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Zurich's Cynical Theatre Guide publishes full sarcastic reviews and short evil-minded recommendations for theatre-goers in Zurich (Switzerland, next to Europe), as well as cynical commentaries on theatre festivals, surveys of the present and past theatre seasons (including drama, opera, ballet, children's theatre, traditional story-telling, contemporary music theatre, contemporary dance theatre, performed poetic reading, circus, dada, scientific theatre, etc.), profiles of 30 important theatres in Zurich, and a theatre rating list. All pages are updated regularly.

Wenn Sie an manchen Stellen dieses Index keine gemeinen Worte finden, so liegt dies daran, dass die vorgebliche Kunst kein Fleisch hatte, in das wir mit unseren Federn hätten schneiden können, oder auch daran, dass wir keine Lust hatten. Im übrigen und überhaupt, sind alles nichts als Gemeinheiten. 

I. Theatre season 1997/98:

  The CPYC 98 - our cynical pet of the year contest 1998 ...

• Pet of the Month, January: Prof. Dr. Werner Oechslin, reminiscent of his brave performance at the Internet-Nachtcafe
• Pet of the Month, February: Mr. Hans Türling, in honour of his cheerfully boring spirits in Bagno Blu
• Pet of the Month, March: Miss/Mrs. Daniele Muscionico (at last!), in honour of her free review on `Comment le diable fut trompé ...'
• Pets of the Month April: Mrs. Dörte Lyssewski, in honour of her cool appearance as a Geisha in `Zyrikon'
• Pet of the Month May: Mr. Thomas Ostermeier, in honour of his marvelous direction of `Shoppen und Ficken' presented at the Berliner Theatertreffen and shown earlier this year at the Theaterhaus Gessnerallee
• Pets of the month June: the honourable organizers of the `Hope and Glory'-Festival
• Pet of the month July: Miss/Mrs. Simone Meier in honour of her surprising confessions with respect to her perception of `Sikim for the living '
• Pet of the Month August: Mr. Stefan Bachmann in honour of the staging of his truly negative idea of love and heroism n`Troilus und Cressida'
• Pet of the Month September: Mr. William Kentridge in honour of his complex understanding of `Il riturno d'Ulysse' (in patria) presented at the Theaterspektakel
• Pet of the month October: Kathrin Villiger, in honour of her pretty cheeks presented in Kreis 5 (no photo available, name and address not known to the editor :-)
• Pets of the month November: Mr. Peter Simonischek, in honour of his honourable Kari Bühl presented at the the Playhouse
• Pets of the month December: the Angels of `Gruppe Engel' in honour of their enchanting poerformance in Engel III

PAGE 28: Zürcher Theaterspektakel 1998, Aug 20 - Sept 6;

DIE KRITIKEN  Sept 7/12, 1998:
please note that our ruling by thumbs only reflects the performance on the stage mentioned,
it does neither describe the quality of the production itself (which might work better or worse at other places),
nor does it comment on the underlying play, the performing artists or the country where the artists are from!

