The Athens Concert Hall presents its performance Jan Fabre, "The Power of Theatrical Madness" at14 and 15 November 2012.

 “A kind of theater quiz, lasting four hours and twenty minutes", according to journalist Barbara Frytak. "The Power of Theatrical Madness" (The power of theatrical Madness), is a play for five women, ten men and a lyric singer, which measures a course 28 years and is a historical performance. Not only in terms of its place in the overall work of Jan Fabre (it is the first work that established him internationally), but also because it defines the extreme point reached by the economy of illusion before it is overcome.

As a pivotal point in the history of theatrical illusion Fabre chooses an impressive creation by Wagner, "The Ring of the Nibelungen". It was Wagner who transformed the opera into a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) and the first to turn a popular means of entertainment into a product of autonomous aesthetics. Fabre creates his own Gesamtkunstwerk, mixing a composition of different elements (eclecticism), where the blunt predominates, emphasis and mannerism, while at the same time all this bluster is interrupted and dissolved by a sense of realism.

In "the power of theatrical madness", the theater of the 19th century is presented as the most favorite pastime of the upper class, given over to seductive illusions. Through the subversive work of Jan Fabre finally emerges the power of an entirely new, modern theatre: beyond Wagner – in addition to all the reenactors who are "present" throughout the performance, from Bezar to Brook, from Mabu Mines to Muller. Audio excerpts of Wagner, Strauss, Bizet et al. mixed with the minimalism of Wim Mertens.

The show has no intermission, however, spectators can leave the hall and return during the performance. The bar will be open throughout the project. The idea, the direction, the sets and lighting are by Jan Fabre, the dancers are members of the troupe Troubleyn, the costumes(1984) the historical performance has been edited by Paul Engels, while Katarzyna Mielczarek of the Megaros performance. The event is held in collaboration with art historian Katerina Koskina.

The show is for adults. Not recommended for ages under 16 years.

Source : culturenow.gr