Sunshine is a welcome thing. It brings a lot of brightness.
Villa Sonnenschein - it's time to say goodbye and thank you
So this weekend is the weekend of the final "Villa Sonnenschein" shows.
Having seen it a lot since my first show in 2006 it is my most seen show these days.
I blogged about it before a few times - read >>here. This is a just a round up and a final note.
I adore this little sweet and slightly silly show having many beautiful memories. Most of the various cast members seen have been wonderful - from the original cast to the cast of the final season.
Thanks to the show and certain talented people in it I saw many others shows through which I discovered other talented people - above all my first Felix - Jan Radermacher.
Out of all people ever part of the cast he is still my all time favourite and there are not the right justifying words to even describe closely how much his performances always meant to me and how sad I was when it was announced that he would not return for the 2012 season.
His portrayal of Felix was always simply perfect. He managed to breathe so much life into the role, into the puppet that it felt so real, so true, so sincere, him and the puppet always fused into one character so well that I often caught myself forgetting about the person behind the yellow puppet.
Not often you get to see such a talent as him who totally melts into the character, not just playing them, that it still breaks my heart that I no longer see him on stage regularly as much as I am delighted for his offstage career since.
So it may not be a surprise that I was rather upset learning of the news he would not return for the 2012 season - till I learnt that Marco Knorz would take over from him.
I had seen Marco before during his training at the Joop Van Ende academy being the one standing out at his graduation show in April 2011 so I was at least a bit excited about him joining.
And oh boy the little excitement turned into full blown excitement when finally seeing him on stage. It had been very hard for me to imagine someone else being (nearly) as stunning as Jan but he totally delivered from his first show such top quality showing off his talents and skills. Especially in the emotional solo number he was always heartbreaking - so moving, so tender, so sweet.
While I certainly love the show I also always felt his talent being underutilised that I really want him to get a bigger job - not in the sense of bigger production but one more challenging - a Sondheim show, a Stephen Schwartz even as long as not Wicked.
I also cannot praise Carolin Spiess any less being the one and only Mechthild, the evil nursery owner. Even when she cracks up due to something funny, unexpected what regularly happened, she still comes across professionally being so driven, energetic and poignant that it was a delight watching and listening to her. She really is someone who knows what it means working for a show and with the others not being in for the laughs as others and I still believe her that she likes what she does.
The other especially to be mentioned is Kai Bronisch - a witty, funny, hilarious and charming doctor with a talent for adlibbing including some random ones he had picked up from talking to you ensuring him regularly cracking me up when using something he picked up from me. Dream team anyone?
One that was always a treat as well was the incredible Hans B. Götzfried with either his Gustav or Hubert being so detailed, so nuanced, so well elaborated that I always felt so convinced by him really feeling what his characters went through.
Not to be forgotten is Robin Brosch, really missed in last few seasons who was such a great Gustav. Also always a pleasure to watch were the likes of Heiko Fischer, Uli Pleßmann, Sven Dahlem and Burkhard Heim.
And all the wonderful Carlotta's - Ingrit Dohse, Angelika Wedekind, Rosemarie Wohlbauer, Regina Lemnitz, Carin Abicht - have I forgotten one? All equally good - yes I had my favourite(s) but each added something special to the part making each Carlotta unique.
Not seen often enough as Mechthild and whom I liked nearly as much as Carolin is the fabulous Anja Majeski. Such a shame she did not return for the final season.
And most of the Melanie's as my first one, the adorable Miriam Lotz, I still like to reminisce of, or Katrin Taylor, who was unfortunately with the show for just one season, so enchantingly played and beautifully sung. The last one joining, well returning to take over new a part, Lisa Huk, who was such a positive surprise being a sweet and fetching Melanie.
And what the show be without the "2nd hand"/lamp Lara especially wondefully played by Inka Jankowski, Kristina Willmaser and Johanna Haas.
I couldn't really stand Corny as Gustav in most seasons though it must be said that his Gustav mellowed a bit and is not as disgusting as he used to be.
I even got used to Heiko Wohlgemuth's doctor - I really do not like his doctor being a farce but there are moments I actually could enjoy - or did I just get used to them?
So this is good bye - to the show, that gave me so much fun over the last years - thanks to which I discovered the most staggering Jan Radermacher and seeing more of the tremendous Marco Knorz's talent, and for now to the two Schmidt theatres, both part of my life for the last 23 years during which I must have been to them around 7/800 times.
Due to various reasons and one in particular (it's NO ONE'S business especially yours Franziska Kuropka what shows I see, and how many and with which cast - and I am a PAYING customer who contributes to YOUR salary so if I cover my ears during your shrill singing it's none of your business either - go and bash someone else in future or at least do it not publically and in front of witnesses ) have decided that I will no longer visit these theatres.
