thumb|Title page of the first German print (July 1947)
The Man Outside (, literally Outside, at the door) is a play by Wolfgang Borchert, written in a few days in the late autumn of 1946. It made its debut on German radio on 13 February 1947.
The Man Outside describes the hopelessness of a post-war soldier called Beckmann who returns from Russia to find that he has lost his wife and his home, as well as his illusions and beliefs. He finds every door he comes to closed; even nature seems to reject him.
Due to its release during the sensitive immediate postwar period, Borchert subtitled his play "A play that no theatre wants to perform and no audience wants to see." Despite this, the first radio broadcast (February 1947) was very successful. The first theatrical production of The Man Outside (at the Hamburger Kammerspiele) opened on the day after Borchert's death, 21 November 1947.
The play consists of five scenes in one act. It makes use of expressionist forms and Brechtian techniques, such as the Verfremdungseffekt (estrangement effect) to disorient and engage its audience.
Characters
The list of characters, translated from the original text of the play:
Various structural elements serve as recurring literary motifs, with Beckmann's dreams and dreamlike elements regularly infiltrating the reality of the plot. A door slamming shut ends each stage of Beckmann's journey, after which he finds himself "the man outside". Beckmann's gas mask goggles continually prompt negative reactions and are symbolic of the fact that Beckmann's view of the world is still shaped by his wartime experiences. A further core element running through the play is the use of interrogative clauses. Beckmann's questions, which he directs to various characters over the course of the play, remain largely unanswered up until he intensifies his questioning in the final climax of the drama: "Will no one at all give an answer? Will no one give an answer??? Will no one, anyone, answer???"
Historical and Literary Context
The end of the Second World War has often been described as the "zero hour" () for German literature. The collapse of the old order, as well as German cities lying in ruins, radically changed forms of expression in literature. This was later referred to as Kahlschlagliteratur or Trümmerliteratur, of which Wolfgang Borchert's short stories are considered examples.
During the post-war period, the fate of German prisoners of war and Heimkehrer (those released from imprisonment) were central themes in everyday German life, which were also frequently dealt with in contemporary art. The Man Outside is one of a large number of similar works based on the theme of soldiers returning home from war.
The vast majority of radio dramas produced in the years following the war with returning soldiers in central roles focused on their private problems. The topic of adultery, for example, was often a central theme, whilst wartime experiences themselves remained largely ignored. The soldier returning home was mostly depicted as an outsider, and through his eyes it was possible to take an alienated view of the present. However, in its critique of post-war society, The Man Outside clearly went further than most contemporary plays. In many cases, what the plays had in common was their didactic appeal and great moral gestures, which can also be seen in Beckmann's pathos in The Man Outside.
Production history
The play received its US debut at the President Theatre in New York on March 1, 1949 under the name Outside the Door. It was directed by the head of the Dramatic Workshop, German expatriate stage director Erwin Piscator. The New York Times critic reacted favorably to the play and its production as did most of his colleagues:
In 1992 Academy Productions presented the play, directed by Andy Lavender at The Green Room, Manchester, (in association with the Manchester International Festival of Expressionism, 16–17 March) and Chelsea Centre Theatre, London, (27 May-13 June).
‘a fringe production of rare subtleties’ (City Limits). Featured in City Limits’ ‘Recommended’ section. Nominated for Best Lighting Design, London Fringe Awards 1992-3.
The music for this production was composed by Simon Rackham and in 2012 was released through cdbaby.
The most recent staging of the play was presented in Dhaka, Bangladesh, by Actomania Theatre Troupe. The production premiered on 18 December 2024 at Dr. Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium on Bailey Road. Directed by Talha Zubaer, the performance received significant audience appreciation and was noted for its literary value within the contemporary Bangladeshi theatre landscape.
Adaptation
In 1949 the play serves as the basis for the film Love '47 directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner.
Die Toten Hosen play from album Ballast der Republik (2012) - Draussen Vor Der Tür.