Stream of Consciousness - Prof. Bernhardi to Hamlet

btw, photos are used to separate thoughts. they may be related to the text, they may not. 

Professor Bernhardi was frustrating because I found the language difficult to understand. That feeling was multiplied because after being on a German-learning journey for eight years, I felt like I should understand the language. Being able to pick up on bits and pieces almost made things worse because it made letting go of the words that much harder. However, the acting in this show was so transparent and the action so specific that even with the language barrier, I came out understanding much more than I initially thought I had. 

Der letzte Gast was comforting in that I understood the language. In contrast to Professor Bernhardi, however, I came out with little understanding of the plot/action/story.

The juxtaposition of these two pieces was highlighted by seeing them on consecutive nights. From this experience, I have learned that language is not the only tool, or rather, not the most important tool, with which to understand theater. Good acting, directing, design, and above all specificity in those categories, can be much more important. 

Flight from Switzerland to Berlin!

I do not think I have ever seen cameras/projections used on stage in the same way that they were in Professor Bernhardi and Hamlet. The effect was stunning, engaging, and such an aid to the storytelling, especially in Professor Bernhardi. Specifically in Professor Bernhardi it sometimes made me uncomfortable to see the actors faces so large, their eyes appearing to stare into mine, while they stood on stage looking elsewhere. It's disconcerting to see someone standing profile in front of you, and yet seeing their face and eyes head-on.

Being uncomfortable is so powerful. Making someone uncomfortable is so powerful. Being uncomfortable helped me to engage more deeply with the piece and enticed me to ponder why the choice was made to use the camera-projections and to use them in such a specific way.

die Vorführungen - the projections // projizieren - to project 

Ceiling in one of the Museums at Museum Island
(same picture, different exposure)

Rep. Living off of being a theater artist. No understudies. Purchased playbooks. No playbills. No advertisements. 

der Theaterzettel - playbill 

Ceiling at Berliner Ensemble
(I like ceilings)

It always surprises me when phrases can be literally translated from German to English. Each language usually has their own way of expressing things. For example, in English we say: "there are," as in "There are three reasons why..." In German you say, "es gibt," as in, "Es gibt drei Gründe warum..." which would literally mean "it gives three reasons why..." The expression is different, though the meaning is the same.

Here are some shared phrases I learned from watching the shows this week (i.e. their literal translation and meaning line up): 

wie Sie wünschen - as you wish
Wenn man vom Teufel spricht - speak of the devil

A Selfie from the Bathroom at Charlottenburg
(there was really good lighting)

That's all for now. Tune in next time for some more thoughts.