Staged as a companion piece to Pioneers In Ingolstadt (see separate review), Marie-Luise Fleisser's first play is more unremittingly dark, less linear and really less coherent. Again one protagonist, Olga, is too sexually forward by the claustrophobic community's standards: her path crosses and recrosses (pun intended) that of teen mystic Roelle. Both are victims of their peer-group, and they torment each other into the bargain. Out of nowhere emerge a couple of Expressionist demons whose aim is to fuck up still more lives more thoroughly. The twin productions are indubitably well worth catching, but it must be said that this is the lesser play.
Written for City Limits magazine.
Copyright © Ian Shuttleworth; all rights reserved.
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