So … a play billed as a “savagely funny” featuring a criminal in fancy dress commanding an army regiment as he attempts to get identity papers? It sounded like a Kafka farce, a raucous good time, a chance for the National to show what it’s made of – perfect acting and stupendous stagework complimenting people racing around in military uniforms while they try to jump through bureaucratic hoops. I imagined the entire town turning to follow this mystery man, as with his questionable background he was able to finally provide them with the leadership they craved, with comic results.
It turned out The Captain of Köpenick was nothing of the sort, neither really funny nor quick moving. It’s almost entirely a musing on the way the system gangs up on the little people leavened with a thick condemnation of the German mind; if it hadn’t been written by a German, I would have found it racist (and I still found it offensive to say the Germans only want to follow orders). Given its creation at the start of the Nazi era, it’s a chilly warning of what was to come; but with its molasses-thick and almost entirely pointless first act, the endeavor just lacks a real reason to have had so many resources thrown at it. Antony Sher is painfully humane as the petty thief Wilhelm Voigt; but couldn’t we really have done it all in thirty minutes less and without any of the singing? Have people forgotten than less really is more? The last twenty minutes were pretty fun but the evening was an overall failure despite the likely better artistic merit of the script than, say, Turn of the Screw. As this was a preview, it’s possible it will get tightened up more; but as it is, I suspect there will be many ticket offers for this show, as it’s just not really worth making the effort for more than about 15 quid.
(This review is for a preview performance that took place on Saturday, February 2nd, 2013. It is booking through April 16th.)
Tags: Antony Sher, Carl Zuckmayer, National Theater, National Theatre, The Captain of Köpenick
Life in the Cheap Seats - Webcowgirl's London theatre reviews 
February 4, 2013 at 1:36 pm |
I saw the same performance and felt pretty similar – was expecting something much funnier from the marketing and wished the first half and been heavily trimmed. The second half was pretty good though, especially the town hall scenes. Just didn’t need such an elaborate and dull set-up.
February 6, 2013 at 8:31 am |
Darling, I happen to think that you are incredibly confused in your review. The point of the play is not to say that Germans in fact WANT to follow orders, but that it was the societal norm of the time. The part about there being riots and such is about the lower class rising up against such a reform. It is more a comment on the time rather than on Germans as a whole. During such an era the military and the government ruled and all were expected to follow orders. That is all the play is saying. Also, while I agree the first half does tend to drag, how else would you have gotten the whole “painfully humane” part? As for the writing, I personally think that it was the directors fault for not having had it reach its full potential. With a better director it would have been fantastic.