AIRSWIMMING

  • by Charlotte Jones
  • a production of vienna theatre project
  • Bar&Co
  • 13. – 25. Februar 2023
    Di-Sa um 19:30 Uhr

I’ve been here since 1922. Yes, stationed here July 4th – American Independence Day – funny that. The irony is not lost on me, believe you me. I shall be your superior officer for a while, but don’t worry, I’m not one to pull rank. We do this polishing duty for one hour each day. The rest of the time we shuffle and look crazed. They prefer it that way.

Set in 1920’s England, Airswimming is based on the true story of two women (Miss Kitson and Miss Baker), who have been incarcerated in a hospital for the ‘criminally insane’ for not conforming to society’s rules. Forgotten by their families, who put them there, and not released until the 1970’s, Dora and Persephone adopt alter-egos, Dorph and Porph, to enact their fantasies and survive the silence of incarceration. By turns very funny and moving, against a backdrop of Doris Day’s beautiful songs, Airswimming reminds us of the women of these generations and their continuous struggle for the right to make choices about their own lives.

Admirably clear and unsentimental – trips the light fantastic … effortlessly gliding from the desperately funny to the desperately sad.
The Guardian

Charlotte Jones's play is as funny as it is chilling … intelligent and witty dialogue.
British Theatre Guide

Director: Andy Hallwaxx
Set: Laura D. Mitchell
Production: Ine Gundersveen, Gernot Ottowitz, Thomas Schluet, Dave Moskin
Starring: Jacqueline Braun, Joanna Godwin-Seidl
Performance licence: Casarotto Ramsay & Associates

viennatheatreproject.com

Den Verstand verlieren mit Doris Day

Die eine wurde uneheliche Mutter, die andere wollte ein Mann sein. Um 1920 genügte das, um zwei Frauen in die Irrenanstalt zu stecken. Eine wahre Geschichte: Erst ein halbes Jahrhundert später kamen sie wieder heraus.

Glaubt man "Airswimming", Charlotte Jones' erstem Stück (1997), wurden Dora, genannt Dorph, und Persephone alias Porph dann erst so richtig verrückt. In Gegenwartsszenen - auf der Bühne rechts gespielt - channeln sie Doris Day und wollen sich die Köpfe aufbohren, Rückblenden auf der linken Seite entfalten, wie es dazu kam. Rührend komisch verkörpern in Andy Hallwaxx' Regie Joanna Godwin-Seidl und Jacqueline Brown die zwei tragischen Heldinnen im englischen Original.

FALTER 07/23, 15.02.2023


Spielplan Januar 2022