Meininger's The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Hans Christian Andersen’s poignant love tale was brought to life, openly acknowledging its literary origins yet simultaneously transforming it into a powerful theatrical event. In a tour-de-force performance, the multi-talented Stefan Wey first appears as the Andersen, dreaming up the story while moving restlessly on a bed whose enormous white sheet covers the large stage floor. With the help of ropes, pulleys, and a huge air hose, the bed linens gradually grow into a huge translucent bubble tent into which he leads the 60 audience members. Once inside, he begins to tell the story with shadows projected onto the walls of the inflatable environment. Music joins the sound of the quiet air compressor and the cool moving air to underscore the most exhilarating artistic journey of the festival. Wey’s genuine enthusiasm and charm engage us as we experience the toy soldier’s adventures along with him. The most amazing puppet concept is a large pop-up book from which Wey projects and manipulates his shadows propelled by a high intensity lamp incorporated in the book’s spine. All the while, Wey narrates the story and provides voices for all the characters. Sets and characters unfold with each page turn and are projected all around the audience. Additional projections appear from outside the bubble, including film of fire and water and as well as a human ballerina. In the tragic finale, fire consumes the soldier and ballerina, and the tent collapses. The production was designed by Ingo Mewes and Thomas Klemm, and directed by Tobias Lehmann.
