"Der Räuber Hotzenplotz" - here we go again.....
“Der Räuber Hotzenplotz” - The Robber Hotzenplotz at the Schmidt Theater
Hamburg, 15th October, 2011
Since the role of the robber (as the other parts) is alternated and the by me highly rated alternate having his premiere today it was a must to return to this show.
It was also Mario Saccoccio's debut as Seppel (he also alternates the role of Kasperl) and my first time seeing Annic-Barbara Fenske as the grandmother/fairy.
Robber Hotzenplotz - Götz Fuhrmann
Kasperl - Jan Radermacher
Seppel - Mario Saccoccio
Grandmother/Fairy - Annic-Barbara Fenske
Constable/Sorcerer - Timo Riegelsberger

"Gib nicht auf, wir werden's überwinden.
Denk an mich, verliere nie den Mut.
Irgendwann werd ich dich wieder finden
Und dann wird das alles wieder gut."
"Don't give up, we will overcome it.
Think of me, don't lose your courage.
I will find you some time.
And then everything will be okay again."
Götz Fuhrmann as the robber was totally different to last week's performance by Torsten Hammann. It was like day and night but each having its existence rights.
Physically not as vast as Torsten but thanks to some most staggering facial prothestics (who made these? a BIG well done to that person) and some other bits and pieces and his striking posture he was optically already as perfect as possible. His performance self just mind-blowing, certainly a must see. His Hamburg slang he added to the character (I had feared a slightly camp robber before the show but that did not happen at all) was an enjoyable touch and making his robber less frightening but more a bitter but also a rather bubbly lively one. He feeds a lot of the energy of the performance of the others making his Hotzenplotz a more realistic one and you must, even though he is a baddy, just love him.

One thing though is sure: I will (try to) never ever sit near the front when Götz is on. ;-) Normally when the audience is involved (see first post) and there is a special task to be completed men/dads are being picked - well sitting in the second row, me being known and since he had spotted me he picked me - to play a fly agaric when the robber returns to the woods after stealing the gold. Yeah how much I wanted the ground to swallow me up in that moment.
Jan Radermacher as Kasperl was once again a delight to watch. He seemed vocally even a bit more secure than last week, you can hardly tell that he had some voice problems earlier this year, and definitely has made the role his own already. He just finds the right balance giving Kasperl cheekiness and smartness that it is never too much. Oh, and have I mentioned before HOW MUCH I adore him???
Mario Saccoccio as Seppel was very comical which worked in some scenes, as e.g. when his Seppel as a shy cute moment when getting introduced to the fairy but in some it didn't too well imho when I would want a more subtle Seppel and not so hyped up, e.g. in one scene when he is to be sad and apparently crying it did not look like crying at all but him grinning. Not sure what was happening with him, but just not something I want to see. Vocally though he can convince even though unfortunately the role of Seppel does not allow him too much of his true talent.
Timo Riegelsberger as the constable was as good as last week. Cannot point out anything particular, just a majorly steady performance from him. He had a blond moment when he slightly messed up the names of Seppel and Kasperl which had me in stitches but covered and got covered so well.
Annic-Barbara Fenske was a bit of a disappointment for me personally. I definitely preferred Elena Zvirbulis whose performance was a lot more natural. As grandmother I thought she was not enough granny-like as e.g. not sounding old even not really hoarse, just simplier hushed and being a bit too fit and as the fairy I did not rate her higly either with her moves and gestures seeming rather affected and not elegant enough.
Well overall a FUN afternoon out that I'd love to repeat but that one short moment.
Denk an mich, verliere nie den Mut.
Irgendwann werd ich dich wieder finden
Und dann wird das alles wieder gut."
"Don't give up, we will overcome it.
Think of me, don't lose your courage.
I will find you some time.
And then everything will be okay again."