Wo? Wenn nicht alle da! / That’s the Way to do it!
This was a festival dedicated to a true European.
He pops up all across the continent, and possesses such an extraordinary ability to absorb distinctive regional traits that everyone claims “He’s one of us!” But actually, he’s a very widely traveled master of amusing mayhem whose roots extend throughout Europe and beyond. His name is Kasperl (Austria), Kasper (Germany), Mr. Punch (UK), Pulcinella (Italy), Vitéz Lázló (Hungary), Guignol (France) and Don Cristobal (Spain), to cite just a few.
This cheeky little headbanger is actually a centuries-old theatrical tradition. But because long traditions have a tendency to get venerable, stiff and awkward, Linz09 commissioned four companies—maschek (Austria), Guyla Molnàr (Hungary/Italy), Hans-Jochen Menzel (Germany) and Neville Tranter (Australia/Netherlands)—to each design a Punch & Judy Show expressly for the Capital of Culture. You might say that the intention was to put the quarrelsome cudgel-swinger to the test and find out whether he can still dish it out, or if his brand of lusty anarchy just doesn’t strike the right note anymore.
These four productions were the core of the festival. Arrayed about them was an interesting selection of plays, each with its own take on the fascinating tradition of this genre and each bringing in it own fresh, poetic, critical, contemporary approach to theatrics.
Almost 2,000 theatergoers came to enjoy the funny, bizarre and occasionally morbid antics of this chameleon-like grand old man of the theater.
WHAT // Theater festival
WHEN // November 11-21, 2009
WHERE // Hafenhalle09
CHRISTOPH BOCHDANSKY (AT): KASPERL, DU DEPP!
PUNCH, You IDIOT! AMAZING!!!!The central characters of the play are raised up before the audience’s eyes from their primitive state as blocks of wood into living Punch & Judy figures – a mystical transformation. INCREDIBLE!!! Secrets of puppet theatre are revealed. Punch & Judy theatre is assigned its mystical purpose, the eternal conflict between good and evil. EVERYTHING IS JUST AS IT SHOULD BE!!! If only that idiot Punch didn’t go and make a pact with the Devil. Now Punch has to send every soul he happens to meet to hell. How can everything in the world end well now? Don’t worry, it’ll be alright – or don’t you believe me?
Christoph Bochdansky studied stage design at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and graduated from the Puppet Theatre College in Bochum before he started touring international festivals with his own plays.
Regie, Puppen & Spiel// Christoph Bochdansky
WHEN // 13 November, 9.30 pm
WHERE // Hafenhalle09 Studio
Category: Festival, Theatre
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