#this is the thing i was excited about. cant hold it back anymore dkdkkd

[fitzrove]

TdV Hamburg review!!

I saw two shows with the same cast (of note: Vincent van Gorp as Alfred, Kristin Backes as Sarah, Simon Loughton as Krolock) and hence feel like I have a pretty well-rounded view of this production (at least w this cast). I'm glad I went twice because things that bothered me in the matinee had less of an impact on the evening show!

TL;DR - Liked it a surprising amount though not sure how much of that is due to wishful thinking XD In any case, it's leagues better than Stuttgart 2021.

Spoilers/details:

- Sarah and Alfred both hear the "sei bereit" in nie gesehn and Krolock sings gott ist tot to both of them!!! The overall impression is that both are being tempted, Alfred just resists and hesitates more. Which I enjoy hehehe

- I like Simon's Krolock overall, he is a bisexual dirty old man with some Flair akdklsls. The more time goes on the less I like tenor/high voiced Krolocks but he had some great classical singing deep notes so he seems like a good mix, I'll take it. I couldn't altogether sense any Deep Depths Of Pain in Gier but it's ok, not my main fave number in the show anyway.

- Paolo Valenti as Nightmare Alfred is a highlight, and so were the other dance soloists (Ian Vrolijk & Kezia Coulson) tbh hehe. I love Carpe Noctem and they delivered. The choreography seems lots less straightwashed than in covid safety measure times (I guess I can excuse it in hindsight then, since it's proven temporary). Also I always love white vamp's slutty little black lace stockings hehehe

- Vincent van Gorp's Alfred was much better in the evening than in the matinee. I liked him from Sie irren onwards in both shows, but I really need Alfred to have enough of an "edge" to him, some level of seriousness in his devotion to Sarah, and in the matinee he just seemed cutesy and too naive. But his overall demeanor was a lot more to my liking in the evening (save for a few choices which must come from the direction, ie. he sulks and pouts after Sarah tricks the bath from him... I never fail to mourn the deleted verse where Alfred basically says he's into the teasing lol). Bonus points for what I read as lots and lots of repressed bisexuality in vor dem schloss hehehe

- TANZSAAL!!!! We get the best of everything: Alfred tries to run to Sarah at multiple points (most touchingly when she falls to the floor), only stopped by the prof - AND he faints during the bite >:))) and literally fans himself 😌 We also get a reluctant/disillusioned Sarah, which is my preference

- Kristin Backes as Sarah is great, she reminds me a lot of Sarah Brightman (in the poto music video which is all I've seen of her). Amazing vocals (even in roten stiefel which gets pitchy with so many Sarahs), convincing arc, no notes 😌

- Oooh another fun thing: Nightmare Solo 1 was covered by Herbert in the show I saw (Jonas Steppe was off so I had Andres Vercoutere, he did great), and Nightmare Solo 2 is a woman!!! (Anne Hoth). Very enjoyable, their voices mix so nicely >:)

- I had the pleasure of seeing Anja Backus as Magda once again (she was one of the big solid wins of Stuttgart 2021 for me, even if some other things in that prod were quite lacking). And idk I think everyone who sees her unanimously agrees that she slays 😌😂

- ANYWAY to return to individual scenes...... What sold this prod for me the most was the combo of draussen 2 (mostly in terms of Sarah and Alfred) and the electric finale (which you can't really fail at if everyone gives their all, which they did). In draussen2 Sarah was soooo fun (the switch seemed natural and hmm shall we just say that everything she did after that was pretty hot) AND ALFRED. Omg alfred... I really like how it went for him hehe, very bloodthirsty, lunges for the professor three times before Sarah stops him... The thing about this prod is that he kind of pulls Sarah close and they kiss super romantically (thats what I think I saw) before agreeing to maul the audience - which they go to do hand in hand. And like mmmmmmm this is why I watch this show!!!! It's about the Central Dark Romance (😂😎 sorry i'm annoying about my ship on purpose but omg I feel so vindicated) and the level of loss of morals and depravity it took to finally get there... ahhhhh