Belle Moral
Scotland, 1899. Something is rotten on Belle Moral, the family estate of the MacIsaacs. After old Judge MacIsaac’s death, his daughter Pearl, a young amateur scientist, tries to unearth a dark family secret which is kept from her by her conventional and superstitious aunt Flora and Dr. Seamus Reid, the family physician and evolutionary theorist.
How is the specimen of an ear, half human, half animal, which Pearl is given by Dr. Reid, linked to her family history? Why does the family portrait, which Pearl’s mother painted before her premature death, seem so strangely incomplete? Why does Pearl’s melodramatic, kilt-wearing and whisky-loving brother Victor suddenly develop a phobia towards dogs?
With Belle Moral, Ann-Marie MacDonald has written a gothic comedy which stages discussions on evolutionary theory, eugenics, and psychology and how they have shaped Western thinking since the late 19th century. But these issues are addressed in such a playful, imaginative and entertaining manner that one almost forgets the seriousness and scope of the play’s central concerns.
How is the specimen of an ear, half human, half animal, which Pearl is given by Dr. Reid, linked to her family history? Why does the family portrait, which Pearl’s mother painted before her premature death, seem so strangely incomplete? Why does Pearl’s melodramatic, kilt-wearing and whisky-loving brother Victor suddenly develop a phobia towards dogs?
With Belle Moral, Ann-Marie MacDonald has written a gothic comedy which stages discussions on evolutionary theory, eugenics, and psychology and how they have shaped Western thinking since the late 19th century. But these issues are addressed in such a playful, imaginative and entertaining manner that one almost forgets the seriousness and scope of the play’s central concerns.
Cast & Crew
Pearl MacIsaac: Rebekka Heberlein
Flora MacIsaac: Franziska Richter Victor MacIsaac: Dennis Wienert Dr Seamus Reid: Marvin Herbring Mr Abbott: Marco Benincasa Young Farleigh: Arne Heigele Wee Farleigh: Jan-Ole Sydow The Bride/ Creature/ Claire: Anna-Lena Happ The Jackal: Florian Hallaschka Rhouridh MacGregor: Niklas Henning Director: Lars Heiler Assistant directors: Florian Hallaschka, Niklas Henning, Kim-Vivien Lichtlein, Franziska Stock |
Sound & Sound
design: Franz Mutschler
Lighting: Sebastian Wölfel Stage & prop design: Timo Heckendorf, Niklas Henning, Marvin Herbring, Antonia Kallfuß, Janna Müller, Adam Vickery, Dennis Wienert, Sebastian Wölfel Props: Johanna Caspar, Isabell Hans, Henriette Hoffmann, Lisa Kapitz, Franziska Stock, Adam Vickery Technical advisor: Heiko Helwig Make-up: Julia Rausch, Franziska Richter, Franziska Stock, Dennis Wienert Poster design: Marvin Herbring Website: Isabel & Peter Carqueville |