Rauhnacht (drama)
Rauhnacht is a drama by the Austrian writer and poet Richard Billinger (1890–1965) from 1931. It was premiered on October 10, 1931 in the Münchner Kammerspiele . It is written for eight female and nine male roles plus supporting actors.
action
The scene is a small village in Billinger's Upper Austrian homeland. Remnants of pagan customs have been preserved in the village through the entire Middle Ages and exist alongside the prevailing Christian customs. The Rauhnächte are particularly celebrated here, a time when the wild, secret instincts are allowed to break out. Simon Kreuzhalter, who was born and raised there, returns to this village. As a former farmer, he went to Africa as a missionary before his planned priestly ordination . During this time he has changed, got to know and participated in the orgiastic festivals of the natives and began to discover and understand their pagan customs for himself. After his return home, he can no longer really feel that he belongs to the village and its people and, due to his brooding nature, is considered an eccentric and marginalized. The daughter of the village grocer, Kreszenz, who had also worked in the city for a while, is particularly wild and hot-blooded and is particularly fascinated by Simon's tales of the wild in Africa. In the rough night she agrees to accompany him to his bedroom. While people outside in masked trains move through the alleys to dull rhythmic drum beats, Simon and Kreszenz intensify themselves into a wild intoxication, in the course of which he stabs them to death. Simon then sets his house on fire, and the ecstatically partying villagers greet this initially as a “signal of unleashed instincts”. However, when the farmers discover that the fire was only meant to cover up a murder, they attack, pursue and chase Simon until he finally falls into the river and drowns in the icy water.
background
Billinger was the son of a farmer and at the same time a Jesuit pupil. Therefore he was very familiar with the secrets of ancient pagan customs and at the same time with Christian values. Many of his works are characterized by the theming of the changing rural world of his homeland. Billinger contrasts a mystical-demonic worldview with Christian ideas.
premiere
Otto Falckenberg directed the premiere in 1931 at the Münchner Kammerspiele ; the set was designed by Alfred Kubin .
Award
In 1932 Billinger received the Kleist Prize for Rauhnacht , which he had to share with Else Lasker-Schüler that year .
filming
The drama was made into a film in the 1980s.
literature
Verner Arpe: Knaur's actor. Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th. Knaur, Munich / Zurich, 1976, p. 331. ISBN 3-426-23312-6
Individual evidence
- ↑ SEARCH FOR TRACKS IN THE GALLERY OF THE CITY RIED iI at the Museum Innviertler Volkskundehaus
- ↑ tvprogramme.net