In the “How are you?” Series, we ask people how they experience the unusual Corona times.
Today: Siegfried Böhmke, director of the Munich Marionette Theater.
Mr. Böhmke, how are you?
Böhmke
: Thank you, private life is fine.
As far as my Munich puppet theater is concerned, things are unfortunately not going so well.
Like all the theaters, we are closed and at the moment I don't see us opening again in February.
Even if, as an optimist, I worked out a game plan for February.
When do you think you will be able to reopen the theater?
Böhmke
: If you give me a glass ball, I can tell you.
Seriously: I don't know.
Were there any games at all on Blumenstrasse in Munich this year?
Böhmke
: Yes, but very little.
Before the first lockdown, i.e. until mid-March.
And then again in autumn for a few weeks.
In October, for example, we gave the premiere of Astutuli, a Bavarian comedy by Carl Orff, on the occasion of the Orff year, he would have been 125 this year.
But at the beginning of November the game was over again.
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Siegfried Böhmke, head of the Munich Marionette Theater, lives in Egling.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
How did you deal with the situation?
Böhmke
: Well, we quickly started streaming tracks on the internet.
First we showed Mozart's Magic Flute, and a few weeks later the “Little Bear's Adventures”.
I have received really touching letters from many children.
And there was also some donation for the puppet theater.
Is there anything that pains you in particular?
Böhmke
: Of course, it's a shame about the event that we had planned for November.
We wanted to celebrate 120 years of the Marionette Theater in Munich, our house was founded on November 3rd, 1900.
That would have coincided with the anniversary of my 20-year directorship.
On this occasion we also wanted to perform the rock fairy tale "Tabaluga - Long live friendship" by Peter Maffay, a mixed production for different types of characters, not just marionettes, but also jaw-dropping figures.
We got the rights for that.
But we had to cancel that.
Maybe we can make up for it in November 2021.
What are you currently doing in Egling?
Böhmke
: I have enough to do, I will certainly not get bored.
I am currently working on characters for Tabaluga, a really wonderful story about the little dragon Tabaluga and the evil snowman Arktos, who eventually become friends.
I'm just finishing the ant army general.
In addition, I redecorate the two shop windows of the old grocery store Knabl every few weeks, opposite the Hotel Oberhauser, where I display pieces from my old advertising collection.
Right now I have exchanged the Christmas decorations for a Mardi Gras decoration.
You are always part of the “Oide Wiesn”.
Böhmke
: Yes, I applied again for the Oktoberfest.
But nobody knows whether the Oktoberfest can take place.
I received a very nice letter from the organizer, Hans Spindler, who also lives in Egling.
It states that no statement can be made before June.
You see: question marks over question marks.
What do you do to change your mind?
Böhmke
: I go for a walk in the forest and enjoy the wonderful peace.
If you pay attention you can hear the first birds.
Five more weeks and the starlings will come back.
And the days are gradually getting longer again.
Things are looking up again.
Also read: This shop window attracts an entire village
In the
“How are you?”
Series
, we ask people from the district how they experience the unusual Corona times.
Finally: Ines Lobenstein from the Helferkreis in Wolfratshausen.
