Fighting of the sexes: two new pieces at the Wiesbaden State Theater!

Fighting of the sexes: two new pieces at the Wiesbaden State Theater!

In the Staatstheater Wiesbaden, the performances of Corneillel "Game of Illusions" and Sam Max ’" Double Serpent "dared to experience a brave experiment in an unconventional way. Under the leadership of the new intendant duo Dorothea Hartmann and Beate Heine, a creative framework was created that not only exceeds artistic limits, but also stimulates the audience.

In “Game of Illusions”, all speech roles of women are played, while “Double Serpent” only shows male actors. This staging method confronts the audience directly with the question of how gender roles influence our perception and expectation when visiting the theater. It is a bold approach that already produced both curiosity and mixed reactions during the first performances of the new season.

staging in the focus

"Game of Illusions", which was premiered in Paris in 1636, is rare treasure in today's theater. The director Christina Rast uses the complex action to illuminate the thematic depth of the work through a dynamic staging that plays with visual elements. The story is about a father, Pridamant who is looking for his missing son Clindor. In a world full of illusions and illusions, the question of one's own self and the identity is interwoven in an interesting way with the fate of the characters.

But the performance of the piece, although visually impressive and artistically ambitious, was not consistently positive. The stage design and the costumes designed by Sarah Borchardt created an appealing atmosphere. Nevertheless, some spectators found that the narrative river and the emotional depth were not fully reached. The cheerful confusion that arises from the lively game of the actresses sometimes steers from the main focus - the story of history.

In contrast, "Double Serpent" brings a dark, tragic story to the stage. Written by Sam Max and staged in stylish ambience, the piece offers a deep insight into topics such as trauma and violence. The story follows the adult Connor, who witnessed cruel deeds as a child - illegal organ transplants by his adoptive father. While he is fighting to process his past, a complex narrative unfolds that deals with guilt, repression and striving for normality.

The actors are impressive in their roles, with Timur Yann Frey particularly emerging as a conno. His acting talent gives the character a noticeable sadness and depth. In contrast to "Game of Illusions", "Double Serpent" creates a depressing atmosphere from the start, which is reinforced not only by the plot, but also by staging Ersan Mondtag. His slow, carefully used narrative method corresponds to the style of the piece, even if some spectators felt the long duration as a challenge.

art in the area of tension

In both pieces, it becomes clear that the theater as a medium can offer a platform for exciting, sometimes unpleasant topics. The courage of the directors to experiment with gender representations and difficult narrative structures opens up space for discussion and reflection on basic human experiences and social norms. It turns out that the Wiesbaden State Theater not only serves as a cultural site, but also as a field of experimentation for new and challenging artistic approaches.

While visitors to the Wiesbaden State Theater experience different emotional reactions when looking at these two pieces, the overall effect of the staging remains strong. Away from the usual theater format to a room where thoughts are stimulated and challenged is a step in the right direction to keep art alive and relevant today. The performances are both a call to participate and the critical examination of what we encounter on stage and in life.

The next performances of "Game of Illusions" and "Double Serpent" take place on 13, 20, 27 and 30 October as well as on November 1st, 23rd and 30th. Details on the performances can be read on the website of the Staatstheater Wiesbaden www.staatstheater-wiesbaden.de .