Tanz Der Vampire, Berlin

[RadioMaster]

posted this review on Rockman, but as many fans of the musical are on this site, I decided to put it up here too:

- Tanz der Vampire, 7.4.07, Berlin -

Drove up to Berlin for the weekend to see Tanz der Vampire in the Theater des Westens.
Already had planned to see it in December, but had a few problems then, then, not even a week ago, I decided to go to Berlin and watch it the easter weekend.

First of all:
It's an amazing show, one of the, if not THE, best musical performances I've seen. It's just pure Steinman! If you got any chance to see it, do it, you wont regret!
But from the beginning:
I chose to watch the afternoon show, 2.30pm instead of 7.30pm, simply because the tickets are cheaper and I could afford a ticket in the best category. Phoned the ticketline and they told me the best ticket available was row 14, which I took then. I was slightly disappointed when I came and saw that there was plenty of space, even in the first three rows! Luckily row 14 wasnt that bad, because everytime a new character entered a scene, they walked/ran/danced through the audience, and that path was directly in front of my seat!

The "Theater des Westens" is a pretty impressive building, it's from the 19th century and still got many golden applications on the walls and a huge chandelier. As I had to wait 40 minutes until the play began, I went to the murchandise store and bought a t-shirt, a programme-book and some memorabilia. I sat down and read the sheet of paper that was inside the programme, when I got a little shock: The saturday 2.30 show wasnt going to be played by the original cast, but by the second cast. I have no idea why, but I think that was the reason the tickets were cheaper than the ones for the evening shows. Luckily the second cast was very good too, mainly because most of the actors were playing the roles already in the Hamburg-version.

However, the doors opened and I went to my seat. The concert hall was nicely decorated. Under the roof was a projector throwing thousands of little flying bats all over the place. It projected the musicals logo (the fangs) onto the curtain. I've never seen something like this before: The curtain wasnt a real curtain, it was more of a giant projection screen, half transparent.
The show began and a short movie-like introduction was projected onto the screen: You were flying across a snowy landscape and passing a castle, the clip faded to a digital snow storm. As the screen was transparent you could see the actors behind. That way they performed the first scene in the snowstorm, where Alfred was looking for Abronsius.
All faded to black, the curtain was opened and the show began...
It was already an experience to sit there anticipating and all of a sudden to hear Jim's The Storm. As many times as I heard this song in it's different variations, to hear it played by a full orchestra and with rock band elements, like drums or guitars, really gave me goosebumps.

Trust me, it is really a great experience to see songs like Objects, Original Sin, TIWIMTBY or Total Eclipse performed like that. the people sitting next to me must have been thinking I was sort of mentally damaged, cause always when one of the 'big' melodies were played, I had a HUGE grin on my face all the time! But anyway, in my opinion the highlight of the performances was "Fühl die Nacht" (Seize the Night). I see that song, even Meat's version, I didnt like that one very much before, with completely different eyes now. The performance was more of a rock concert than a musical show. It was a full blown rock show with dancers, GOOD dancers, sound effects like thunder, a huge choir ensemble and much working with spots and differently coloured lights.

The actors did fit into their roles pretty well and performed them in a believable way. The only role I was disappointed with was Graf von Krolock. Maybe my expectations were too high, as I had the example of Steve Barton in my head all the time. In the first cast Krolock is played by the famous German musical star Thomas Borchert, who is known as a very good Phantom of the Opera, in the second cast Krolock was played by Felix Martin. Martin is semi-famous from a tv series in the early nineties and was also second cast for Krolock in the Hamburg version. His voice wasnt bad, but he interpreted the role of Krolock in a completely different way. Barton played the count as calm, wise old man, staying above the mortals, slightly arrogant. That, in my opinion, made his fascination, which made Sarah fell for him. Now Martin played Krolock, more as the creepy creature from the darkness, trying to seduce the innocent girl, not really taking her seriously. He was more the leader of the vampire pack, who isnt really better than they are, than this majestic, heroic, dark count played by Steve Barton.. All these facts made his performance of Krolock a little bit weak, but I guess it isnt possible to reach the level of Steve Barton's performance.

I've been to many plays, in big and small theatres, but I've never seen such an effort on a stage design before. The different sets were revolving or even 'driving' across the stage. Many sets had playing on different levels. Chagal's house, for example, had two floors, both playable. It was really a house they had built on stage.
Another thing I hadnt seen in such perfection was the use of different technics. Sound effects were coming from every corner of the theatre and I was already talking about the use of various spotlights. You could see that especially during the final dance.
All the actors had very nice and fitting costumes, pretty much the same as in all the previous versions, known from pictures and video clips. I especially liked Krolock's costume. The whole appearance of Martin as Krolock, despite his way of acting, was great: In the song "Nie geseh'n", the first duet of Sarah and Alfred, you'll recognize: the first "Sei bereit" line, what is, sort of, the leitmotiv for the vampires. Now with this "Sei bereit" Krolock is entering the hall. The door where he entered was a few meters away from my seat, and it's truly amazing when you see him walking right in front of you through the audience, all in black and whispering just these words. Martin is pretty tall, and he's wandering around like a black shadow, that's a pretty scary thing.

