I had written before about the growing popularity of Indian films and India thereof in Germany. At that time, I had mentioned about the show, Bharati, to be held there. That mention remained albeit passingly and now I chanced upon some details of this show.
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS is a name to be reckoned with in Germany and the man is playing Sutradhar, the Narrator in the show. I read a couple of interviews which appeared just before this show and are especially related to it. In these interviews, he talks about playing his part in the show, how he landed in the role, his fascination for the India and what’s surprising, at least I was surprised, his knowledge about the India. I so longingly wish to see his portrayal and the show, but alas...While reading these interviews, I thought I should translate them so that my countrymen could also know how far this actor, director and paintor go. These translations are very loose to be sure but it sure brings out the frankness and magnamity of FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS is a name to be reckoned with in Germany and the man is playing Sutradhar, the Narrator in the show. I read a couple of interviews which appeared just before this show and are especially related to it. In these interviews, he talks about playing his part in the show, how he landed in the role, his fascination for the India and what’s surprising, at least I was surprised, his knowledge about the India. I so longingly wish to see his portrayal and the show, but alas...While reading these interviews, I thought I should translate them so that my countrymen could also know how far this actor, director and paintor go. These translations are very loose to be sure but it sure brings out the frankness and magnamity of FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS
Interview by Irmgard Berner.
Mr. Praetorius, You are famous as a stage actor, have worked with Peter Zadek and Hans Neuenfels, written books and Theater pieces and paint. From January 2nd you are venturing into the world of Showbiz as the narrator of “Bharati-Das Wunder von Indien.” How have you traveled so far?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS: It is a coincidence. I am a tourist in India and search for the unreached areas there. That can be very adventurous. Sometimes that means going where one can not find the water to drink, where one can’t find descent hotels. But Mr. Mark Lieberberg, the concert agent, did not know it
all as he knew me as a theater person of all, and asked me almost shyly what to do with musical. Lieberberg himself takes interest in so many subjects, rising above the typical German classification mania to describe Musical as dubious and theater on the other side as intellectual.What role the Narrator is playing in the spectacle?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS: The show consist of 17 brilliant numbers, which consist of 101 singers, dancers, acrobats and artists from various ethnic groups from the subcontinent are taking part in the show-and they are of only best quality. They bring with them the religious elements of their motherland. The producer of the show Ghashadh Deshe was searching farmost corners of the India last five years-for the balance act between show and religion, which consists of 350,000 Gods.
And is the Narrator your dear Marshal uncle?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS: No, the figure is rather disrespectful of the Gods and makes jokes with the public-and that as a Hindu.
How do you look?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS:I asked myself: Am I not too thick? But that is too crazy, in India to be thic is taken as rich and beautiful. I have no make-up, have an Indian costume, am barefoot and have a pole. Imagine: 100 performers in a masterly choreography, bombardment of music instruments and bits of Sitar-sounds. This constant change needs a quiet point, to give it the rhythm, it the single speaking figure. His speech is written very tactfully. The spectator gets this love story between Sidharta and Bharati in a manner, that goes with the pure dances. So a sensual magic unfolds, that can not be explained to uninitiated.
You stand with very beautiful person on the stage. How much Eroticism they have?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS:Their beauty is incredible! Few Europeans know India, but many know the Kamasutra. The eroticisms of this was chiseled and represented in stone already before over 3,000 years are so beatiful, they can be said in no manner unsavory or pornographic. For me, they connect the sacred with the sexual in an ideal manner, especially the femaleness. That is not only my perception, women also admire how the Indians controlled the form, long before the Romans. Look at the sex of the Middle Ages in pictures of Hieronymus Bosch: these pale women with its deadly renouncing faces. In India also, that old ideal has been lost in part. Today many women are seen doing laborus work, they carry stones. They live in poverty. In the show, one does not naturally see that, but rather dancer in more absolute, lustful harmony.
With humour as well?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS:Yes, it comes in various elements of the music. It is very similar to the Jewish humor. Indians do not pose that much problems as
much we do. Indians are so joyful, bringing with them certain innocence. Nevertheless one senses this enormous power in the music and one recognizes the country that constructs atom bombs. It is a sensual Storytelling.What does that mean to you personally?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS:India came to me! In cultural concentration, in thinking, it is a gift.
What do you wish for to take from the show?
FRIEDRICH-KARL PRAETORIUS:The equanimity of the indian - as of April I will work again with Zadek.
The original story in German appeared in
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