led to Wolf's arrest. The text quotes actors and critics, capturing the play's raw energy and its role in public discourse. The page also touches upon Wolf's later life, his emigration due to political persecution, and the eventual fading of his once provocative works.
