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Volksoper's 'Zarewitsch' Dazzles with Paper Animation and Gay Reimagining

From Liberty Times · (2d ago) Chinese Mixed tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Volksoper Wien is staging a unique production of Franz Lehár's operetta 'Der Zarewitsch,' featuring a paper-based animation technique.
  • Dutch theater maker Steef de Jong created the animated elements, which form the core of the visual storytelling.
  • The production reinterprets the operetta's plot with a modern, gay-coded narrative, exploring themes of identity and forbidden love.

The Volksoper Wien is presenting a visually striking and conceptually bold interpretation of Franz Lehár's 1927 operetta, 'Der Zarewitsch.' This production distinguishes itself through its innovative use of paper and cardboard animation, conceived and executed by Dutch theater maker Steef de Jong. The majority of the narrative unfolds not through traditional stagecraft, but via intricate, hand-crafted animated projections, creating a "low-tech trick film" that serves as the primary visual medium.

Es steht ein Soldat am Wolgastrand: Unten, an der Rampe, singt David Kerber diese Hymne männlich-russischer Einsamkeit, die Franz Lehár in archaisch anmutende Klänge fasst. Aber alle Blicke sind nach oben gerichtet, auf die Leinwand.

— Die PresseDescribing the opening scene and the focus on the projected animation.

This staging boldly re-examines the operetta's original storyline, which centers on the Russian crown prince Aljoscha and his forbidden love. In this contemporary interpretation, the narrative is infused with a distinct gay coding. The production posits that the prince's adherence to masculine ideals and his disinterest in women are a camouflage for his true sexual orientation. This modern lens allows for a re-evaluation of the character's "Wolgalyric" loneliness, making it more comprehensible in the context of societal expectations and personal identity.

Das Publikum sieht also über weite Strecken einen aufwändigen Low-Tech-Trickfilm, hergestellt aus Papier und Karton, alles konzipiert, grafisch gestaltet und durch bewegliche Teile zu live-animiertem Leben erweckt vom niederländischen Theatermacher Steef de Jong.

— Die PresseExplaining the central role of Steef de Jong's paper animation in the production.

Further complicating and enriching the narrative, the role of Sonja, initially a ballerina disguised as a soldier to win the prince's affection, is reimagined. In this version, Sonja is a professional drag artist, Kautschukoff, whose disguise cleverly deceives the court. This gender-bending twist allows the tragic love story to unfold with its characteristic unhappy ending, while simultaneously offering a commentary on performance, identity, and the constraints of societal norms. The production thus transforms a classic operetta into a post-dramatic exploration of love and self-discovery.

Schwule Lovestory Das Liebespaar in Neapel: Hedwig Ritter, David Kerber

— Die PresseIdentifying the actors portraying the central love story and hinting at its gay interpretation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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