SUFLEROWICZ AND OTHERS: ON THE THEATRE DISPUTES IN THE GRAND DUCHY OF WARSAW NEWSPAPERS IN SHORT
Both newspapers issued in the capital of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw included theatre sections. In the years 1807–1809 the reviewers, as a rule, tackled the course of the performance itself and the contents of the play. Their evaluations were evasive and concerned mainly the actors’ stagecraft. This kind of theatre criticism was not polemical. The years 1810–1815, on the other hand, were more fruitful as far as the theatre criticism is concerned. It is then that many new reviewers appeared and a more frequent exchange of views was observed. Moreover, their discussions dealt with purposes, goals and possible borders of sharp criticism. Theatre repertoire was also wrangled over and the strongest attacks were led on dramas and comic operas. Even Moliere’s Amphitrion evoked opposing views since the public perceived it as a too provocative play. The most fuss was made by one reviewer, known from the nickname of Hyacynty Suflerowicz, who severely criticized Niemcewicz’s drama Gliński. Suflerowicz’s identity is still a riddle, but in the final part of the article some clues were given, which are likely to solve it.