This performance treated the audience to a unique perspective of Germany in its pre-WWII years through cheerful song, dramatic dance, and rapid-fire humor.
-Daniel Holley
The play maintained a liberating atmosphere as the characters expressed their emotions and sexual desires freely. This theme can be summarized by the actions and costume of the narrator, who appeared to be a man dressed in feminine attire. He repeatedly sang about sexual adventures with both men and women, and he wore bright makeup that was clearly visible from the far side of the theatre. The narrator’s freedom was established not only in his actions, but his powers as a narrator as well. He was able to move between scenes and settings to act as an invisible observer, adding another layer to the freedom he enjoyed.
The narrator was not the only performer to use costume to portray express himself. The differing costumes allowed us to understand the differences in character ideals and motivations. One such difference seen repeatedly throughout the play was between landlord Frau Schneider and one of her tenants. Schnaeier is a modest woman, and we see her wear large dresses that cover much of her body. Her tenant, on the other hand, often wears lower cut shirts with dramatic embroiderings. It is entertaining to see the two characters interact with one another when their differences in modesty are so apparent. For instance, as the tenant sneaks visiting sailors in and out of her room, Schneider expresses her disapproval. Many other characters dressed in similar style to Schneider’s tenant, further setting Schneider apart as the more traditional and modest perspective.
The music in this performance was often utilized as a tool to provide context for the personalities of the characters, as well as to find humor in their goals and desires. One such song comes from landlord Frau Schneider, who sings about her thought processes while she negotiates rent prices. Although she is at first adamant in her price of 100 marks, she eventually concedes and greatly lowers the price. As she sings about her “So what?” approach to the situation, we learn that despite her stubbornness, she is willing to compromise and show kindness to those in need. Musical pieces like this are plentiful throughout the play, and by listening to the lyrics we gain a deeper understanding of the motivations of the characters.
Ultimately, this was one of the most engaging plays I have seen not only this semester, but in my lifetime so far. The cast was extremely talented in their singing abilities, and notes of humor were expertly interwoven into stories with varying degrees of intensity. The charisma of the cast was palpable and I was easily able to identify with the characters on stage, further immersing myself in the performance. I had a great amount of fun, and I hope to see similar plays in the future!