• FEMTELLA: Taoufik Jebali & El Teatro (Tunesien) im Pavillon  ...,  ORACULOS: Enrique Vargas & Teatro de los Sentidos (Kolumbien) im Kasernenareal,  SHOCKHEADED PETER: Phelim McDermodt, Julian Crouch & The Tiger Lillies (Grossbritannien) in der Halle Blau,  OXTAIL SOUP: Enrique Vargas & Teatro de los Sentidos (Kolumbien) im Dansepalais,  METAMORPHOSEN: Marco Baliani et al. (Italien / Schweiz / Deutschland / Holland) in der Aktionshalle der Roten Fabrik,  LANGER ZUG, LANGER ZUG TRÄGT DEN UNFERTIGEN. SAUL - EIN REQUIEM,  I WAS REAL - DOCUMENTS: Saburo Teshigawara & Karas (Japan) in der Halle Blau,  THAKERET - ARRAMED: Mashrah el Rassif & Hakim Marzuki (Syrien) in der Aktionshalle der Roten Fabrik),  OR: Dumb Type (Japan) in der Werft, JE SUIS UN PHÉNOMÈNE (Frankreich) im Theaterhaus Gessnerallee,  ON NE PEUT PAS TOUJOURS ETRE EN APNËE (Schweiz) im Pavillon,  THE SPIRIT OF THE HEART (Ägypten) in der Halle Blau, SCHÖN STILLSITZEN (Belgien) im Pavillon,  MEINWÄRTS / CHAMBRE SÉPARÉE (Deutschland)in der Aktionshalle der Roten Fabrik,  STAU (Schweiz) hinter der Roten Fabrik,  NANA ET LILA (Spanien / Frankreich / Marokko) in der Halle Blau, IL RITORNO D'ULISSE (Südafrika / Belgien) in der Werft, NOVECENTO (Schweiz) im Pavillon, FAST GELUNGEN (Holland) ...
• und unser sarkastisscher FESTIVALKOMMENTAR
• and our famous VIRTUAL FESTIVAL AWARDS (not corrupted by any money) .... sorry, they did not make it

 
 

PAGE 27:  zürcher festspiele 1998
June 26 - July 19 at the Opera House, Tonhalle, Playhouse (Schauspielhaus), Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthaus), Theatre Academy (Schauspiel Akademie), Theatre 11, Theatre Neumarkt, Theatre Gessnerallee, Young Theatre Zurich, and Theatre Rigiblick.
March 1, 1999

Some Selected Shows (i.e. those shows we are going to see and shows we have already seen, please note that as a general principle, we shall only publish reviews on those shows, which we don't have to pay for ... ):

• The Rare Beauty of Noh Theatre (sorry, got lost and was rediscovered only lately)
• Das Lied der Heimat (Playhouse), Ohn End Fallala (no review), Gastmahl nach Platon (Museum of Fine Arts), Die Stunde Null oder die Kunst des Servierens (Theatre 11),  Romeo und Julia (no free ticket - no review), The 7 Stages of Grieving , Revolution mit Hund (Theatre Academy),  Masquerade (Playhouse: no free ticket - no review), En Soort of Hades (Theatre House Gessnerallee), Sikkim for the living (Theatre Neumarkt),  Uttarpriyabarshi(Theatre Academy),  Immanuel Kant (Playhouse: no free ticket - no review), Was ist los mit Daniela Dunioz (Young Theatre Zurich), Der Besuch der alten Dame (Theatre Neumark), Phèdre (Playhouse: no free ticket - no review), The Dance of Nothing (Theatre House Gessnerallee),  Brahms - Ein Ballett (ballet, Opera House: no free ticket - no review), Oraculos(Kasernenareal), El Pez de la Torre Nada En El Asfalto,  Le Vin Herbé (Opera House), Histoire de Marie (Young Theatre Zurich), Nina (Opera House);

 
Further Shows
• Nabucco (Opera House), Un ballo in Maschera (Opera House), La Serva Padrona (Zentralhof at the Paradeplatz), Jenûfa (Opera House), La Fanciulla del West (Opera House), Oberon (Opera House), Le Nozze di Figaro (Opera House), K.I. aus Schuld und Sühne (Playhouse),  Chakravyuha (Theatre Academy),  Tiroir suivi de l'armoire / Ton beau Capitaine (Theatre Academy);


The candidates for our virtual festival awards are (only remote productions are considered):
(please note that we cannot judge on shows we have not seen)

1. Sikim for the living (Theatre Neumarkt) performed by Cecil Theater Seoul
2. Masquerade (Playhouse) performed by Vilniaus mazasis teatras
3. Phèdre (Playhouse) performed by Théâtre de Vidy
4. The Dance of Nothing (Theatre House Gessnerallee) performed by Liat Dror & Nir Ben Gal Company
5. En Soort of Hades (Theatre House Gessnerallee) performed by Taneelgroep Amsterdam
6. Die Stunde Null oder die Kunst des Servierens (Theatre 11) performed by Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg

 
Commentaries
• in German (in preparation, a first draft is available...)
• in English (to be published on July 31)

 
 
 

PAGES xyz:   Selected reviews, commentaries, and guest essays:
July 9, 1998

•  Guest essays (in English)
• Choreography as the sculpting of space, (a guest essay by Pablo Ventura)
• ...

