Cute As Button
Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer
(Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver)
Grillo Theater, Essen, 15th November 2014 - premiere
"Eine Insel mit zwei Bergen... und im tiefen weiten Meer..." - is there any German who does not know that song which was the title song for the "Jim Knopf" marionette TV series by the Augsburger Puppenkiste?
I personally grew up with most of the Augsburger Puppenkiste series, loved them and Jim Knopf always stayed close to my heart.
So when I learnt that the wonderful Sebastian Strehler and his fabulous band 'Tante Polly' would be part of this year's Christmas family production at the theatre Essen I thought I go and see it.
Unfortunately the show in December I had booked originally got cancelled a few days after I ordered my ticket and since I was not really sure how much time I would have in that month and with a lot of shows already (nearly) sold out I changed plans spontaneously and went to the premiere instead for which I got a decent, though not as central as for other show, ticket.
So on a cloudy Saturday I was off to Essen...
So on a cloudy Saturday I was off to Essen...
Cast (Characters as called in German):
Jim Knopf - Michael Del Coco
Lukas der Lokomotivführer - Sven Seeburg
Frau Waas, Oberbonze Pi Pa Po, Frau Mahlzahn Ines Krug
Bonze, Nepomuk, Prinzessin Li Si - Flora Pulina
König Alfons, Ping Pong, Kind - Gregor Henze
Herr Ärmel, Türhüter, Bonze 2, Kind -Paul Lücke
Kaiser von Mandala, Herr Tur Tur - Felix Lampert
Hauptmann - Sebastian Strehler
Wachen, Kinder u. a. Anja Heimann Christian Lehnert
Band "Tante Polly"
Dominik Dittrich, Benjamin Leibbrand, Sebastian Strehler
Jim Knopf - Michael Del Coco
Lukas der Lokomotivführer - Sven Seeburg
Frau Waas, Oberbonze Pi Pa Po, Frau Mahlzahn Ines Krug
Bonze, Nepomuk, Prinzessin Li Si - Flora Pulina
König Alfons, Ping Pong, Kind - Gregor Henze
Herr Ärmel, Türhüter, Bonze 2, Kind -Paul Lücke
Kaiser von Mandala, Herr Tur Tur - Felix Lampert
Hauptmann - Sebastian Strehler
Wachen, Kinder u. a. Anja Heimann Christian Lehnert
Band "Tante Polly"
Dominik Dittrich, Benjamin Leibbrand, Sebastian Strehler
Directed by Anne Spaeter and Florian Heller as dramaturge is another lovely proof that these kind of family shows at German repertory theatres are not to be underestimated and that they can easily take it up with other shows in regards to professionalism and passion.
From the first moment when we meet the so familiar inhabitants of the tiny island Lummerland you are drawn into the action and the well balanced comical moments full of slapstick but without ever getting ridiculous.
It is fresh, zappy and witty with some clever ideas supported by a creative stage design (by Fabian Lüdicke) - how brilliant is the island staged being "just" a couple of tables and some cloths stacked on another or Emma, the locomotive, largely made out of housewares - but also the sentimental moments as when Jim Knopf has to learn that Lukas wants/feels he has to leave the island as there is apparently not enough space for everyone on Lummerland are beautifully heart fully crafted.
The various scenes are created being most of the time faithful to the original just with the odd change giving it some own identity (and the odd scene cut from the book I personally missed but as not really needed for the story flow I suppose a way to keep the production under a for little children suitable running time) and personality.
As already said it is especially the staging that is just incredible. What an eye for detail, what an eye for what works and catches the eye of the audience.
Saying that this is created with most simplistic but most effective tools as a stunning light design to create a snowy countryside or the moment Herr Tur Tur appears to Jim and Lukas, paper mache for a volcanic scenery or cardboards and linen for boats, thrones and the desert.
The costumes, designed by Natalia Nordheime, are also pleasant to look at. Particularly the one of Frau Mahlzahn, a dragon, is done so cleverly and works so well. Or the one of Ping Pong, a very smart toddler and played by an adult, which easily could have looked ridiculous but it just simply looked cute.
The cast could also impress - largely.
It is unfortunately the title role that is the biggest let down.
