Tango Sólo

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Tango Sólo (2002) is a play by the author Torsten Buchsteiner . It describes twenty-four hours in the life of twelve tango dancers on the Berlin tango scene. The play was premiered in Czech on June 9, 2005 at Divadlo na Vinohradech in Prague . Directed by Petr Svojtka .

action

The piece begins with the introduction of the twelve dancers. They step out of a chorus line and tell why they dedicated their lives to Argentine tango . The two protagonists Angelo and Laura go one step further. You describe yourself as a tango alcoholic , i.e. psychologically and physically dependent on tango.

In the following scenes, Angelo and Laura prepare for the evening at the Ballhaus according to a ritual that is always the same. You plan the evening like a stage appearance in order to get as much attention as possible and to cover up your own emptiness and loneliness.

In the evening in the Ballhaus (the largest part of the piece) all dancers meet again. A web of vanities, taunts and amours emerges. Angelo and Laura have also been in love for a long time, but they do not admit it to themselves or to the other. They fear losing their status, because the golden rule in the Ballhaus is: Hunt - but never fall in love! In tango only the moment counts. And so their love turns into mutual hurt. In a competition, Angelo and Laura incite each other and stir up their jealousy by seducing two willing victims. Because of a lost bet, Angelo has to dance a tango with Laura and their feelings for each other rekindle. But everyone still takes their victim home with them. But the night is disastrous for both of them.

When they meet at a tango class the next day, the situation escalates. Angelo and Laura attack each other and only in the greatest desperation do they confess their true feelings to each other. In the end, the piece leaves open whether this happiness can last - or whether the spirit of tango takes possession of them again.

Piece quotations

“Tango is the most erotic dance there is. And it is the most archaic dance in terms of the distribution of roles between men and women. Tango is war. Tango is a fight. Tango is sparring. Tango is passion, rivalry and jealousy. Tango is sweat. Pure eroticism. - Life out there is so un-erotic. That's why I dance. "(Laura)

“I tried to stop this tango madness once, but ... after a week I was on the verge of going nuts. I was shaking all over like a goddamn junkie. I am completely addicted to tango. I'm ... a tango alcoholic. "(Angelo)

background

The play Tango Sólo was first published by S. Fischer Verlag , which also launched the world premiere in Prague. Since 2008 the play has been represented by Henschel SCHAUSPIEL Theaterverlag Berlin. The film rights are also located there.

The Czech translation was done by Pavel Michele with the support of the Goethe-Institut Prague. The piece was also translated into English.

Reviews

"Tangomania breaks out in Prague." ( Radio Praha )

"The piece construction is reminiscent of Ettore Scola's famous Ballhaus film from 1983." ( DNES Prague, only Czech)

"The piece is exceptionally good - just like Buchsteiner's debut" Spieler "."

“A dazzling farce of vanities, sensitivities and the inability to form real bonds with real people. Tango Sólo - the dance with oneself. "( Tangodanza , Germany)

“A night piece. A dance, intoxication and passion piece. "( Gerhard Jörder , ZEIT)

"The actor and author Buchsteiner writes concrete, lively dialogues." ( Lidové Noviny , Prague)

"A grateful connection between drama and dance theater." ("Hospodářské noviny", Prague)

"The original title" Anonymous Tangoholics "succinctly expresses the total dependence on tango as a principle of life." ( Právo , Prague)

"A stylish coding, fast, pointed, cold - a kind of boulevard in the refrigerator." ("Thalia Theater" jury, Autorentage 2003)

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Tatyana Synková in “Radio Prague” http://www.radio.cz/de/rubrik/tagesecho/tango-solo-die-sucht-nach-der-unbekannten-naehe (last accessed on February 22, 2011).
  2. ↑ Joseph Mlejnek in http://kultura.idnes.cz/tanecnici-tanga-na-lovu-i-uloveni-d48-/divadlo.aspx?c=A050621_193445_divadlo_kot (last accessed on February 22, 2011).
  3. ↑ Elke Koepping on tangokultur.info http://www.tangokultur.info/old/Prag1.html (last accessed on February 22, 2011).
  4. ↑ Critique in http://www.tangodanza.de/product_info.php/products_id/775/cPath/2/buecher/torsten-buchsteiner.html (last accessed on February 22, 2011).