Old legend in a new guise
Created: 01/23/2022, 18:40
Interlude: Ansgar Wilk as a great puppeteer with Alberich.
© Ingrid Koch
The Nibelungen saga is a long story, also on the stage.
The Hoftheater Bergkirchen, however, presents a version that is as short as it is entertaining.
Bergkirchen – The Nibelungen saga in a completely different way and from a new perspective: In an exciting production with the recorded music by Max I. Milian, Ansgar Wilk has created the “Nibelungen Ring” for the Bergkirchen court theater with many funny ideas, snappy sayings and current references to a Text by Olivier Auber in the theater version by Herbert Müller.
As Wilk emphasized in advance, he wanted to break new ground and draw parallels to today.
And: "In between, let individual scenes flash up again and again, which can sometimes be surprising, funny, but also very serious".
Everything revolves around Kriemhild (sister of the king of the Nibelungs) and Brünhild (queen of the Isenlande), who Sarah Giebel and Julia Rieblinger embody with great passion.
The two biting rivals bite each other, attack each other, and in the crucial scene in front of Worms Cathedral they try to consolidate their position.
Both are betrayed by a society of men who care about nothing but power, politics and self-support.
On the one hand there is Siegfried (Ansgar Wilk), the radiant, courageous hero, a real guy who Kriemhild has a crush on.
Gunther (King of the Nibelungs) and Hagn von Tronje plays convincingly Jürgen Füser.
He makes his grand entrance in a state-supporting speech to his people, and as is customary in politics, the event is recorded on camera by a journalist (Julia Rieblinger).
As far as love is concerned, Gunther is not lucky, because after the night of love with the "Valkyrie" Brünhild he is totally frustrated.
Only a strong sip at the bar helps.
Wilk also appears as the anonymous poet who wrote "the strange story" about the Nibelungs more than 800 years ago.
As a narrator, he introduces the fast-paced events on stage, in which, in addition to revenge and obsession, love – or “what some men think of it” – is decisive.
It does not prevent murder and manslaughter.
The verdict is: "Siegfried must die."
And since Wilk has been a puppeteer since childhood and never lost his passion for it, he combines the two art forms, acting and puppetry.
He relies on the effect of a facially rigid puppet, "which creates a very special atmosphere, especially with fantasy figures such as Alberich (dwarf, king of the elves)."
This is where stage designer Ulrike Beckers comes into play, who has painstakingly created a masterpiece with this puppet with human features.
Furthermore, the fairy-tale robes for the actors are hers;
to the "quick move on the open stage with recognition effect".
The combination of the text from the 13th century and today's production should become visible.
The costumes, which are "painted" with representations from old times, shine all the more in the completely neutral stage design.
The costume designer had the fabrics specially made by a printer.
Love, obsession, revenge: Julia Rieblinger, Jürger Füser, Sarah Giebel and Ansgar Wilk (from left) inspire with expressive play in the "Nibelungen Ring".
© Ingrid Koch
While the epic would last six hours, the "Nibelungen Ring" is told in 70 minutes in the court theater in a vivid and entertaining way, and it is also to be performed in schools.
Summary: The Nibelung's treasure of gold and precious stones still lies at the bottom of the Rhine, and people have learned nothing new.
The audience liked it very much, and despite the extremely limited space in the theater, after the gripping performance they gave as much applause as a full house.
Jona Greilinger and Felix Hegenscheidt worked as production assistants and Stefan Thomas as a technical employee.
The play can be seen again on Thursday, February 10 at 8 p.m.
More performances are planned for March.
Tickets are available at mail@hoftheater-bergkirchen.de or by phone 0 81 31/32 64 00.
Ingrid Cook
