Theater in Baden-Baden stages production of Kehlmann's "Tyll", incorporating acrobatics and live music.
Tyll: A Fool's Rebellion
Meet Tyll, the boundary-breaker, the trickster, and the survival artist. Director Brian Bell describes the Theater Baden-Baden's take on Daniel Kehlmann's epic novel as no laughing matter. Tyll defies the world plagued by famine, superstition, and war, carving his own reality. He denies death itself, proposing, "What's better than a peaceful demise?" He answers, "Not to die at all!" This production embraces Tyll's attitude, transforming his near-death experience into a jubilant resurrection.
A Unique Stage Challenge
Bringing Kehlmann's novel to life poses a unique challenge for the theater ensemble. Initially intended as a summer theater production on the open-air market square stage, Tyll's jester life and traveling troupe would've thrived in the historical market square ambiance. However, budget cuts forced a move indoors, altering the atmosphere significantly. Dramaturg Peter Krauch explains, "It'll be a completely different evening than originally planned."
The indoor setting offers different technical possibilities to highlight the acrobatics of Tyll's jester life and his companions. Expect a breathtaking fireworks display, expertly choreographed by Ricardo Camillo, accompanied by musical arrangements by Hans-Georg Wilhelm and Carl Herten. The stage design and costumes by Daniel Unger immerse the audience in an opulent, fantastical world that dances between history and modern party culture.
A Depressing Tale with Hope
Despite the seemingly bleak storyline, the play offers more than despair. Michael Laricchia, who plays multiple roles, including the Inquisitor Kircher, suggests, "It's not just a depressing piece; it's also a piece that shows how to transform depression into something positive."
Set against the backdrop of the Thirty Years' War, Tyll Ulenspiegel, the son of a scholar miller, falls into the hands of the inquisitor Kircher and pays for his non-conformity with his life. Joined by the penniless baker's daughter Nele, they journey together to create a living, eventually joining a company of traveling jesters.
Robert Herrmann, who portrays the old Tyll throughout the play, sheds light on Kehlmann's decision to relocate Tyll to a later time. Kehlmann intended to delve into how people navigate the turmoil of a world in chaos. Later, he connected this exploration to the tale of Tyll Ulenspiegel.
Experience "Tyll"
Catch the premiere on Saturday, June 21, at 8 PM, with an introduction at 7:30 PM. For more performances and ticket information, visit https://www.theater-baden-baden.de/spielplan/stueck/tyll.
- The indoor setting of the production offers an opportunity to employ breath-taking technical possibilities, such as the masterful choreography of Ricardo Camillo's fireworks display and the captivating musical arrangements by Hans-Georg Wilhelm and Carl Herten.
- Despite the gloomy backdrop of the Thirty Years' War and the apparent despair in Daniel Kehlmann's epic novel, the play offers a message of hope, demonstrating how one can convert depression into positivity, as Michael Laricchia, who plays multiple roles, including the Inquisitor Kircher, suggests.
