King Size

A pastiche of an “evening of songs”, full of absurd humour, directed by a giant of the European theatre scene

production: Theater Basel / Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne with the support of: Pro Helvetia – Foundation Suisse Pour La Culture

directed by: Christoph Marthaler, musical direction: Bendix Dethleffsen, set design: Duri Bischoff, costumes: Sarah Schittek, Dramaturgy: Malte Ubenauf, lighting: Heide Voegelin Lights
cast: Tora Augestad, Bendix Dethleffsen, Michael von der Heide, Nikola Weisse

producer: Małgorzata Stobiecka

A comedy for four actors and one bed. The play, which has been running for almost ten years, is a hit of European festivals because of its small (and therefore mobile) cast, its handy set and its universal message.

Christoph Marthaler, a specialist in serious dramatic theatre and monumental post-romantic operas, combines old-school erudition with a youthful command of the language of pop culture. He does not come across as a sad snob, but rather as someone who simply wants to entertain and move us by holding a slightly distorted mirror up to our noses.

Marthaler’s protagonists are a middle-aged couple (who don’t have much to say to each other anymore, although they both like to sing), an elegant and dignified old lady (with a dream) and a bald pianist (obsessed with his non-existent hairstyle).

In the hotel room – or rather, in the corridor of the imagination – every quirk is taken for granted. Spaghetti eaten out of a woman’s handbag? A monologue from under the bed? A vocal trio in the wardrobe? Next bizarrement, please!

With a repertoire that includes John Dowland, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alban Berg, The Kinks, Michel Polnareff and Münchener Freiheit, each song, each aria turns out to be its parody. Yet all this adds up to a bittersweet musical.

vidy.ch/en/production/christoph-marthaler-king-size/
@theatredevidy
#vidyontour