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
Rod Burnett (UK): THE PUNCH & JUDY SHOW
Mr Punch lives with his wife Judy in a theatre called ‘The Punch and Judy Theatre’. Mr. Punch is a crazy puppet, a very bad man and an anarchist who likes to carry a big stick to hit anything or anyone. But he is much too frightened of Judy to hit her with his stick! A series of puppets come to sort Mr Punch out: a policeman, a crocodile, death and a hangman but Mr. Punch has an answer for all of them which involves the use of his big stick and a lot of humour. Lastly the Devil himself comes to take Mr. Punch to hell. Mr Punch and the devil have to fight a terrible battle........
One of them wins and as fire and smoke erupts on stage the public cheer for the winner!
WHEN // 20 and 21 Nov 09
WHERE // Hafenhalle09, 7.30 pm
Category: Festival, Theatre
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