George Tabori, legendary playwright

HUNGARIAN-BORN playwright and director George Tabori, a legend in Germany’s post-war theatre world whose avant-garde works confronted anti-Semitism, has died.

Tabori (93), who as recently as three years ago dreamed of returning to stage to play the title role in Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’, died last Monday in his apartment near the theatre, the Berliner Ensemble said, noting that friends and family had accompanied him through his final days. “George Tabori – a poet, a director, an actor, a genius of life, a truly unique human being – has reached the close of his life’s cycle,” the theatre, founded by Berthold Brecht, said.Born into a Jewish family in Budapest on May 24 1914, Tabori fled in 1936 to London, where he started working for the BBC, and became a British citizen.His father, and other members of his family, were killed at Auschwitz.Tabori moved to Hollywood in the 1950s, where he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably co-writing the script for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1953 film, ‘I Confess’.He moved to Germany in the 1970s and launched a theatre career that spanned from acting to directing to writing.He used sharp wit and humour in his plays to examine the relationship between Germany and the Jews, as well as attack anti-Semitism.Among his best-known works are ‘Mein Kampf’, set in the Viennese hostel where Adolf Hitler lived from 1910-1913, and the ‘Goldberg Variations’, both dark farces that poke fun at the Nazis.”Tabori’s humanity and wisdom were unique in the world of theatre,” Klaus Bachler, Director of Vienna’s leading Burgtheater, said.”The generosity of his art and his heart will be sorely missed.”Nampa-AP”George Tabori – a poet, a director, an actor, a genius of life, a truly unique human being – has reached the close of his life’s cycle,” the theatre, founded by Berthold Brecht, said.Born into a Jewish family in Budapest on May 24 1914, Tabori fled in 1936 to London, where he started working for the BBC, and became a British citizen.His father, and other members of his family, were killed at Auschwitz.Tabori moved to Hollywood in the 1950s, where he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably co-writing the script for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1953 film, ‘I Confess’.He moved to Germany in the 1970s and launched a theatre career that spanned from acting to directing to writing.He used sharp wit and humour in his plays to examine the relationship between Germany and the Jews, as well as attack anti-Semitism.Among his best-known works are ‘Mein Kampf’, set in the Viennese hostel where Adolf Hitler lived from 1910-1913, and the ‘Goldberg Variations’, both dark farces that poke fun at the Nazis.”Tabori’s humanity and wisdom were unique in the world of theatre,” Klaus Bachler, Director of Vienna’s leading Burgtheater, said.”The generosity of his art and his heart will be sorely missed.”Nampa-AP