Die Geschichte von Kaspar Hauser (The story of Kaspar Hauser)

A foundling’s speechlessness, his arrival in civilisation – hardly any other historical character has fascinated scientists, criminal investigators and artists in equal measure. Alvis Hermanis’ treatment of the story starts at zero point and reveals the domestication of human nature through pedagogic practices. Hermanis responds to this true crime story with a nightmarish reinvention of puppetry. The production’s outstanding feature: The protagonists appear as a Biedermeier society in miniature, played by children who are in turn steered by shadowy actors. In the midst of this doll’s house, Kaspar appears like an ungainly foreign element. Is it worth his while to become part of this artificiality, to become “human”, the man-child wonders, while the children, dolled up as old people, force their notions of morality and culture upon him. When Hermanis assembles the children to form a string orchestra that scratches out a Viennese waltz, this makes for a superb final scene: Here is refined society - a pitifully screeching cacophony.

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