As of: March 16, 2024, 4:11 p.m
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Gerd Lohmeyer alias Rudolf Westermann hits the audience's heart with his monologue.
© Schmelzle
He is already sitting there when the audience takes their seats.
Motionless, in a fine suit, shirt and bow tie.
Pensive.
drinking tea.
It's apparently been simmering for 45 minutes - "stewed tea" you could say.
After all, a Darjeeling is “not a goulash”.
This is how Rudolf Westermann (Gerd Lohmeyer) begins his monologue, which is aimed directly at the audience and hits them right in the heart.
Landsberg - Cardboard boxes everywhere, a rolled up carpet, chaos.
Rudolf is about to move into a seniors' residence.
His son wants to pick him up - but he's late again.
The waiting makes Rudolf melancholic.
He gives a narrative insight into his life.
Ponder what has come before and what is to come.
Everything has two sides.
So there is always a conflict between mind and heart.
“Children can be stressful and annoying”
The residence should be beautiful, good food, fresh, strong filter coffee instead of the “new-fangled stuff”, a large park, peace and quiet, nice people, movie evenings – maybe even acquaintances with ladies.
Rudolf doesn’t even have to go shopping anymore.
Actually like a vacation.
Okay, just 35 square meters instead of 145 square meters.
But what is the option?
Rudolf has a good relationship with his son.
He also loves his grandchildren, “they can’t help it that their names are Ken and Tiffany.”
But he doesn't want to move in with them either.
“Children can be stressful and annoying.”
A good red wine disinhibits and inspires Rudolf.
Memories of his “old life” come flooding back.
To his late wife Friederike and their wiggly cat from Thailand.
Of going to the opera together, even though she hated them.
Of holidays by the sea and in the mountains.
To Italy.
About how he asked for her hand in marriage in a message in a bottle 38 years ago.
She's missing.
Practice for the cemetery
Even at the risk of arriving at his new home tipsy, Rudolf continues to enjoy his wine - thinking more and more about the darker side of his future life.
There's no point in sugarcoating it anymore.
The residence “at the bottom of the world”, “all old people who can practice for the cemetery”, a book corner with “old hams that no one reads”, silence all day long – except for the bell, “that calls you to lunch.” Last but not least: “horrible salmon slices”.
Rudolf will miss a lot.
His beloved violin, which he has to part with - not allowed in the residence.
The songs of the language students across the street that he always sang along to at the open window.
Ali from the vegetable shop who always called him when he got fresh mangoes.
One increasingly recognizes Rudolf as an adventurous, cheerful man.
A small, ticking package that he accepted for a new neighbor reveals the secret of an earlier flirtation.
There was no future for it back then.
“I had Friederike.” This mysterious woman from Italy calls countless times and asks him to open the package.
Out comes a handbag containing sunglasses, a Gallipoli lighter and an alarm clock that's ringing.
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A twist of fate?
Rudolf throws on his white jacket, puts on a straw hat and sunglasses and decides: let's go to Gallipoli to see Antonella.
Enjoy, live and love again.
But first of all there's a creamy cappuccino.
And for Lohmeyer, a big round of applause from the audience for the sensitive and touching performance about life and its challenges