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With Paul Lincke’s Frau Luna, Opera Zuid brings an irresistible Berlin operetta to Dutch theatres. Director Steef de Jong makes his debut with Opera Zuid with this production and demonstrates why this genre is very much alive. In a fully Dutch adaptation by Paulien Cornelisse, Frau Luna comes to life as an imaginative, playful and invigorating performance.
In Frau Luna, a group of young dreamers become captivated by the moon. They build an airship and set off in search of the ‘man in the moon’. There, they find themselves in the wondrous world of Frau Luna, where freedom, love and imagination rule. Old conventions fade away, new desires blossom, and nothing is what it seems. Or… does the moon world ultimately turn out to be an imaginative reflection of life on Earth after all?
Steef de Jong deliberately opts for a visible theatrical illusion: using cardboard, strings and inventive theatrical touches, the singers construct an entire (lunar) world on stage. ‘I enjoy creating a world that is the polar opposite of our own. Especially at a time when all the misery is getting you down, there is a growing need for light-heartedness, lightness, joy, and taking flight: literally to the moon! In that respect, the song Ist die Welt auch noch so schön strikes at the heart of the operetta: the world will come to an end one day, so you might as well dance and sing now!’
The energetic, timeless music, featuring swinging march rhythms and cabaret-style influences, is performed by Philzuid, under the baton of musical director Enrico Delamboye.
Frau Luna lasts approximately 150 minutes, including an interval, and is performed in Dutch, with English surtitles.
Interview with director Steef de Jong
Ever since he was a child, the sunny three-quarter time of the New Year’s concerts has filled him with joy. Whilst studying at art college, he discovered just how fascinating opera is. But it was only when he listened to his grandparents’ dusty LPs that everything fell into place: operetta touched him deeply and became his greatest source of inspiration. One title has been at the top of his wish list for years: Frau Luna by Paul Lincke.
Prepare to be surprised by an imaginative, humorous journey to the moon, full of cheerful music and witty wordplay; the script was penned by none other than Paulien Cornelisse. Naturally, the cardboard illusions so characteristic of Steef’s work will not be missing!
Why do you want to bring Frau Luna to Dutch theatres?
‘This operetta is pure fantasy and offers plenty of scope to let your imagination run wild and escape to another world. Frau Luna is brimming with funny characters, intrigue and romance. Amidst all the madness, a wide range of themes are explored: the stranger who knocks on the door, gender and sexual freedom, the question of what ‘home’ is, and whether one should always strive for more. It is my mission to show just how wonderful operetta is. With Frau Luna, it will surely succeed.’
What is it about operetta that appeals to you so much?
‘This music makes you happy. At the same time, operetta is about people themselves, about how they interact with one another, or how they view power. It is often satirical, playful and humorous. That is why we are performing Frau Luna entirely in Dutch; this allows the language and music to connect directly with the audience. What’s more, the music is timeless. Certainly this Berlin operetta. It sounds a bit rougher and swingier than its Viennese counterpart. No sweet waltzes, but energetic march rhythms, jazz influences and a cabaret atmosphere. The music of Frau Luna marks the beginning of an era in which musical genres began to merge; popular music and jazz influences blend with the classical origins of operetta. Frau Luna has itself been a major source of inspiration! The famous melody of ‘A Trip Along the Rhine’ comes from this operetta.’
So Frau Luna is being translated entirely into Dutch?
‘Yes, I think it’s important that there’s no language barrier. For me, the dialogue and songs need to flow seamlessly into one another. That’s why everything is being translated by Paulien Cornelisse. She’s a master of language and knows how to incorporate all the key themes in a humorous way. To gain a better understanding of the play, we first act it out together using Playmobil at her kitchen table. Then she starts writing, and I respond to that. That’s how we arrive at the final result together.’
What does your production of Frau Luna look like?
‘Theatre is the perfect medium for opening the door to the world of imagination. That’s why my Frau Luna is also about the theatre itself: a group of singers who are going to perform the operetta Frau Luna on stage, in their own little theatre. Using, inevitably, cardboard, strings and things on wheels, they’re busy building that world and telling a funny story about a group of people travelling to the moon. You’re allowed , in my view, to see how the illusion is created, but the illusion must still be there. Just like in a pop-up book. I also enjoy creating a world that’s the polar opposite of our own. Especially at a time when all the misery is getting you down. That’s why operetta is flourishing again. When the world descends into darkness, the need for light-heartedness, lightness, joy and taking flight – literally to the moon! – grows. In that respect, the song Ist die Welt auch noch so schön strikes at the heart of the operetta: the world will come to an end one day, so you might as well dance and sing now!’
Do you hope the audience will walk out afterwards, dancing and singing?
‘Yes! I hope the audience feels uplifted, and only when they go home, very slowly, come back down to earth. Ultimately, of course, we have to be able to cope with reality again; Frau Luna can help with that. I also hope people say to one another: “It’s unbelievable that we didn’t know about this; I want to experience this again!”’
