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
Neville Tranter (NL): PUNCH & JUDY IN AFGHANISTAN
When East meets West, who will be laughing in the End?
Two Westerners in Afghanistan: Brian and his best friend, Emil. Emil hires a camel for a bit of sightseeing. The camel runs away in the direction of Tora Bora, taking Emil with him on his back. Brian decides to go looking for his friend. On his journey Brian meets all the classical Punch and Judy figures. Finally he meets Mr. Punch (with his long beard and turban) and his wife Judy. Then he finds out what has happened to Emil. Certainly no happy ending.
A farce and a satire about being too naive.
Theatre wizard Neville Tranter founded Stuffed Puppet Theatre in 1976 and left his native Australia for the Netherlands in 1978. His virtuoso puppet theatre has been celebrated around the world for its unique formal vocabulary – poetic and irreverent, radical and bitterly funny. In May 2009 Linz's Posthof showed a retrospective of works by Neville Tranter and his Stuffed Puppet Theatre to mark 10 years of the Black Humour Festival. This is a chance to see his latest creation!
WHEN // 20 and 21 Nov 09
WHERE // Hafenhalle09, 7.30 pm
Category: Festival, Theatre
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