The worst moment in the play was when all of a sudden nothing worked anymore! Shortly before the scene in the ballroom, Alfred and Abronsius finished their talk, and the curtain came down. Everyone was confused, a few people applauded, cause they thought the play was over, when someone said through the speakers that they had a little technical problem and had to pause the play for a few minutes. Appearantly the whole staff was as confused as we were, the staff-girl standing next to my seat was hectically communicating through her walkie-talkie all the time what to do now. However, after about 10 minutes they continued the play. It was a bit irritating, cause the intensity of the mood is rising through the second act, anticipating the climax, and now, suddenly all that excitement was gone, and we were 'thrown' into the climax-scene in the ballroom.
It was followed then by the reprise of "Draußen ist Freiheit", the part where Sarah bites Alfred, and one of the highlights: The final dance to the melody of Tonight is what it means to be young. The vampires were dancing and singing through the whole theatre celebrating their victory.
The play was finished by massive standing ovations, about 10 minutes, and after all the characters came on stage again, the orchestra gave an encore and played the final dance again.

Compared to other plays, I can say that Tanz der Vampire is more of a rock concert with very good acting than just a musical play. Mostly because of Jims music, which is, as I said, on a completely different level, when you see it performed by a full orchestra.
If you know the soundtrack from the Vienna world premiere, you'll notice a few changings in the script. Biggest change is the addition of the song "Stärker als wir sind" (Braver than we are) instead of the instrumental part "Die Roten Stiefel". A few other lines were changed too, though I'm not completely sure if that was in the script, cause it looked more like the actores forgot or mixed up a few lines, cause the way some of the verses were performed didnt make logically much sense, text wise. What made me kind of sad, was that some lines of the songs were cut. For example the first chorus in "Die unstillbare Gier" or one the first few lines of first act's final scene, in front of the castle.
Talking to other people after the show, they told me that they thought the voices of the actors weren't that good understandable during the songs, well I didnt notice that, but on the other hand I know all the words by heart anyway

All in all I can say that the play was, despite a few bad things, still very good, and, as I said, one of the best musicals I've seen so far. When we went out of the theatre, everyone got a coupon for a 10€ discount if we go and watch Tanz a second time. I might do that later in the year, cause I'm curious to see the first cast with well known people as Thomas Borchert or Alexander Klaws.

So, if you find any chance, go and watch it, it's absolutely worth the money!

[mszee]

*drools and drools*

Thanks for the review, RJ!!!

[RadioMaster]

couldnt take many pics, but did a few during the intermission. Sadly all but one did come out as total crap.

This is the only one with half-decent quality:

It's that half-transparent screen/curtain with the logo and the flying bats projected on it:

[luk.out.of.hell]

Hi,
I was on TdV too, at the same day like RJ but in the evening show at 7.30.
I was very happy to see that Felix Martin is playing the Krolock because I heart him in other shows and i really like his voice. But RJ is right. he played a really weird Krolock (but with an amazing voice)

by the way, my favourite Krolock is Kevin Tarte!!!

my highlight of the show was the song schrankenlosfrei/stärker als wir sind (the red boots /braver than we are)
an absolutly amazing song with great dancers and the orchestra give much power in it.

The show is absolutly amazing and for meat & jim & musical fans an must go!!

[tinkerbell]

Im jealous, i wanna go

[mszee]

I am hatching a WILD scheme...

[The Flying Mouse]

Thanks for the review RJ


I REALLY wanna see this done LIVE.


Tanz ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pudding]

Originally Posted by Der Graf

I REALLY wanna see this done LIVE.

There's some Steinmaniacs going to Berlin in a couple of months (I think) you should hook up with them, share a room, flights are cheap enough.

Pud

[RadioMaster]

in the process of planning something here....
infos later in the year

[Devil's Son]

It is impressive in any way. Saw it from row1 seat 1 on January, 2nd with the original cast and the audience rocked at the end of the show. Great job done by the artists, Mr. Polanski, Mr. Kunze (who wrote the German lyrics - everyone loves so much) and yes, Mr. Steinman, too, even there isn't new stuff used.
It is wonderful ... and sometimes I wished Meaty would be on the stage ... maybe it's just me ....

[needmoremeat]

Hope it comes to the UK! I'd like to go to London to see it to see Jim's name in lights in the West End, but also to see it at my local theatre, the Sunderland Empire, a mere ten minute maximum bus ride down my street, again to see Jim's name in the box office window! When WDTW came to the Empire I got the bus to school that went past the theatre every morning just to see his name in the window of my local theatre! I loved it! Also I think the decor of the theatre would really fit in with this show.

[Chris]

May I enquire as to how much tickets were for the matinee?

[RadioMaster]

if you're talking about the price, I paid 70.something as student, the normal price was 79,90€.

[mszee]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

if you're talking about the price, I paid 70.something as student, the normal price was 79,90€.

And how much is it in dollars, pounds, whatever?

[RadioMaster]

oh god, that'd be about 60 pounds or about 120 dollar (omg, did I calculate that right?) for the general tickets.

[mszee]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

oh god, that'd be about 60 pounds or about 120 dollar (omg, did I calculate that right?) for the general tickets.

For matinee???

[RadioMaster]

for the best category, yes. But it's absolutely worth the money!


you can find all prices here: https://www.topticketline.de/tickets.aspx?shop=TDV

PK is the price category

1€ =1.35 dollars = 0.65 pounds

[puuh]

somewhere in the net i find this picture



the men next to meat is thomas borchert which play the main charcter graf von krolock.

knows anybody when meat visit the musical?