"Devil's Metropolis Performance: 'City of the Devil' Stages a Fiery Showcase at Musical Theatre Days"
In the heart of Vienna, the Musiktheatertage festival concluded on September 24-27 with a standout production titled "City of the Devil". This ambitious production, led by the Berlin music theater troupe glanz&krawall, drew on Mikhail Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" and Franz von Suppé's nearly forgotten operetta "The Devil in the City".
The production, a critique of capitalism and the cultural scene, was a collaborative effort between Director Marielle Sterra, dramaturg Dennis Depta, and a talented ensemble. Felix Witzlau, in multiple roles including an OVP functionary, a policeman, and a theater director who takes his Vienna colleagues to task, was outstanding. Jolene Holst impressed as Mephisto and a capitalist, while Cora Peter Frost played Voland with a charming Viennese greeting: "Servus the lads, servus the lasses".
Margarita, played by Eva Hüster, was a confident young woman captivating with her rock ballads and enchanting in operetta passages. Her performance was accompanied by Sarah Taylor Ellis (synthesizer) and her band (electric guitars and drums), who skillfully combined rock rhythms with Suppé's melodies.
The aesthetics and concept of the production harked back to the golden age of the Volksbühne, but with sharp, strong, Vienna-adapted texts. The black cat Behemoth (Dennis Depta), with his stuffed animal head and sweet eyes, stood out with his "bargain hunter" routine, which was a highlight of the production.
While Frank Castorf's influence was evident, his signature style of breaking the fourth wall and live camera was absent. Instead, the audience was immersed in a captivating narrative that left them with thunderous applause for the choir's performance.
The specific individual producer's name for "City of the Devil" was not explicitly stated in the available search results. However, the production was produced by the Musiktheatermacher (music theater makers) collective at Musiktheatertage Wien. Susanne Zobl endorsed the festival, praising it as a unique and thought-provoking experience.
As the Musiktheatertage festival came to a close, "City of the Devil" left a lasting impression, blending Bulgakov's novel with Suppé's operetta to create a thought-provoking critique of society that resonated with audiences.
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