A Magical Journey to Magic Moon
Märchenmond - Kammerspiele, Hamburg, 08th November 2012
("Magic Moon" - literally though "Fairy Tale Moon")
("Magic Moon" - literally though "Fairy Tale Moon")
Theatre's Christmas season has clearly started as I got to see two family shows in one week...
"Märchenmond" is a family musical by the former TfN musical company director Christian Gundlach and based on the young adult fantasy novel written by German authors Wolfgang and Heike Hohlbein. I got to see the show already in Hildesheim a few years ago - accidently. I was to see "Sweet Charity" one day but due to sickness in the the TfN ensemble and not being able to perform the show they just played "Märchenmond" instead turning out to be an enjoyable evening .
"Märchenmond" is a family musical by the former TfN musical company director Christian Gundlach and based on the young adult fantasy novel written by German authors Wolfgang and Heike Hohlbein. I got to see the show already in Hildesheim a few years ago - accidently. I was to see "Sweet Charity" one day but due to sickness in the the TfN ensemble and not being able to perform the show they just played "Märchenmond" instead turning out to be an enjoyable evening .
Last year it was announced that the show was to have its premiere in Hamburg at the Altonaer Theater though later that was postponed and moved to the partner theatre Hamburger Kammerspiele (a theatre I actually like a lot more). Again I was not too sure whether, as much as I liked it in Hildesheim, I wanted to go - till the cast (half of the superb High Fidelity cast) was announced when I changed my mind going to the premiere.
"Märchenmond" tells of 12 year old school boy Kim whose sister Rebekka has fallen into a mysterious coma after her appendicectomy. A visitor from the realm of Magic Moon, the wizard Themistokles, tells him there is only one way to free her from the enchantment of eternal sleep: Kim himself must travel into the land of dreams, Magic Moon is nothing else, and save her from the dark wizard Boraas, who has captured her soul.
So Kim is pulled there, disguises himself as a dark warrior, fights dangerous monsters and fantastical creatures with getting help from citizens of Magic Moon, and travels ever-onward through forests and mountains to the end of the world, only to find out that the answer to saving Rebekka and Magic Moon lies within himself.
To be adapted for the stage the 600 page novel had to be simplified focusing on the key elements plus some minor adjustments as the end were made but the final result with the supporting music combining various music styles sounding, while occasionally cheesy (but I like the odd cheese), rather fresh and lively (and not as lame as at some kids shows) is one most enjoyable one.
Directed by Franz-Joseph Dieken and played without an interval the 80 minutes show carries the audience away to a different world in an instant the show starts. The moments of the story come to life so diversely combining scarier scenes as when the warrior of the dark wizard appear (though non too scary) breaking these up with ones causing laughter as when the bear Kehlim and the giant Gorg perform their musical argument "Er Fängt Immer An" (He always starts it) with some well choreographed movements.
Watching the cast led by the top notch Ben Knop as Kim is a real treat teasing out that one extra bit the TfN production lacked to be a convincing total package but here all worked.
Ben is just a most perfect Kim. I was already pleased before when reading that the part would be played by a man and not a woman as in Hildesheim (which could only partly convince) and when it is cast so well with someone who not has the right looks but who is so formidably taken up and immersing in the part making me forget that is not a grown up man I see it is totally awe-inspiring and his singing is just again so agitating .
Rebekka's "Geh Voran" ("Go Ahead") and "Mein Bruder Und Ich" (My Brother And I) never sounded more emotional. Being two slightly disappointing songs on the "Märchenmond" cast recording from the TfN they finally come fully to life sung so fervently but also benignly by the compelling Alice Wittmer.
Rebekka, while in the "real world" is comatose, is somehow accompanying Kim as his shadow companion. Physically not there but still watching waiting for her rescue who needs to face the fact that Kim, so absorbed in fighting the dark wizard has forgotten her. As Rebekka is not really part of the "real" action, actually some kind of an one way street with him not knowing/feeling she is there, it is, as I think, even more difficult to show the connection with her brother and Alice does that most marvellously.
Sven Niemeyer as the bear Kehlim (or whatever spelling as various float around) is so entertainingly camp giving such a spot on exaggerating performance of the neatly constantly cleaning and ballet dancing bear wearing the cutest t-shirt with a "bussi bear" print on the front (a cheesy cute bear created in the 60s).
Next to him is the wonderful Roman Blachnitzky as his friend the giant Gorg who reminds a lot of a Neandertal not only with his costume, make up and hair but also being so dolpish and slightly dumb but with a big heart. He is also the rainbow king Kim is trying to get to.
Tobis Kilian as Themistokles and his evil brother Boraas is terrific with giving each of the two personalities his own touches. While he lacks the real evilness Jens Krause's Boraas had in the TfN production his is more insane and loony and that also works very well. And directing wise he has one of the most clever moments as when Kim meets Boraas the first time. Boraas wears already the dark outfit, but the white haired wig, Kim knows Themistokles with, takes it off showing a rather bald head to then put on a black wig on his head to complete the personality change. Considering who Boraas is as we learn at the end that is such a smart idea.
