Musik

Neil Fleming's version of Frank Wedekind's 1906 play

directed by Deborah Bruce

Arcola Theatre, London, 15th March-May 7th 2005

A Dumbfounded Theatre-Oxford Stage Company co-production

Script available from Amazon.com here

A young girl bids to escape from a web of bigotry, lies, and sexual desire.
18-year-old Klara is on fire with life when she leaves home for a dream of fame.
But an affair with her middle-aged singing teacher pushes her into darkness.

"Neil Fleming's adaptation is silky clever. Deborah Bruce's production combines imagination and vivid imagery with something more restrained. It has an admirable choked quality, like a cry of despair suppressed." Lynn Gardner, The Guardian

"Funny, disturbing and gripping. Deborah Bruce's production is pacy and sharply intelligent. A welcome rediscovery, and warmly recommended." Robert Hanks, The Independent

"A piece of great historical interest and odd, outré distinction. Plenty of punchy acting. Well worth a look."
Benedict Nightingale, The Times

"A gripping evening. Neil Fleming’s skilful adaptation of a difficult, challenging play." Rachel Halliburton, Time Out

"A spellbinding performance. The characters are suffocated by a lack of moral oxygen and you're left to draw your own conclusions without too much sympathy getting in the way." John Peter, Sunday Times

"Wedekind's Musik, translated and considerably overhauled by Neil Fleming, emerges in Deborah Bruce's sensitive, expressionistic, terrifically acted production as a bracingly modern study of hypocrisy, the bourgeoisie, artistic exploitation with a good old swipe at the press along the way. Fascinating stuff."Carole Woddis, WhatsonStage.com

"Neil Fleming's translation and sophisticated adaptation of Frank Wedekind's play breathes new life into the sad saga of Klara Hühnerwadel and hurls it vigorously into the modern arena." C J Sheridan, RoguesAndVagabonds.co.uk

 

Musik was first performed in English at The Drum Theatre,
Plymouth Theatre Royal, England, in 2000.
Directed by Jennie Darnell, and starring Tony Boncza, Juliet Caton, Cathryn Harrison, Terence Hillyer, Eliza Hunt and Jem Wall.

Plymouth Reviews

"This brilliant jewel of a production. The most important I have witnessed at the Theatre Royal. An achievement of national stature." John Clamp, Herald Express

"This will join the general repertoire and expand Wedekind's standing as a dramatist."Allen Sadler, The Stage