 
 
 

Steps '98 - International Swiss dance festival  /  Festival international  suisse de dense (Pour-cent culturel Migros)  /  Internationales Tanzfestival Schweiz (Migros Kulturprozent): April 21 - May 17;
May 15/27, 1998

• PAGE 26_A:  The Reviews (Kritiken und Kurznotizen):

`Apnée Tango' by Compagnie Nomades, `Hochland oder Der Nachhall der Steine' by TanzTheaterBasel,, `Alraune / Pseudopodia / Moonblind / Orango Tango' by Pilobolus Too, `Kelkemo' by Compagnie Acrorap, `Con est Tango' by Compagnie Buissonnière, `... Laundry Cycle / Scissors Paper Stone / Weird Weather' by ODC San Francisco, `Axioma 7 / Sinfonia de Requiem / Z' by Balé da Cidade de SÃO Paulo, Furioso by Meryl Tankard; `Audentity / Testimony / Spin / Senso Unico' by Elisa Monte Dance, Linga danse projet ,  Double You und anderes, by NDT 3;
• PAGE 24_B: The Commentaries:
• Die Steps-Serie im Theaterhaus Gessneralle, ein lieber Kommentar
• Estermann und der Wucherer Fischer, oder wie sie da so reden
• ein abschliessender Festival-Kommentar
• ... and the winners are

 
 

PAGE  24:    Blickfelder '98 - Zurich's Theatre Festival for a Young Audience, March 4 - March 22, 1998:
reviews  March 29, 1998
 

• PAGE 24_A: The Festival Programme(the bill with performances dates, venues, and short descriptiions in German language)
• PAGE 24_B: The Reviews
• remarks on  Allerleirauh, Aus der Früherheit, Carte Blanche,  Comment le diable fut trompé,  Die heimliche Insel , Don Quijote,  Gleis X, Kläuschen, irgendwo anders,  L'intervention, Marie. Woyzeck, Mirko, das Borstenkind, Nachtgesichter, Ophelias Schattentheater, Regierung spielt Autofahren, Schnee, Secrets, Sokken, Wunderzeiten, Zum Fressen gern;
• short remarks on  Al suono dell'anima la materia si transforma,  Ein Lichtschimmer,  Opera Baroque,  Romanzo d'infanzia;
• and notes on those shows which we have not seen (for different reasons):  `Euse Muni',   `Metamorphosen - nach Ovid' (public rehearsal)  and  `Tracce';
• PAGE 24_C_1: The Commentaries - in English language (to be published at the end of March)
• PAGE 24_C_2: The Commentaries  - in German language (to be published at the end of March)
• Furthermore: The Virtual Prizes (to be published at the end of March)
• go to the following six groups:
Mabproduction  / Theater an der Sihl [Marie. Woyzeck]
Theater Plovdiv / Theaterhaus Gessnerallee [Don Quijote]
Compagnia Abbondanza/Bertoni / Rote Fabrik [Romanzo d'Infanzia]
Puupentheater Magrit Gysin / GZ Buchegg [Allerleihrauh]
Burrp! / GZ Buchegg [Sokken]
Speeltheater Holland / Rote Fabrik [Kläuschen - irgendwo anders]

 

PAGE 25:    Kritiken 1997/98, der Gemeinheiten 3.Teil :
June 19, 1998 (from now on every revie will appear on a separate web-page)

