True friendship is seen through the heart, not through the eyes.

September 17, 2014

True friendship is seen through the heart, not through the eyes.

Die Schwarzen Brüder, Schloss Bückeburg - September 2014

-- Brief round up post --

After seeing the show a few days after the premiere (read about it >>here) I returned twice in the month of September.

The first trip was on 7th September to see Thomas Christ as Luini.

Officially understudying that part he was really an alternate with one guaranteed show per week but in the last week, so as had not managed to see him before I kinda had to squeeze in a rather last minute trip to Bückeburg on that Sunday - even if it meant being back at home just after midnight with having to go back to work the following day but it was certainly worth it.

The show, still largely direction wise not my cup of tea for the raised issues in the first post, was nevertheless fun, well as much as it can be considering the sad subject and seeing the cast having grown into their parts was certainly a delight - largely.

The main reason for going, Thomas Christ, could certainly impress after I had not been too keen on Peter Zeug in the part of Luini being a lot more malicious and less panto like plus adding bitterness to the part that the character felt a lot more natural. Vocally, being a tenor, he lacked a bit the darkness and depth Florian Schneider had in that part in the Walenstadt production but still sounded dangerous and twisted.

While Peter Zeug also plays the part of Dr Casella for the covers the part was split and Andreas Langsch plays the doctor which he does very sincerely and heartily being a lot more caring and emphatic, only vocally he struggles the odd time but that did not bug me too much as his play was so wonderful.

With Thomas Christ playing Luini his usual role of Paolo was unfortunately covered by Tim Müller.

Never a fan of him at the TfN he can again not convince. Seriously I do not get it why he is cast so often.

He totally lacks charisma, sounds so bland and actually plays pretty much any part I see him in very similar styles even when the characters are to be so different.

Paolo is such a womaniser with the female kitchen staff all over him and he over them but Tim is just there, not more, not less. Yes, he does the choreography, but there is absolutely no feel to it and his Paolo clearly must be asexual, at least he came across like that for me.

As Giorgio I got to see Nicolai Schein, one of three boys sharing that part, after seeing Moritz Gehrckens at my first trip. Vocally a treat with such a clear boyish voice hitting (largely) the notes his play was a bit weaker than Moritz' being a bit less brisk and confident but still lovely to watch.

I also saw him again last weekend when I ended up seeing both shows on Saturday plus Moritz once more missing Jasper Klein totally. A bit of a shame but at least Jasper Klein is the Giorgio on the just released CD so I could listen to him sing the song leastwise.

I must say that especially Moritz impressed me on Saturday night, he certainly had grown, just as had expected, being a lot clearer, less insecure in his singing, his play was already wonderful and very close to spot on in August being so driven but now his singing matched that play that it was a worthy final show for him.

Also the last show for one set of the other boys and while I still do not understand some direction decisions in regards to them as the marching across the stage they and also the other set, who did the matinee could shine.

With Maite Kelly having to leave the show at the end of August due to her pregnancy Conny Braun took over for the last two weeks who was for my personal taste a bit too shrill occasionally than just loud but her singing was fortunately a lot clearer and less vibrating than Maite, so it was all nearly good.

Well, overall a few more good shows of a piece that needs, if ever done again, a director that really works with the material and knows how to emphasise more on directing people which is so essential for such a piece.

The performers did the jobs largely as good as possible and could impress but with a different director I have the feeling it could have even been better.

It was certainly an experiment bringing an open air musical production that unknown in Germany to a location not used before and seeing how empty it was at the shows last weekend I would not be surprised if it was a financial flop.

I hope though it will not stop the creative and production team from bringing another show on stage next year or so. With apparently a decent number of kids available in the area as we were told in an introduction by one of the producers before the matinee how about bringing Oliver! to Bückeburg?? Now that is a show I would like to see!