Munich Volkstheater: a nice mess

Created: 01/17/2022 10:33 am

By: Michael Schleicher

"Life is serious (Bunbury)" at the Munich Volkstheater with (from left): Carolin Hartmann, Liv Stapelfeldt, Pascal Fligg, Nina Steile, Lukas Darnstädt.

© Gabriela Neeb

Oscar Wilde at the Munich Volkstheater: In-house director Philipp Arnold staged “Life is Serious (Bunbury)”.

Read our premiere review here:

At least the champagne is real.

At least that. In the end, it bubbles bubbly in the glasses of this oh-so-fine British society, which previously spent almost two hours with falling in love, getting engaged, seducing, confusing, gambling and – sorry!

- kidding was busy.

Munich Volkstheater: "Life is serious (Bunbury)" plays on stage 2

In fact, apart from the sparkling wine, there is very little you can rely on in Oscar Wilde's comedy "Life is Serious (Bunbury)", which premiered in 1895 and which resident director Philipp Arnold has now staged at the Munich Volkstheater. The scenery by Viktor Reim: painted. Furnishings in the town house and on the main character's country estate: also, with a few exceptions, created in the painter's workshop. The names of the characters: changeable as they like it - and seems useful. Your gender: not necessarily as the name suggests. On the other hand, it is certain that the premiere of the wild bird fare was on stage 2 in the new Volkstheater on Friday. Their floor, of course: smooth as glass – like the parquet on which Wilde sends his types.

Algernon, nicknamed Algy, invented the sick country friend Bunbury, which he uses as an excuse to escape from London and all his annoying obligations.

His friend Jack, on the other hand, whose real name is John and whom Algy also really likes, uses a boorish brother Ernst when he wants to flee from the country to the city to have fun.

When various female acquaintances, engagements, real baptisms, fictitious deaths and botched marriage proposals are added, it causes chaos not only for the two gentlemen.

In short: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) causes quite a mess in these three acts - and makes for great fun.

Volkstheater director Philipp Arnold recently staged “Macbeth”

Philipp Arnold, who last set up Shakespeare's "Macbeth" at the house, has no qualms about bright boulevards.

Since the door in the backdrop is only painted (see above), he lets his motivated ensemble jump onto the stage from the sides.

It's clip-clap theater anyway.

And it works.

Arnold should have pushed the madness even further and stepped on the gas pedal more vigorously from time to time.

But even so, this evening is enormously entertaining and funny.

Loud types in an artificial setting at the Volkstheater: Algernon Moncrieff (Lukas Darnstädt, left) visits Cecily (Nina Steils) in the country.

© Gabriela Neeb

This is mainly due to the four actresses and two actors who put their garish comic figures on the stage with great dedication.

Two are worth mentioning here in particular: Nina Steils, who as Jack's ward Cecily is not only a sly old man, but also knows how to pursue her goals in gorgeous Dutch.

In her third production, ensemble newcomer Liv Stapelfeldt underscores what an asset it is for the house.

Her Gwendolen is a bolt of energy that always comes as a complete surprise.

Her desire to do theater in the literal sense is just as real as that of her colleagues.

And that's exactly what's needed in such a wrong game.

Then a champagne. Heavy applause.