Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Residenztheater München, Germany

Première: 18. 9. 2014, Residenztheater München, Germany
Running time approximately 2 hours. No interval.

Original title Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

German translator Pinkas Braun
Director Martin Kušej
Set & costume designer Jessica Rockstroh
Lighting designer Tobias Löffler
Dramaturg Andrea Koschwitz

Performers
Martha Bibiana Beglau
George Norman Hacker
Nick Johannes Zirner
Honey Nora Buzalka

Edward Albee discovered the words Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in a mirror of a bar in Greenwich Village. The title of his new play was actually meant to be Exorcism. And Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the legendary afterparty of Martha, George, Nick and Honey, does speak of exorcism. Following its première in New York in 1962, the play is considered a classic, still remaining an authentic critique of (American) society and the institution of marriage, that is, its perception by the society.
After the end of the official party, Martha invites home Nick, the new professor of biology, and his wife Honey, without notifying her husband George. George, assistant professor of history at the local university, knows his wife’s social games all too well. As the Rector’s daughter, Martha has power and influence and adores playing with other people’s feelings. Yet that particular evening everything unfolds differently, with the game intensifying and taking strange directions.

Martin Kušej has already dedicated himself to dark and gloomy relation games among the sophisticated bourgeoisie in his previous productions The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant and Hedda Gabler. He is first and foremost interested in modern-day emotional battles, exposed to everyone’s view, which hurt the protagonist deeply in his heart and soul.

With financial support of Goethe Institut

Photo: Andreas Pohlmann

Photo: Andreas Pohlmann

Photo: Andreas Pohlmann

Photo: Andreas Pohlmann