SHZ = Playhouse, IN = Theatre Neumarkt, KULTURINSEL = Theatre House Gessnerallee + Theatre Academy + Theatre at the Sihl, RF = Rote Fabrik, VT = Villa Tobler;
• Links to political shows

Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe  (SHZ), Das Lied der Heimat  (SHZ);
• Links to zeitgeist shows

Zyrikon (SHZ), Shoppen und Ficken  (KULTURINSEL), Die schwarze Spinne  (KULTURINSEL), Revolution mit Hund   (KULTURINSEL), Rose und Regen-Schwert und Wunde ein Sommernachtstraum (KULTURINSEL);
• Links to past times and past emotions

Ein gefallener Engel im Hotel Schweiz (VT), Leonce und Lena  (SHZ), Medea (KULTURINSEL);
• Links to ironic shows

`Hope and Glory' -Festival  {Home Sweet Home  (KULTURINSEL), Pronouncing Cinoc   (IN), Schade / Schaden  (IN), Autoreverse 2.1 (KULTURINSEL), 156 60 18  (IN), Cafe Philo (IN)}
• Further links
• A Bloody English Garden (VT), Exercise: Kunststück (RF), Best of Physiker (SHZ), 3 (und mehr) Lesungen (IN);

 
 
 

PAGE 23:    Kritiken 1997/98, der Gemeinheiten 2.Teil :
April 12, 1998

SHZ = Playhouse, IN = Theatre Neumarkt, KULTURINSEL = Theatre House Gessnerallee + Theatre Academy + Theatre at the Sihl, RF = Rote Fabrik, VT = Villa Tobler;
• Commentaries:  `Ein Buch - Die Bibliothek - Das Internet' (IN), Die ungesehenen Veranstaltungen (IN), Leidenschaft auf die Party gekommen - die Rückkehr der 4. Armee der Ironie? (IN&VT);
• TanzTanzTanz (tanzmonat januar: contemporary dance shows)

Etude sur la légèreté (KULTURINSEL), Zero (KULTURINSEL), Bagno Blu (KULTURINSEL), Haïkus urbain / L'armour de la fille et du garçon / Un instant - contemporary dance in French language (KULTURINSEL), Terrain fragile / Palabras / Experiment / Penthesilea (KULTURINSEL), L'Orgue de Barbarie (RF)
• Philosophical stuff

Die Schwärmer (SHZ), Romulus der Grosse (SHZ)
• Remote observations
• Theater Schlachthaus Bern: Gretchen, Seite 89 ff  (short review)
• Erotic Plays

Faust II (IN), Schicksale (KULTURINSEL)
• Esoteric notes

Rachearie (SHZ), Nachtbuch Zürich (IN), unter all dem blühenden (KULTURINSEL)

 
 
  The CPYC '97 - (our cynical pet of the year contest) - PAGE 24 coming up soon!
You don't belive, we will present pichtures, eh what? Surf us soon and you will see! (Of course, we are no sexists! Both sexes and genders will be considered ...)

Please note that there are various (more or less sophisticated) reasons for being chosen  Pet of the Month/Year , ..., but in any case it it some form of provocation which is awarded, whether we did appreciate it or not, ..., those, with whom our editor fosters personal contacts, will NOT be considered ...

