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The Red Egg: A feminist-debating drama in the Kosmos Theater
At the Kosmos Theater in Vienna, the controversial topic of abortion is urgently addressed in “The Red Egg”. But despite interesting approaches, the production remains weak.
The Red Egg: A feminist-debating drama in the Kosmos Theater
At the Kosmos Theater in Vienna's Neubau, the focus is on feminist themes in order to raise awareness of various women's concerns. The latest production is entitled “The Red Egg” and vividly illuminates the complex issue of abortion. The profound relationship between a mother and her daughter is examined in three scenic excerpts by Gertraud Klemm, Gabriele Kögl and Grischka Voss.
Set designer Caro Stark designed the scene in a minimalist way: a bare room with a white catwalk, white armchairs and a white slatted wall that serves as the waiting area for an abortion clinic. This is where the conflict unfolds between the pregnant daughter and her mother, who is vehemently against abortion. But the situation takes an unexpected turn - the mother is also pregnant and plans to have an abortion herself.
Fun approaches, little effect
Although this initial situation is promising, the production, directed by Barbara Herold, quickly develops a certain insignificance. The dialogues, which initially aimed at constructive wordplay, lose their power and at times seem overly contemplative. Instead of a captivating examination of the difficult topic, the viewer is confronted with a production that is more laborious than captivating.
The main actors Maria Fliri, Sarah Zaharanski and Peter Bocek put a lot of energy into their roles, but cannot compensate for the dwindling intensity of the performance. Despite their efforts, the play remains weak and fails to anchor the explosive debates about abortion in a supporting dramaturgical framework. The term “piece” is thrown around ironically, given the important and controversial subject matter that unfortunately suffers from implementation.
The audience reacts to the production with friendly but restrained applause - an indication that the topic is important, but the artistic treatment cannot unleash the hoped-for emotions. The performance concludes with the feeling that an important theme has not been given the depth it deserves. However, on an evening that focuses on feminist issues, the contradiction between expectations and reality remains clearly noticeable.
In the context of current social discussions about women's rights and reproductive rights, “The Red Egg” is a relevant piece, but it fails to treat the topic with the necessary sharpness. The importance of the piece lies in its theme, but the content itself remains rather flat in the end.