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
Pelele Marionettes (ES): LA MUERTE DE DON CRISTOBAL (THE DEATH OF DON CRISTOBAL)
THE DEATH OF DON CRISTOBAL: Miserly, ugly, vicious and unscrupulous, Don Cristobal lives only to increase his already generous fortune. However, he has a servant, an old woman, whose heart is even darker than his own. She focuses all the means at her disposal on killing him, crushing him, in order to lay her hands on his wealth. A familiar story which has been seen and heard many times before, brilliantly told in the Mediterranean glove puppet tradition. THE DEATH OF DON CRISTOBAL is a universal story of the lust for life.
The humour, strength and wit of the performance of Paz Tatay and musician Alice Behague have thrilled audiences on tour all around the world.
WHEN // 19 Nov 09, 7.30 pm, and 21 Nov, 9.00 pm
WHERE // Hafenhalle09 Studio
Category: Festival, Theatre
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