I can live with the fact that Jim Knopf is not of dark skin as described in novel, normally in plays the person is either of black origin or painted, but, while Michael Del Coco is rather short to be height wise a believable boy, his play is not for me. He is simply an adult trying to be boyish.
If Jim was already close to be a teenager, when the kids want to come across as grown up, it might work, but Jim is a boy, full stop. So this Jim is largely just loud and feels fake. Disappointing.
On the other side discovering a fantastic actor as Felix Lampert is a treat.
Watching him play the double role of the emperor of Mandala and Herr Tur Tur and giving each such a strong believable characterisation left the biggest mark for me.
As out of real life these characters are though with most human problems as the loss of a child or loneliness he plays them with such a natural and well differentiated accentuation that they feel clear, real and artless.
Especially his Herr Tur Tur makes my heart break and melt that you just want him to find acceptance and company. When he sings of his life there is so much sadness and emotion in his voice that it does not bug me at all that he is not a great singer (and that me who is often so critical).
But he also can shine in funny moments as when he enjoys the company of Lukas and Jim.
Really want to see him in something else now!
Nearly as much as Felix Lampert can Sven Seeburg impress. His Lukas is sincere and faithful and who stands by what he believes in.
He could be directly from one of these little islands in the North Sea just off North or East Frisia with his way to speak and the characteristics so typical for that part of Germany and normally so liked just as his Lukas is so likeable.
Flora Pulina's princess Li Si could be a bit sweeter when speaking as her voice sounds a bit rough.
It works for the half dragon Nepomuk she also plays but as that pitchy voice is just a bit too pitchy for a princess she comes across more annoying than charming.
Yes, she is to be strong minded and confident too but that voice just did my head in. It also does not help to separate the characters as they sound quite the same.
Ines Krug is a hilarious Oberbonze Pi Pa Po, a bit flat as Frau Waas, but then the part is underutilised, and so amazingly scary and menacing as Frau Mahlzahn, the teaching dragon who buys kidnapped children from that gang "the wild 13".
Ah, what a delight she is when Frau Mahlzahn tortures and tries to most firmly educate the children in the opening scene in act 2 that she even made a few kids in the audience cry.
Gregor Henze is an adorable toddler Ping Pong and so funnily royal as the king of Lummerland. His Ping Pong had me in stitches when walking and wobbling around and telling Jim and Lukas of himself and what happened to the emperor's daughter.
The others, Paul Lücke, Anja Heimann and Christian Lehnert, were strong support making most out of the parts they had.
And then there was Polly... well Tante Polly, this great band Sebastian Strehler, whom I have known since his 2 year engagement at the TfN, is a member of largely playing drums (and that brilliantly I'd say so having also seen him play drums in that 'Marquise Of O' play).
I need to confess the first time, in June 2012, I went to see them, I just purely went because of Sebastian not knowing anything about them.
I have seen them a few times since though not as often as liked as with other plans colliding I missed them regularly especially when they play gigs in Hamburg as in October this year. They are a brilliant live band and have released two fab albums.
They also did already write the music for a family show at the Bad Gandersheim annual summer festival I only heard good things about.
I was really not sure what to expect but what I heard was pretty enchanting matching the spirit of the moment and the scene well.
Yes, there is certainly some inspiration noticeable (music itself written by Dominik Dittrich) but the way the music is weaved into the show is done most perfectly being played so freshly, energetically and with so much FUN (I especially love watching the band member Benjamin Leibbrand always appearing being most cheery and happy) and how the band is part of the show too.
Normally sitting left of the stage there are also moments when they join the scene on stage as when Jim and Lukas travel through the desert and meet some weird creatures - some of them the band with their instruments or when in the empire where Sebastian had also a smaller "proper" part as a captain being funnily soldier like reminding me how much I love seeing him on stage!
Overall a fantastic show in which (nearly) everything fits bringing back these wonderful moments of the story and adding new making me leave the theatre humming - not the Augsburger Puppenkiste title song but one of the numbers of this production... "Mandala und Lummerland...".
And once home I *may* have booked a ticket or two for further shows as near by twice in December and January. Oops...
