Der Nebel von Dybern / Maria Lazar - Wiederaufnahme
A production by Theater Nestroyhof Hamakom
Following its successful premiere in September 2023, Theater Nestroyhof Hamakom presents Maria Lazar's "Der Nebel von Dybern" in a production by Bérénice Hebenstreit from May 14th to 18th, 2024.
"Der Nebel von Dybern" raises questions about responsibility and culpability regarding man-made disasters, and addresses how decision-makers evade their responsibility, often unaware or unwilling to acknowledge their role in the far-reaching consequences of their actions. The themes of Maria Lazar's play, written in 1932, remain surprisingly relevant to today's public discourse almost a hundred years later.
In Maria Lazar's play, a dense fog envelops the city. It is said to be toxic, deadly to humans and animals, causing illness. Doubts arise among the city's residents as to whether the fog is a natural disaster. Critical questions grow louder, and a rumor spreads that the fog could originate from a chemical factory.
"Der Nebel von Dybern" explores various forms of resistance against a power system oriented towards the benefit of few at the expense of many – from attempted enlightenment, to refusal to support perpetrators and bystanders, to sabotage. The pressing question of the protagonist, "Is it morally justifiable to bring a child into a world that has taken on these forms?" seems to increasingly concern many younger people today.
Bérénice Hebenstreit's production amplifies the detective, satirical, and horror-like elements of the play using theatrical means. The extensive cast of characters, numbering nearly two dozen, is drastically reduced and portrayed by three actors. By alternating between all central characters, the three players investigate the "Barbara case." They delve into the central question: How does the radicalization of the women at the center of the catastrophe unfold, as it becomes clear that it has a specific – human – cause?
For more information, visit: https://www.hamakom.at/nebelvondybern2024
Text: Maria Lazar
Director: Bérénice Hebenstreit
Dramaturgy: Patrick Rothkegel
Music Dramaturgy: Michael Isenberg
Set & Costume Design: Mira König
With Aline-Sarah Kunisch, Sebastian Klein, Johanna Wolff