The secret stars, well if you can say it that way considering the small 5 piece ensemble, for me are Lo Rivera, who as the raven Rok (though considering the outfit and the scenery reminds more of a penguin and hearing people after the show plenty thought it was one and not a raven) gives a tremendous performance when being a gate keeper with the most fantastic "Turk-German" slang so most popular among the youth and not only ones of Turkish origin teasing these and delivering her big number, a rap one, as if she has imbibed it from her infancy. and Nico Staink as the Tümpelprinz (tarn prince) Ado, a frog / the young veld rider who especially as the frog does go so hilariously berserk never coming to a standstill.
Set seems rather simple with the stage pretty much empty but a few over-dimensional pillows which are throughout the show used most cleverly as they are not only used to sit on them but they are also used as not stones and rocks but full riversides, even hills and the one mountain Kim has to conquer with the help of his friends on his way to the rainbow king. One major prop is a mirror but there is no ordinary mirror but silver balloons and so on. The lighting is most stunning giving such effects creating and the video projection works also well.
One of the key ideas of the story is that if you want to achieve something, stick to it and you can manage it and this production and its creatives hopefully wanted to create a great show and achieved it. It is its most perfect pre Christmas treat for the whole family.
To be adapted for the stage the 600 page novel had to be simplified focusing on the key elements plus some minor adjustments as the end were made but the final result with the supporting music combining various music styles sounding, while occasionally cheesy (but I like the odd cheese), rather fresh and lively (and not as lame as at some kids shows) is one most enjoyable one.
Directed by Franz-Joseph Dieken and played without an interval the 80 minutes show carries the audience away to a different world in an instant the show starts. The moments of the story come to life so diversely combining scarier scenes as when the warrior of the dark wizard appear (though non too scary) breaking these up with ones causing laughter as when the bear Kehlim and the giant Gorg perform their musical argument "Er Fängt Immer An" (He always starts it) with some well choreographed movements.
Watching the cast led by the top notch Ben Knop as Kim is a real treat teasing out that one extra bit the TfN production lacked to be a convincing total package but here all worked.
Ben is just a most perfect Kim. I was already pleased before when reading that the part would be played by a man and not a woman as in Hildesheim (which could only partly convince) and when it is cast so well with someone who not has the right looks but who is so formidably taken up and immersing in the part making me forget that is not a grown up man I see it is totally awe-inspiring and his singing is just again so agitating .
Rebekka's "Geh Voran" ("Go Ahead") and "Mein Bruder Und Ich" (My Brother And I) never sounded more emotional. Being two slightly disappointing songs on the "Märchenmond" cast recording from the TfN they finally come fully to life sung so fervently but also benignly by the compelling Alice Wittmer.
Rebekka, while in the "real world" is comatose, is somehow accompanying Kim as his shadow companion. Physically not there but still watching waiting for her rescue who needs to face the fact that Kim, so absorbed in fighting the dark wizard has forgotten her. As Rebekka is not really part of the "real" action, actually some kind of an one way street with him not knowing/feeling she is there, it is, as I think, even more difficult to show the connection with her brother and Alice does that most marvellously.
Next to him is the wonderful Roman Blachnitzky as his friend the giant Gorg who reminds a lot of a Neandertal not only with his costume, make up and hair but also being so dolpish and slightly dumb but with a big heart. He is also the rainbow king Kim is trying to get to.
Tobis Kilian as Themistokles and his evil brother Boraas is terrific with giving each of the two personalities his own touches. While he lacks the real evilness Jens Krause's Boraas had in the TfN production his is more insane and loony and that also works very well. And directing wise he has one of the most clever moments as when Kim meets Boraas the first time. Boraas wears already the dark outfit, but the white haired wig, Kim knows Themistokles with, takes it off showing a rather bald head to then put on a black wig on his head to complete the personality change. Considering who Boraas is as we learn at the end that is such a smart idea.
The secret stars, well if you can say it that way considering the small 5 piece ensemble, for me are Lo Rivera, who as the raven Rok (though considering the outfit and the scenery reminds more of a penguin and hearing people after the show plenty thought it was one and not a raven) gives a tremendous performance when being a gate keeper with the most fantastic "Turk-German" slang so most popular among the youth and not only ones of Turkish origin teasing these and delivering her big number, a rap one, as if she has imbibed it from her infancy. and Nico Staink as the Tümpelprinz (tarn prince) Ado, a frog / the young veld rider who especially as the frog does go so hilariously berserk never coming to a standstill.
Set seems rather simple with the stage pretty much empty but a few over-dimensional pillows which are throughout the show used most cleverly as they are not only used to sit on them but they are also used as not stones and rocks but full riversides, even hills and the one mountain Kim has to conquer with the help of his friends on his way to the rainbow king. One major prop is a mirror but there is no ordinary mirror but silver balloons and so on. The lighting is most stunning giving such effects creating and the video projection works also well.
One of the key ideas of the story is that if you want to achieve something, stick to it and you can manage it and this production and its creatives hopefully wanted to create a great show and achieved it. It is its most perfect pre Christmas treat for the whole family.
