A great play about a commune in the 1970s and an interesting exhibition on one of Austria’s most disputed artists are now on in Vienna.
“Die Kommune” shows how, slowly but surely, things go totally wrong in a house inhabited in peace and harmony by groups of people of various ages in Danish capital Denmark. Dorothee Hartinger, Joachim Meyerhoff and Regina Fritsch star in the play which is currently staged at the Akademietheater, a sister stage of the Burgtheater.
Fritsch also stars in “Eine Mittsommernachts-Sex-Komödie”, a German adaption of a comedy film (A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy) written and directed by Hollywood legend Woody Allen. The play is performed at the Burgtheater. The theatre’s programme this season also features William Shakespeare’s “Romeo und Julia” (Romeo and Juliet), “Der ideale Mann” and “Solaris”. For ticket information, go to www.burgtheater.at or call +43 1 514 444 145.
Vienna’s Volkstheater draws the crowds with Arthur Schnitzler’s play “Der einsame Weg”. “Nathan der Weise” (Nathan the Wise) by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and “Monsieur Ibrahim und die Blumen des Koran” (Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur’an), a one-person play starring Arne Gottschling based on a novel by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, is also on at the theatre. Visit www.volkstheater.at for the Volkstheater’s full repertoire. To book tickets, call +43 1 521 114 00.
The Leopold Museum (www.leopoldmuseum.org offers information on opening hours) currently hosts a special exhibit focusing on various projects by Hermann Nitsch. The controversial performance artist caused scandals with his experimental happenings during which blood, urine and intestines were spilled and spread. “Hermann Nitsch – Strukturen” (Hermann Nitsch – Structures) features video recordings of his famous “Orgien Mysterien Theater” (Orgies Mysteries Theatre) as well as drawings and graphics.
Another exhibit, called “Melancholie und Provokation” (Melancholy and Provocation), now on display at the Leopold Museum examines how Egon Schiele influenced artists of the 20th and 21st century. Schiele learned from and collaborated with Gustav Klimt whose 150th birthday is celebrated this year. Both Schiele and Klimt passed away in 1918.
The Leopold Museum plans a special exhibition focusing on Klimt as a private person later this year. The exhibit will feature postcards, photographs and letters. Several other Viennese museums and galleries will host exhibits and events to mark the famous painter’s 150th birthday throughout the year. “Gustav Klimt / Josef Hoffmann” – an exhibition on Klimt’s collaboration with Josef Hoffmann is already on display at Belvedere Palace (www.belvedere.at).
Those looking for original version cinema highlights are well advised to check out the Burgkino’s programme. George Clooney’s acclaimed new movie “The Ides of March”, “Intouchables” starring Francois Cluzet, action hit “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” directed by David Fincher and Paul Poet’s documentary “Empire Me” will be on at the Burgkino (www.burgkino.at; +43 1 587 84 06) tomorrow (Weds).
