Martin Kusage “Maria Stuart” in Salzburg

Michael Lages in conversation with Eckard Rolke

Thirty men form the backdrop for the royal battle for power. Maria Stuart and Elizabeth claim the same throne. (SF / Matthias Horn)

This is the first “Maria Stuart” production at the Salzburg Festival. Burgtheater director Martin Kuse focuses on the political in the play and stays close to Schiller’s lessons. Our critics are full of praise.

The special thing in this”Maria Stuart“The production is vibrant stage design, as followed by our critic Michael Lages after the premiere. Salzburg Festival Reported. It consists of thirty naked males, usually five on stage in six rows and forming a “male maze”.

Two adversaries – Queen Elizabeth of England and Queen Maria Stuart of Scotland – are trapped in this maze of men’s bodies, with no escape. A strong picture, as Lages thinks, but one that overwhelmed and disrupted some in the hall, and some visitors left the premiere at the very beginning.

long ago political drama

In the production of Martin Cuse, intrigues in the court are in the foreground: men making plans, the insolubility of conflict. He stays close to the text: “It’s one of the most focused Schiller works I’ve seen in a long time,” says Lages.

According to Lagasse, Bibiana Beglau and Birgit Minichmayer are ideal actors for the roles of two queens fighting for power: “two young women who are not necessarily seductive and who have considerable feminist perspectives, although certainly Schiller’s.” Not together yet, everything happens.”

This is the core of the play, but not the only one: “The political plan around it is at least as important. So the play is not just a women’s drama, but a political drama for a long time. But something lags behind.” Conspiracy from is known again today.”

(CKR)