Art
Stefan Pucher and “Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach” in Zurich
In Switzerland it is Stefan Pucher who came up with a new adaptation of Tennessee Williams “A cat on a hot tin roof”. Pucher’s revival in three acts lasts 2h30 minutes and is called “Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach”.
It is shown at the old theatre Pfauen in Zurich just next to the Kunsthaus museum. The fourteen performers acted in front of large crowd of over 700 people on April 20th, just two months after its Première in Switzerland. It was a special evening with English subtitles on both sides of the podium.
Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach – A cat on a hot tin roof – Julia Jentsch – Director Stefan Pucher – credit Tanja Dorendorf T&T Fotografie
According to some of the actors, who gathered together after the play, the director shortened the work of Tennessee Williams the most he was allowed to.
Pucher, was born in the mid 60’s in the town of Giessen in Germany and has worked in many well-known theatres in the German speaking world like in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Basel and Zurich. Lately, he has directed a play of Samuel Beckett and of Arthur Miller. Pucher chose for Big Daddy someone he knows well, Jean-Pierre Cornu, having worked with him twice before in the plays “Die Perser” and “Endspiel”. Cornu brings years of experience to “A Cat on a hot tin roof”. He has played in so many popular plays such as “Hamlet” and “the death of Danton”.
Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach – A cat on a hot tin roof – Brick and Big Daddy credit Toni Suter
In this adaptation you won’t see any roof nor a cat !
The only thing, which will remind you of a cat, is Margaret, known as Maggie the cat. She crawls and fights like a cat to get her man back. Yes, she wants him back and nothing will stop her, even telling lies.
Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach from Tennessee Williams – A cat on a hot tin roof – Julia Jentsch (Maggie) and Markus Scheumann (Brick) – credit Tanja Dorendorf
If you don’t know the story yet, what is it all about? Big Daddy Pollitt (Jean-Pierre Cornu), a rich man, who owns a cotton plantation in the South of the States, is celebrating his 65th birthday. He has just been tested for colon cancer and thinks it is negative. He has two sons, one Gooper (Jan Burthardt) who has a wife Mea (Tabea Bettin) and 5 children with one more on the way. The second one, Brick (Markus Scheumann) a football reporter, is alcoholic and can’t deal very well with the death of a male friend (Skipper), whom he loved. Skipper committed suicide. Brick is married to Maggie (Julia Jentsch), who is jealous of the relationship her husband had with Skipper. The couple has no children and this situation is difficult for everyone. Who will inherit the money of Big Daddy? Brick and Maggie not only have communication problems but they don’t sleep together anymore. Maggie wants this situation to change. After the party, Brick and Big Daddy have a confrontation and during the conversation Brick tells his father he is dying of cancer. It is a shock for the old man.
Will Maggie get her husband back whom she loves dearly? The pretty and talented actress, Julia Jentsch, known for the“Edukators” (Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei), “The Downfall”, “Sophie Scholl-the Final Days”, plays Maggie. She told Vivamost in a previous interview what she likes about her character. She likes her strength and her energy.
“I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof”, she repeats in the play.
Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach – A cat on a hot tin roof of Tennessee Williams – Director Stefan Pucher – Brick and Maggie – credit T&T Fotographie
Maggie’s emotions are on fire. She is the queen of the play. But she is not ready to jump like a cat standing on a tin roof or like her husband tells her to do. No, Maggie will do anything to keep what she fought hard to gain, a good life and she wants a child.
The play takes place in Brick and Maggie’s bedroom with on one side a bar and on the other side a bed and some sofa seats. There is also a TV and a screen where videos and films are projected. During most of the play Brick’s clothing attire is no more than a white towel or a slip. Maggie starts with a nice sexy leopard dress before she removes it to only have a hot short leather outfit. For the party the couple wears some nice silky colourful attire.
Die Katze auf dem heissen Blechdach – A cat on a hot tin roof – Brick and Evelinn Trouble at the guitar – Director of the play Stefan Pucher – credit Tanja Dorendorf T&T Fotografie
The great performances of the actors, the lovely décor of Barbara Ehnes, the amazing costumes of Aino Laberenz all mixed with the live rocking sounds of Evelinn Trouble* on the guitar, make it a good reason to come and see the play of Stefan Pucher.
It will be playing until the end of June (May 5th, 21st, 27th, 31st & June 9th, 15th & 28th) and on May 21st with English subtitles. For more information and tickets, click here.
*Evelinn Trouble, a young rock singer from Zurich, has a new album “The Great Big Heavy” out. Have you missed our first part about Tennessee Williams and “A cat on a hot tin roof” ? Then click here.
