The exhibition, entitled ?In Thalia?s Service?, honours the Jewish actors who suffered under Hungary?s anti-semitic laws introduced in 1939. Among the laws was one limiting Jewish membership in the country?s Actors? Guild to 20pc. The exhibition includes photographs, posters and paintings, collected with the assistance of the National Museum of Theatre History. It is open until May 12.
In remarks at the opening of the exhibition, András Nagy, who heads Hungary?s Theatre History Institute, called what happened to many of Hungary?s most important thespians during the period shameful. He cited the example of Zoli, a renowned comic actor, and a dwarf, who was made to wear a miniature yellow Star of David to mock his stature; and of the great actor Kálmán Rózsahegyi, who was also forced to wear the star, despite a plea for exemption made to the interior minister in 1944 on the grounds he was a life member of the National Theatre.
Some of the actors presented in the exhibition include Endre Nagy, a comic actor who made politics the centre of his routine, Ede Újházi, Gyula Bartos, Kálmán Rózsahegyi and Márton Rátkai, all members of the National Theatre, and celebrated directors Sándor Hevesi and Oszkár Beregi. Costume designs by Erik Vogel are also on display, including some he prepared in a labour camp.
The exhibition also pays homage to those who assisted their Jewish colleagues, such as the famous actress Katalin Karády.
For more information, please visit http://www.bpjewmus.hu/?lang=en
Source: Múlt-kor, Hungarian Press Agency (MTI)
