KASPER HAUSER: A Foundling's Opera ... One of the Best New Musicals I've Seen All Year!

[EugLoven]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 11:53pm

The point of this thread is drum-up buzz for a terrific new musical, KASPAR HAUSER, I saw tonight at The Flea.

Seriously, one of the best new original musicals I've seen in New York this season (outside of the sturm-und-drang of recycled Broadway concepts)

I'll begin by saying I'm NEVER disappointed by the productions staged at The Flea. This company seems to represent the best of off-broadway collaboration and the bare-bones of creativity. Their BATS ensemble (new 2009 faces!) never fails to impress.

KASPAR HAUSER: A Foundling's Opera
Details:
http://www.theflea.org/show_detail.php?page_type=0&show_id=34

The Flea presents the World Premiere of KASPAR HAUSER: a foundling’s opera, a music-theater piece by Tony-nominee and Obie-winner Elizabeth Swados and Erin Courtney of 13P.

A true tale about a wild child found on the streets of Nuremburg in 1828. With a story much like a Dickens novel, the piece explores all the good and evil that happens when an innocent is introduced into society. Kaspar Hauser is a fairy tale, a fable, and a Brechtian gaze at our addiction to stars (and the tabloids) and the society that lifts them up only to slam them down

* * * * * * * * *

Much of this production seemed familiar to other like-minded and staged productions. Similar to Neil Bartlett's Oliver Twist and Axis Theatre's 2007 A Glance at New York. It's not an unfamiliar story either: Feral children rescued from neglect, feared then reared by society. Allegories to Elian Gonzalez, almost. But dingy and incredibly engaging, melodic. Sweaty, fast-paced, rhythmic, dim, and very much an ensemble-piece. Fantastic compositions and lyrics! Prickling-good harmonies. Such tight blocking and performance from each and every cast member. 90-minutes without an intermission.

Just check it out. Really.







MORE IMAGES HERE:
http://www.theflea.org/blog_detail.php?page_type=4&blog_id=40
Updated On: 2/18/09 at 11:53 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 11:56pm

I think I'm going to check it out. I keep hearing good things.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:04am

My roommate is in the ensemble. Sadly, I won't be able to go see it due to my own show schedule, but he seems really happy with the work they have done.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 4:44am

The production photos look abso-freakin'-lutely awesome! Is there a PLAYBILL distributed for collectors' sakes?

[lisaspo]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 7:03pm

Saw this yesterday afternoon and *really* liked it! I didn't know much about it and really just went because I had a friend in it, but at the intermission I turned to the friend I went to see it with and we laughed because we were both liking it so much more than we had ever expected! Great show and I'm already thinking of going again so I can get some other friends to go.

[fosca3]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 2:46pm

I saw the matinee on Saturday and this show REALLY is lots of fun

The music was great (and I loved that it was sung thru), I loved the makeup and costumes (and the minimalist sets) and the actor playing Kaspar was funny and moving and heartbreaking all at once

I've never been to the Flea before, but I will definitely be going back. I love the Bats!

Thanks for starting this thread, EugLoven. I bought my ticket when I first read this, and I'm so glad I did

(Someone asked earlier -- there was no Playbill, tho there was a plain-paper program (larger than a Playbill) and nice color Cards like the poster)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 6:50pm

oof. I disagree with you on this being a great new musical. What is great about this show is, well, everything... EXCEPT the show. The cast is energetic and talented, the staging is impressive, the costumes are exquisite. Too bad the show is one long boring plot recital and the music is monotonous and shrieky.

It was a long 90 minutes. If the cast and staging hadn't been so agreeable, I'm not sure I could've made it past intermission.