Brzydka matka
The ugly mother

Summary/Abstract: A review of Rats, directed by Volker Lösch (Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, prem.: 29 Nov 2014). For the director, the 1911 naturalist play by Gerhart Hauptmann became a point of departure for very contemporary questions concerning the social status of the mother. Apart from the professional acting team, the show features also a choir of sixteen single mothers, telling about their social exclusion. Hauptmann's text has been combined with the political demands of the mothers. Although Falbeck is sceptical in regard to the artistic merits of the staging, she appreciates its real-world social influence, as several of the choir members have found employment in subsequent Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus performances.

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