The light goes out, people take their seat and the silence settles down, before the play starts. My notes from Berlin, after I spend the month of March in the theater world, described in an amateurish way also in my last London story.
“Art is peace,” writes Jon Fosse, Nobel Prize winner for literature in 2023, for World Theater Day 2024, in a message received in the newsletter from Berlin Bühnen. How it all started.
Theater was created in Ancient Greece centuries ago. Today we have the classical, traditional theater, as well what is considered modern, experimental. Plus improvisational, musical theatre, many revue / varieté, while Berlin is also a stage for lively cabaret shows. In terms of theaters, numbers are also impressive, as Berlin has over 150 theaters, venues and play stages, plus three opera houses. Even though the locations are all over the city, there are a few clusters, as in the West part or in Mitte.
Since this March was Theater month for me, and International Theater Day is every year on March 27 since 1962, I went to several plays:
1. Starting with Deutsches Theater in Berlin Mitte, build in 1850. I attended the play Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach or the original title, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Based on a story written by American Tennessee Williams, the play is set in the Mississippi Delta.
The title alludes to a person that is hysterical, and Maggie is perceived and labeled “the cat” by the other characters, when in fact I thought her husband Brick is the one behaving and screaming hysterically. Until now I only associated the title with the 1958 classic drama starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, who played Maggie “the Cat” and Brick.
In addition, Deutsches Theater is showing English subtitles above the scene, perfect for non-native German speakers as myself.
2. A first visit at Berlin Wintergarten Varieté Theatre for CLARENCE SQUARE – The Musical (Scenic Reading English). And a 2nd time to see the show 90s FOREVER, with Hits & Acrobatics. All in all, I have to say is a very surprising eclectic space today, Wintergarten Varieté is reminiscent of the 1920s vaudeville theater times.
Unfortunately the first Wintergarden that opened in 1887 was destroyed during the Second World War. The relocated theater is decorated with dark red velvet and large chandeliers. You can enjoy the show with dinner and drinks at your table, and the conversation takes place by candlelight. In the play we saw, Clarence Square (musical), set in turn-of-the-century Toronto, the reading was done by Gedeon Burkhard, which is a famous local actor, as I was told after the play.
Art is peace / Kunst ist Frieden
Jon Fosse
3. Next, at Komödie am Kurfürstendamm, to see the comedy Cluedo – Das Mörderspiel, based on the detective board game CLUE. The theater is temporarily moved at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz, Marlene-Dietrich-Platz, where Berlinale takes place every February.
Before the start of the play, thunders are heard. Was the first theater performance where I get into the atmosphere of the piece before it starts. The critics reviews were good. All the actors performances were terrific. Finally, the play had plenty of humor, clever lines and color. “Cluedo” is my favorite from this list. I recommend it.
To this play I went by myself, and without knowing back then as I started talking with the person seating next to me, she soon become a friend in Berlin.
Read about – Konzerhaus Berlin & Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Berlin options paradox
Just like London, we have an option paradox here in Berlin when it comes to art and entertainment, where the scene is diverse, with the 150 theaters. Must be also mentioned Admiralpalast, perhaps the most beautiful theatre. While Friedrichstadt-Palast is the biggest venue in Europe, with Vegas style shows, where I saw ARISE, and looking forward to go to current FALLING | IN LOVE, curated by Jean Paul Gaultier. But I went to 3 different theaters this month and I’ve been previously to many others, including contemporary Maxim Gorki and Berliner Ensemble. Plus, I pass daily by Chamäleon Theater. Does it count?
Now I am looking forward to the international Theatertreffen Festival at der Berliner Festspiele, and FIND (Festival Internationale Neue Dramatik) at Schaubühne.
This month was also a great opportunity to read and learn more about theater, which can be complex. It was an exercise to train my imagination and go more often out of my confort zone in terms of cultural experiences.
Feature picture credit – Berliner Morgenpost
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