Schauspielhaus Zürich
The Schauspielhaus Zurich is Switzerland’s largest theatre and one of the most influential in the German-speaking world.
At its two locations – Pfauen and Schiffbau – this world-class ensemble performs both classical and contemporary works of international theatre, giving subtle expression to human characters, their destinies and passions. The theatre's analysis of human behaviour and its broader social commentary radiate beyond the confines of the theatre audience into the world at large – invariably prompting media reviews.
To end the season, Director Niklaus Helbling will put on stage the world famous "Dreigroschenoper "by Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill. Coruscating humour and catchy tunes are guaranteed.
Premiere in February 2012 at Pfauen
The Pledge
based on the novel by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
When a young girl Gritli is murdered, Inspector Matthäi, known for his brilliance and clinical detachment, gives his word to her parents that he will find the culprit. In the course of the investigation a suspect confesses to the crime and is hanged. However, Matthäi does not believe that he is the real murderer – but he is alone in this conviction. He decides to continue investigating, becoming obsessed with the case. Dürrenmatt’s book, also portrayed in his film "It Happened in Broad Daylight“, was adapted for the stage by the young director Daniela Löffner.
The play
The body of a young girl is found in Mägendorf near Zürich: Little Gritli Moser was murdered in a sexually motivated crime. The brilliant and clinically detached Inspector Matthäi who is about to leave Zurich to work for the Jordanian police is called in to investigate. When he breaks the devastating news to Gritli’s parents, he promises her mother that he will find the murderer. And soon the case appears to be solved: A door-to-door salesman with a previous criminal record and a history of similar crimes confesses to the murder after a gruelling interrogation, going on to hang himself. However Matthäi is not convinced and hatches an ingenious and perfidious plan to spin a trap for the real murderer. The once so controlled and distant inspector becomes obsessed with the case, finally turning insane after years of waiting and wondering.
Director: Daniela Löffner
Stage: Claudia Kalinski
Wardrobe: Sabine Thoss
"The Pledge" was originally commissioned in 1957 for a piece which Friedrich Dürrenmatt, together with the director Ladislao Vajda, turned into a script for the famous film "It Happened in Broad Daylight" with Heinz Rühmann. Once the script was finished, Dürrenmatt reworked the story, even changing its ending. He finished the novel in 1958, including the subtitle "Requiem for the Detective Novel". This alluded to the fact that, although working within the genre of detective fiction, Dürrenmatt was also criticising it by recounting the story of a world which, contrary to popular belief, was ultimately not governed by precise calculations but at the mercy of random chance.
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