The Black Rider
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2016) |
The Black Rider | |
---|---|
The Casting of the Magic Bullets | |
The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets is a self-billed "musical fable" in the avant-garde tradition created through the collaboration of theatre director Robert Wilson, musician Tom Waits and writer William S. Burroughs. Wilson, in the original production, was largely responsible for the design and direction. Burroughs wrote the book, while Waits wrote the music and most of the lyrics. The project began in about 1988 when Wilson approached Waits. The story is based on the German folktale "Der Freischütz", which had previously adapted as an opera by Carl Maria von Weber. It premiered at Hamburg's Thalia Theatre on 31 March 1990, and was performed at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet on 9 October 1990. November Theatre produced its world English-language premiere in 1998 at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in Canada. Det Norske Teatret in Oslo staged a Norwegian (Nynorsk) version in 1998, with Lasse Kolsrud as Pegleg.[1] Only the dialogue was translated by the dramaturg and key collaborator of the entire creative process, Wolfgang Wiens; the songs were performed in English.
Waits recorded much of the music from the play in different arrangements as The Black Rider.
Synopsis
Wilhelm, a file clerk, falls in love with a huntsman's daughter. In order to marry, Wilhelm must prove his worth as a hunter and gain her father's approval, but, as "a man of pen and ink," his shot is lousy and his hopes of marriage worsen. He is offered magic bullets by the
Although based on folklore, the story contains strong autobiographical elements from Burroughs' own life: he shot and killed his own wife in a drunken attempt at recreating the William Tell legend, and the story as a whole may be construed as a warning tale about the destructive powers of addiction.
Music
The music was composed and performed by Tom Waits, and released as a record in 1993.
Productions
November Theatre produced its world English-language premiere in 1998 at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in Canada, and the American English-language premiere at the New York International Fringe Festival in 1999.
The play premiered in Finnish in October 1998 by the Helsinki City Theatre, translated by Markku Salo, directed by Anneli Mäkelä, with a live Devil's Rubato Band.[2]
In 2004, UK producers Cultural Industry, London,
The band, The Magic Bullets, was headed by Bent Clausen and David Coulter and featured Thomas Bloch, Terry Edwards, Caroline Hall, Jack Pinter, Rory McFarlane, and
The show opened in May 2004 at London's
In 2006, Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre re-staged the production, bringing the cast together for one final time. Several members of the original cast were unavailable, most notably Marianne Faithfull, whose role was filled by Vance Avery. The cast was also joined by John Vickery.
Following the concept of the director of the independent theatre, PanoDrama, Anna Lengyel the play was staged in the
In Barcelona, The Black Rider was the first musical to open at Teatre Almeria. Produced by the Companyia Gataró starting December 2009, it was performed by Oscar Martínez (Wilhelm), Ferran Frauca (Robert), Bealia Guerra (Kätchen), Jordi Vidal (Pegleg), Muntsa Rius (Anne) and Frank Capdet (Bertram), plus special guest acting by Xavier Ribera-Vall (Kuno).
The play was also staged by in Estonia by VAT Theatre in 2011. It took place in Tallinn, which was a European Capital of Culture for 2011.
In November 2012, the play was presented at the Schaubühne in Berlin.[4]
In 2014, the play was staged by Rogaland Teater in Stavanger, Norway.[5]
In both 2000 and 2015, the play was staged by the Betty Nansen theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, both times with Jimmy Jørgensen as Pegleg.[6]
The work was performed by
In 2018, it was staged at the Theater Regensburg.[8]
References
- ^ "The Black Rider" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Helsinki City Theatre shows, page 114" (PDF) (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "The Black Rider, avagy a varázsgolyó-kaszting" (in Hungarian).
- ^ "Schaubühne – The Black Rider". Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "Rogaland Teater – The Black Rider". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ "The Black Rider". Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ Digital, Carter (29 August 2016). "Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets". Victorian Opera. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "The Black Rider - Details - Theater Regensburg". Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060508180225/http://www.robertwilson.com/archive/ – Robert Wilson Archive. Source for further details.
- http://blackrider.novembertheatre.com// – Extensive site with history, images, trailer, tour dates, etc.
- [1] – The programme for the San Francisco leg of the most recent tour. [dead link]