The special midnight performance of The show must go on! starts in an obstinate shroud of mystification. Everything is there to mislead us, so it seems. The show begins by not starting at all. The lights go out in the hall. Everyone immediately thinks that the curtain is going to go up and that we will be able to see how the choreographer Jérôme Bel stage-directs the old and new members of the Schauspielhaus troupe by giving them the opportunity to show off the rather entertaining traits of their natural character. A last round of dancing as therapy after our problem-filled tasks. But there is nothing of the kind. The stage remains plunged in darkness. In front of it, near the footlights, his back to the audience, his eyes directed towards the still lowered curtain, sits a disc jockey who plays us the song “ Tonight ” out of West Side Story. It's a bit complacent, we think, but a very nice way to warm us up for what will soon take off in a totally crazy way. But the curtain still doesn't go up and this makes the song “ Let the sunshine in” from the musical Hair sombrely farcical. There are the first stirrings in the audience.

The special midnight performance of The show must go on! starts in an obstinate shroud of mystification. Everything is there to mislead us, so it seems. The show begins by not starting at all. The lights go out in the hall. Everyone immediately thinks that the curtain is going to go up and that we will be able to see how the choreographer Jérôme Bel stage-directs the old and new members of the Schauspielhaus troupe by giving them the opportunity to show off the rather entertaining traits of their natural character. A last round of dancing as therapy after our problem-filled tasks. But there is nothing of the kind. The stage remains plunged in darkness. In front of it, near the footlights, his back to the audience, his eyes directed towards the still lowered curtain, sits a disc jockey who plays us the song “ Tonight ” out of West Side Story. It's a bit complacent, we think, but a very nice way to warm us up for what will soon take off in a totally crazy way. But the curtain still doesn't go up and this makes the song “ Let the sunshine in” from the musical Hair sombrely farcical. There are the first stirrings in the audience.

Everything is clear: it is necessary to thwart expectations, and disappoint any leanings towards voyeurism. But where it is ceaselessly and clearly shown that the audience's arrogance is finer than its benevolence, this headlong rush gives the impression of trying to transcend dilettantism. And even the best jokes soon fall flat, while splitting the audience into three camps. Some are indignant. Others are jubilant, in spite of it all. While finally, a few, who are still young or trying to be, are already talking about a cult.

Werner Burkhardt 04.10.2000