the candidates are
March 18, 1998

• Pet of the Month, January: Mr. Norbert Schwientek, reminiscent of his convincing performance as Krapp in autumn '96
• Pet of the Month, February: Miss/Mrs. Gabriela Tanner, in honour of her esoteric performance `Herzland'
• Pet of the Month, March: Miss/Mrs. Maria Krassnigg, in honour of her ambitious efforts to discuss the evil in `Ein Versuch über das Böse'  which was followed later this year by her ambitious trial to present the true physicist Hawking at the Theaterspektakel
• Pet of the Month, April: Mr. Daniel Ludwig, in honour of his magnificent performance `Gorom! Gorom!'of an African bastard in liberal Zurich
• Pet of the Month, May: Miss/Mrs. Katharina Abt, in honour of her transparent confessions `Mein Herz niemandem' about her interest in Gottfried Benn
• Pet of the Month, June: Mr. Burghart Klaussner, in honour of his forthright Alceste  at the zürcher festspiele
• Pet of the Month, July: Miss/Mrs.Cecilia Bartoli, in honour of her scening with Alexander Pereira at the zürcher festspiele
• Pet of the Month, August: PD Dr. Schausberger (from Salzburg - urbs est omen), in honour of his brave defense of the common audience at the Salzburger Festspiele
• Pet of the Month, September:  Miss/Mrs. Gerstenberg, in honour of her defensive speech at the award ceremony for the ZKB-Förderpreis at the Theaterspektakel
• Pet of the Month, October: Miss/Mrs. Julia Jenkins, in honour of her mitzi Mizi
• Pet of the Month, November: Miss/Mrs. Anne Tismer, in honour of her Clarisse-type wife
• Pet of the Month, December: Mr. Hubert Kronlachner, in honour of his pinnate Achilles
And the winner is NOT ... a man with sound historical backgrund ... a defender of the simple-minded audience ... a defender of those, who believe in nation, people, race, and war ... i.e. the winner is ... BUT

 
 

 
PAGE 22:    KRITIKEN 1997/98, der Gemeinheiten 1.Teil :
Dec 2, 1997
• Prelude I: La Nuit Suisse - das Neumarktfest ... (IN)
• Prelude II: Theaterfest in der Winkelwiese ... (VT)
• Opening 1: SHZ (Playhouse = Peacock Stage + Cellar)

Das Mädchen aus der Feenwelt (oder Der Bauer als Millionär), Tanz auf dem Vulkan;
• Opening 2: IN (Theatre Neumarkt + Separée)
• Faust II, Liebelei;
• Opening 3: KULTURINSEL (Theatre House Gessnerallee, Theatre Academy, Theatre at the Sihl)

Air a l'en verre , Mixed, Die Unbekannte aus der Seine , Der vergessene Tag;
• Opening 4: RF (Rote Fabrik)

Heimart ..., Die Flecken der Giraffe;
• Opening 5: VT (Villa Tobler = Theatre Heddy Maria Wettstein + Theatre at the Winkelwiese + further `rooms')

Die Reise zum Nordpol, Die Geschichte von den Pandabären ... ;
• Other openings and follow-up shows:
• Culinary and erotic plants

Petits Fours (RT), Schwan in Stücken (VT), Sommernachtstraum (KULTURINSEL), Alkohol (ETH);
• Serious business

Vorsprechen der SAZ AbgängerInnen (KULTURINSEL), Der Freigeist (SHZ), Der Krüppel von Inishman (SHZ), Der Menschenfeind (SHZ), Berenice(IN), Requiem für einen verbotenen Teppich / Es ist nie zu spät / Lebst Du noch (SHZ&VT&Miller's Studio), Kapitän Nemo (KULTURINSEL)
• etc. (see our survey)

 
 
 

PAGE 21:   A Posteriori Überblick über die Zürcher THEATERSAISON 1997/98
September, 1998

a SURVEY of the current theatre season with - up to now - 190 classified and rated theatre shows (since Dank-, Buss- und Bettag 1997)
 
 
 

CLICK HERE!
 

III. Theatre Links:

 

PAGE 20 - section 1:    Zurich's theatre information sites on the web
 

PAGE 20 - section 2:    Zurich's theatres on the web and theatres in our neighbourhood
 

PAGE 20 - section 3:    Miscellaneous further links for people interested in theatre

URL (home page): http://www.ifi.unizh.ch/~riedl.html

URL (this page) http://www.ifi.unizh.ch/~riedl/theater.html