From the first moment when we meet the so familiar inhabitants of the tiny island Lummerland you are drawn into the action and the well balanced comical moments full of slapstick but without ever getting ridiculous.It is fresh, zappy and witty with some clever ideas supported by a creative stage design (by Fabian Lüdicke) - how brilliant is the island staged being "just" a couple of tables and some cloths stacked on another or Emma, the locomotive, largely made out of housewares - but also the sentimental moments as when Jim Knopf has to learn that Lukas wants/feels he has to leave the island as there is apparently not enough space for everyone on Lummerland are beautifully heart fully crafted.
As already said it is especially the staging that is just incredible. What an eye for detail, what an eye for what works and catches the eye of the audience.
The costumes, designed by Natalia Nordheime, are also pleasant to look at. Particularly the one of Frau Mahlzahn, a dragon, is done so cleverly and works so well. Or the one of Ping Pong, a very smart toddler and played by an adult, which easily could have looked ridiculous but it just simply looked cute.
It is unfortunately the title role that is the biggest let down.
I can live with the fact that Jim Knopf is not of dark skin as described in novel, normally in plays the person is either of black origin or painted, but, while Michael Del Coco is rather short to be height wise a believable boy, his play is not for me. He is simply an adult trying to be boyish.
If Jim was already close to be a teenager, when the kids want to come across as grown up, it might work, but Jim is a boy, full stop. So this Jim is largely just loud and feels fake. Disappointing.
Watching him play the double role of the emperor of Mandala and Herr Tur Tur and giving each such a strong believable characterisation left the biggest mark for me.
As out of real life these characters are though with most human problems as the loss of a child or loneliness he plays them with such a natural and well differentiated accentuation that they feel clear, real and artless.
Especially his Herr Tur Tur makes my heart break and melt that you just want him to find acceptance and company. When he sings of his life there is so much sadness and emotion in his voice that it does not bug me at all that he is not a great singer (and that me who is often so critical).
But he also can shine in funny moments as when he enjoys the company of Lukas and Jim.
Really want to see him in something else now!
He could be directly from one of these little islands in the North Sea just off North or East Frisia with his way to speak and the characteristics so typical for that part of Germany and normally so liked just as his Lukas is so likeable.
Flora Pulina's princess Li Si could be a bit sweeter when speaking as her voice sounds a bit rough.
It works for the half dragon Nepomuk she also plays but as that pitchy voice is just a bit too pitchy for a princess she comes across more annoying than charming.
Yes, she is to be strong minded and confident too but that voice just did my head in. It also does not help to separate the characters as they sound quite the same.
Ah, what a delight she is when Frau Mahlzahn tortures and tries to most firmly educate the children in the opening scene in act 2 that she even made a few kids in the audience cry.
Gregor Henze is an adorable toddler Ping Pong and so funnily royal as the king of Lummerland. His Ping Pong had me in stitches when walking and wobbling around and telling Jim and Lukas of himself and what happened to the emperor's daughter.
The others, Paul Lücke, Anja Heimann and Christian Lehnert, were strong support making most out of the parts they had.
I need to confess the first time, in June 2012, I went to see them, I just purely went because of Sebastian not knowing anything about them.
I have seen them a few times since though not as often as liked as with other plans colliding I missed them regularly especially when they play gigs in Hamburg as in October this year. They are a brilliant live band and have released two fab albums.
They also did already write the music for a family show at the Bad Gandersheim annual summer festival I only heard good things about.
Yes, there is certainly some inspiration noticeable (music itself written by Dominik Dittrich) but the way the music is weaved into the show is done most perfectly being played so freshly, energetically and with so much FUN (I especially love watching the band member Benjamin Leibbrand always appearing being most cheery and happy) and how the band is part of the show too.
Normally sitting left of the stage there are also moments when they join the scene on stage as when Jim and Lukas travel through the desert and meet some weird creatures - some of them the band with their instruments or when in the empire where Sebastian had also a smaller "proper" part as a captain being funnily soldier like reminding me how much I love seeing him on stage!
Overall a fantastic show in which (nearly) everything fits bringing back these wonderful moments of the story and adding new making me leave the theatre humming - not the Augsburger Puppenkiste title song but one of the numbers of this production... "Mandala und Lummerland...".
And once home I *may* have booked a ticket or two for further shows as near by twice in December and January. Oops...
Pictures from curtain call:
All show pictures taken from the official Schauspiel Essen website, curtain call taken by me. Trailer on YouTube >>here.
