If you thought Prymate had issues...
If you thought Prymate had issues...
emonkeygirl
Featured Actor Joined: 3/30/04
#0If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:17pm
This is according to Yahoo news:
BERLIN (Reuters) - An opera featuring rape, torture and masturbation, a nude bass singing an aria in the shower and a cross-dressing hero who rounds off the night by slaughtering a troupe of semi-naked prostitutes has caused a scandal in Berlin.
Mozart's "Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail" (The Abduction from the Seraglio), one of the 18th century Austrian composer's most popular operas, is usually played as a sparkling comedy of relationships set in the grounds of a mythical Turkish palace.
The new production in Berlin's Komische Oper moves the action to a modern-day brothel where a brutal pimp keeps the women in his power through systematic rape and torture.
The opera's Catalan director, Calixto Bieito, who has seen previous productions greeted with leaflets proclaiming "Death to Bieito!" wanted to use the opera to cast a light on the plight of women exploited in the sex trade.
But the production has sparked outraged articles in the press and an initial threat from DaimlerChrysler, one of the main sponsors, to withdraw funding. Performances have been interrupted at various points by shouts from the floor as patrons have walked out in disgust.
"How filthy can theater be?" asked Germany's top selling daily newspaper Bild.
In between bouts of simulated sex with the prostitutes who lounge about the set, one of the characters urinates on stage and slashes a helpless woman as another looks on in terror.
The heroine Konstanza cowers in a cage as the villainous Selim Pasha sticks his hand down her pants and makes a series of repulsive threats in spoken asides inserted into the text.
Meanwhile her beloved Belmonte arms himself with a handgun and, helped by his tattooed manservant, slides into high boots and a tight dress to infiltrate the brothel.
On opening night, a voice from the audience answered the explosion of gunfire as Belmonte slays first the prostitutes and then their keepers with the cry "Now for the director!"
But supporters point out that behind Mozart's dazzling score, the text of the opera is a very dark one laced with threats of beheading and impalement and the production makes a powerful point about violence, oppression and sex.
Performances have been well attended since the run opened last week and warmly applauded by those who did not walk out, with several people bringing along opera glasses to follow the action more closely.
It's hot and it's monotonous.
I want my glasses.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#1re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:37pm
Sounds great.
Get me two tickets(NOT)
#2re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:51pm
But, are there puppets?
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I nearly shot when I saw it!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:58pmI hear the American production will star Kristen and Idina.
#4re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 3:08pmI love opera, but Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail has never been a favorite, and would never bother attending a performance of it unless the singers were incredible. I might change my mind for this production. Sounds like it would be an interesting night at the opera.
emonkeygirl
Featured Actor Joined: 3/30/04
#5re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 3:20pmYes, I think interesting might be an adjective I'd use...
It's hot and it's monotonous.
I want my glasses.
#6re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 3:30pmSounds like typical german theatre. Shock theatre in Germany is nothing new. I'm surprised they balked at it.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#7re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/28/04 at 3:31pmIt actually sounds very interesting to me.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
bstndiva
Stand-by Joined: 6/29/04
#8re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 11:14amThat sounds disgusting. I am so over shock theatre. "Prymate" was trash and this sounds like it is also.
#9re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 1:11pm
Read something about this yesterday. All I could think was " yep that's Mozart!" What a kinky little guy.
B
(oops can I use the k word?)
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#10re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 1:59pmAnd to think the last Entfuhrung I saw, all Belmonte said was "Golly!"
#11re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:01pmBut, the major issue here is - will there be any male nudity?
Matt_G
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/1/04
#12re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:08pmI must see this show.
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
#13re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:20pm
You know what would aslo be shock theatre in Germany: THE PRODUCERS
"Frühjahr für Hitler und Deutschland!"
Matt_G
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/1/04
#14re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 4:27pmI wonder if this show stars Cartman's Mom...
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
bstndiva
Stand-by Joined: 6/29/04
#15re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 6:21pmI'm with you catsnyrevival. I'm all about seeing good looking guys take off their clothes but Chippendales would be alot more civilized.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#16re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 7:56pmI'd love to see this company do the Ring Cycle....
dramaqueen
Leading Actor Joined: 3/30/04
#17re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 8:08pmoy=i say that a lot-and i beleive it sys a lot-oy
:) cco
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: If you thought Prymate had issues...
Posted: 6/30/04 at 8:11pmI say bravo to what they're doing. The last thing I want to see is a tired old revival of an opera with the same set, costumes and staging that my grandparents saw. I love nothing more to see a director play around with the "untouchable," particularly Mozart. I saw a production last fall of La Finta Giardiniera set in a mental institution, and it was absolutely fascinating.
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