BlueLeer and wood: The wide country in the Josefstadt theater

BlueLeer and wood: The wide country in the Josefstadt theater

Theater in der Josefstadt, 1080 Wien, Österreich - On May 23, 2025, the play "The wide country" by Arthur Schnitzler will be performed in the theater in the Josefstadt. The staging, directed by Janusz Kica, shows a minimalist set design that only consists of a concrete wall and a few pieces of furniture. The main figures of the tragicomedy are Friedrich Hofreiter, played by Bernhard Schir, and his wife Genia, embodied by Maria Köstlinger. This new staging illuminates the topics of fraud, passion and vengeance that form the central element of complex human relationships in Schnitzler's work.

Friedrich Hofreiter is presented as a ChareMaloser newer, while Genia is described as a participant woman. The action unfolds against the background of rumors that the banker, played by Günter Franzmeier, spreads over the suicide of a pianist. Although the interactions of the characters initially appear pale and less emotional, the figures gain contour after the break. Köstlinger and Schir in particular show significantly more emotions and give the audience a deeper insight into the soul life of the protagonists.

insights into the action

"The wide country", which was premiered in 1910, deals with a network of affairs and inner conflicts. Hofreiter has an affair with Adele, the wife of Natter, and is in tension with his wife Genia. The action takes place in Baden near Vienna, where the characters are caught in a complex game of desire and infidelity. So the pianist Korsakow's suicide, who is said to have committed suicide for Genia, is a central rumor that burdens the atmosphere. While Hofreiter continues to flirt with various women, he ultimately draws a fatal consequence when he demands Nattter to the duel and kills the son of Anna Meinhold-Aigner, Otto. These turns address the difficulties of loyalty and the abysses of human relationships.

reception and other performances

The staging in the Josefstadt is criticized as a bloodless and wood, whereby the impression arises that there is a lack of tension and dynamics. In the first performances, the dialogues and interactions look gray and uninspired. However, with progressive action, the actors manage to breathe more life into the characters. Spectators are invited to consider the further performance dates, which take place on May 23, 28 and on 3rd, 4th, 12th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 25th and 30th of June.

The story of "Das Previde Land" is not only a timeless tragicomedy, but also an important work in theater history, which processes the complexity of human relationships as well as the topics of infidelity and emotions. Schnitzler, who is considered a master of the indirect statement, has left a significant contribution with this piece and remains relevant to this day. Further information about the piece can be found in the extensive literature and analyzes that are accessible on various platforms, such as Archive.org .