Curtain call pictures
I adore this little sweet and slightly silly show having many beautiful memories. Most of the various cast members seen have been wonderful - from the original cast to the cast of the final season.
Thanks to the show and certain talented people in it I saw many others shows through which I discovered other talented people - above all my first Felix - Jan Radermacher.
Out of all people ever part of the cast he is still my all time favourite and there are not the right justifying words to even describe closely how much his performances always meant to me and how sad I was when it was announced that he would not return for the 2012 season.
His portrayal of Felix was always simply perfect. He managed to breathe so much life into the role, into the puppet that it felt so real, so true, so sincere, him and the puppet always fused into one character so well that I often caught myself forgetting about the person behind the yellow puppet.
Not often you get to see such a talent as him who totally melts into the character, not just playing them, that it still breaks my heart that I no longer see him on stage regularly as much as I am delighted for his offstage career since.
So it may not be a surprise that I was rather upset learning of the news he would not return for the 2012 season - till I learnt that Marco Knorz would take over from him.
I had seen Marco before during his training at the Joop Van Ende academy being the one standing out at his graduation show in April 2011 so I was at least a bit excited about him joining.
And oh boy the little excitement turned into full blown excitement when finally seeing him on stage. It had been very hard for me to imagine someone else being (nearly) as stunning as Jan but he totally delivered from his first show such top quality showing off his talents and skills. Especially in the emotional solo number he was always heartbreaking - so moving, so tender, so sweet.
While I certainly love the show I also always felt his talent being underutilised that I really want him to get a bigger job - not in the sense of bigger production but one more challenging - a Sondheim show, a Stephen Schwartz even as long as not Wicked.
I also cannot praise Carolin Spiess any less being the one and only Mechthild, the evil nursery owner. Even when she cracks up due to something funny, unexpected what regularly happened, she still comes across professionally being so driven, energetic and poignant that it was a delight watching and listening to her. She really is someone who knows what it means working for a show and with the others not being in for the laughs as others and I still believe her that she likes what she does.
The other especially to be mentioned is Kai Bronisch - a witty, funny, hilarious and charming doctor with a talent for adlibbing including some random ones he had picked up from talking to you ensuring him regularly cracking me up when using something he picked up from me. Dream team anyone?
One that was always a treat as well was the incredible Hans B. Götzfried with either his Gustav or Hubert being so detailed, so nuanced, so well elaborated that I always felt so convinced by him really feeling what his characters went through.
Not to be forgotten is Robin Brosch, really missed in last few seasons who was such a great Gustav. Also always a pleasure to watch were the likes of Heiko Fischer, Uli Pleßmann, Sven Dahlem and Burkhard Heim.
And all the wonderful Carlotta's - Ingrit Dohse, Angelika Wedekind, Rosemarie Wohlbauer, Regina Lemnitz, Carin Abicht - have I forgotten one? All equally good - yes I had my favourite(s) but each added something special to the part making each Carlotta unique.
Not seen often enough as Mechthild and whom I liked nearly as much as Carolin is the fabulous Anja Majeski. Such a shame she did not return for the final season.
And most of the Melanie's as my first one, the adorable Miriam Lotz, I still like to reminisce of, or Katrin Taylor, who was unfortunately with the show for just one season, so enchantingly played and beautifully sung. The last one joining, well returning to take over new a part, Lisa Huk, who was such a positive surprise being a sweet and fetching Melanie.
And what the show be without the "2nd hand"/lamp Lara especially wondefully played by Inka Jankowski, Kristina Willmaser and Johanna Haas.
I couldn't really stand Corny as Gustav in most seasons though it must be said that his Gustav mellowed a bit and is not as disgusting as he used to be.
I even got used to Heiko Wohlgemuth's doctor - I really do not like his doctor being a farce but there are moments I actually could enjoy - or did I just get used to them?
So this is good bye - to the show, that gave me so much fun over the last years - thanks to which I discovered the most staggering Jan Radermacher and seeing more of the tremendous Marco Knorz's talent, and for now to the two Schmidt theatres, both part of my life for the last 23 years during which I must have been to them around 7/800 times.
Due to various reasons and one in particular (it's NO ONE'S business especially yours Franziska Kuropka what shows I see, and how many and with which cast - and I am a PAYING customer who contributes to YOUR salary so if I cover my ears during your shrill singing it's none of your business either - go and bash someone else in future or at least do it not publically and in front of witnesses ) have decided that I will no longer visit these theatres.
Curtain call pictures
