"Der Räuber Hotzenplotz”
“Der Räuber Hotzenplotz” - The Robber Hotzenplotz at the Schmidt Theater
Hamburg, 8th October, 2011
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| (c) Oliver Fantitsch - http://www.tivoli.de/ |
Robber Hotzenplotz - Torsten Hammann
Kasperl - Jan Radermacher
Seppel - Manuel Ettelt
Grandmother/Fairy - Elena Zvirbulis
Constable/Sorcerer - Timo Riegelsberger
The classic story of "The Robber Hotzenplotz" by Otfried Preussler tells of the two boys Kasperl and Seppel and their adventures after the dreaded robber Hotzenplotz steals Grandmother's coffee-grinder on her birthday.
Kasperl and his friend Seppel know exactly what they have to do as the local constable Dimpfelmoser is a nitwit. "We'll catch the Robber Hotzenplotz!"
Unfortunately the plan they come up with to do so misfires and Kasperl ends up being sold to the bad sorcerer Petrosilius Zwackelmann and Seppel working for the robber. But with a little help of the fairy Amaryllis they can not only conquer the sorcerer but also the robber to return home at last.
The novel came out in 1962 and when I was a child I already considered it as rather old fashioned.
TV shows as “Captain Future” were far more interesting and cooler so when the Schmidt Theater announced this story to be their next family musical after a lovely wonderful run of “The Jungle Book” I was not convinced this would work. But I was so wrong I could find out last weekend.
With the premiere on 1st October and no tickets going on sale to the ordinary people but only by invitation for that show - (Seriously Schmidt Theater, you regularly emphasise that you are different but then you follow the same concepts of Stage Entertainment etc. No one is interested in some z-celebs posing in front of local press. You might not have done it for this show but you have done it too often for the other shows. Invite the people who made the theatre a success – invite your fans and regular visitors!) - I decided to go the following week.
It turned out be the perfect decision as the main reason Jan Radermacher whom I have adored since seeing him in “Villa Sonnenschein” the first time over five years ago and who is alternating the role of Kasperl was just to have his premiere on that day.
Elena Zvirbulis and Timo Riegelsberger were also having their premiere in their roles so it felt like a special afternoon as well.
The story itself is unchanged to the novel as I recall, still the same old boring one but what makes this afternoon so special was the wonderful transformation into a live stage event with a top class cast.
Torsten Hammann is just the perfect robber Hotzenplotz, not only does he look exactly like I had expected him to look but from his voice, a very bassy deep range one with a hint of a low German accent, to his moves who gives his role not just a baddy profile but also a bit of heart especially when e.g. he tells the audience what a tough job the one of a robber is.
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| (c) Oliver Fantitsch - http://www.tivoli.de/ |
Jan Radermacher as Kasperl just outperforms himself. Yes, I am utterly biased when it comes up to Jan, but he plays with such a downright infectious enthusiasm that it is a true delight to watch him. I just believe him sincerely enjoying what he is doing (and have so for the last years). His juvenile personality and charm, perfectly suitable for the character, also helps a lot to make his Kasperl very convincing.
Timo Riegelsberger as the constable is very “Prussian” with the right mist of daftness that he does not seem too much a joke and a farce and his portrayal of the sorcerer is (in the most positive way) scarily funny and comical.
Manuel Ettelt plays the bit dumb Seppel rather adorable that you start caring for him very quickly and I adore his clear singing voice. The only minor issue I have that in some scenes he just seems a bit too “grown up” for me (the a bit too tight leather trousers do not help either ;) ) and the dumb Seppel is more a serious one than a blond one.
Elena Zvirbulis is a hilarious old grandmother and a beautiful enchanting young fairy with showing some real talent.
The music itself is rather unexciting, a lot is reminding me of classic tedious German children songs which are at least usually saved by charming orchestrations and very funny witty and sharp lyrics.
The dialogues overall are certainly top notch, even the rhyming is, unlike in some other shows, not ridiculous at all, very smart with some rather ambiguous expressions, harmless for the younger kids, a bit more juicy for the older ones and adults.
Something also typical for the kids’ shows at the Schmidt Theater is getting the audience, well mainly the kids, involved in some scenes and unlike in e.g. “The Jungle Book” the ideas are entertaining, work with the storyline and do not interrupt the flow of the show at all.
Set looks a bit cheap, especially the backgrounds, but with ticket prices of around 20 € for an adult ticket, that is acceptable/tolerable. There are though certainly some good ideas as e.g. the opening with the marionette theatre scene as Kasperl and Seppel are mainly known from there and when Kasperl hears some noises in the sorcerer’s castle going down some stairs. Carolin Spieß directing this and her team certainly had some creative moments when putting together this show.
The costume stay, as far as I recall, very close to the drawings and to the movies etc., just the costume of the fairy is a bit of a let down. It reminds more of a cheap ice skater outfit than worth a fairy.
Well overall, I can only recommend it warmly to every adult in mood of re-visiting their childhood and to every child for some pure fun.
I certainly enjoyed every minute of this show cracking up a lot.
The show runs till January 8th, 2012 at the Schmidt Theater in Hamburg every Saturday and Sunday with extra shows from November on as part of the theatre’s Christmas season.
