maggi weed?

does it really exist

Or is it just an invention by Peter Lund, who wrote the lyrics and libretto for the musical "Drosselbart!", which kicked off the 38th Brothers Grimm Festival in Hanau at the weekend.

Yes, Maggi herb, better known as lovage, is an existing, highly aromatic plant that adds a spicy note to soups and sauces.

In the fairy tale kingdom, the spice can do much more, for example transform a cheeky boy into an ugly dwarf.

Luise Glaser-Lotz

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Main-Kinzig district.

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In "Drosselbart!" "Zwerg Nase" as court cook Jakob (Pedro Reichert) is the sympathizer of the play.

He's so likeable that he doesn't even need to be transformed back to win the heart of the cook, who's also pretty nice, by the way.

A little further down the sympathy scale is Queen Bianca.

It's about average nice.

But it's not easy for her either.

In reality, she is Snow White and has suffered with the seven dwarfs.

She didn't just have to clean, wash and cook.

There was also something else that should not be explained at this point and actually has no place in a fairy tale.

It depends on new ideas

The king's son who once redeemed Snow White has long since died and Bianca has to prove herself both as a regent and as the mother of three difficult daughters.

"Dwarf Nose", "Snow White", the "Seven Dwarfs", what does that have to do with the fairy tale "King Drosselbart" by the Brothers Grimm?

Many of the guests at the premiere in the amphitheater at Schloss Philippsruhe will have asked themselves that question.

The answer is nothing, because there is not much left of “King Thrushbeard” in the production.

There is not even a king and certainly not a beard.

“Drosselbart !” is a fairy tale turned completely on its head, but that is somehow understandable, because every production of the festival is supposed to bring a new story to an old fairy tale on the stage.

And "King Thrushbeard" has had his turn several times.

So new ideas are needed.

The princess, who is a bitchy brat in real fairy tales and who is taught a lesson in empathy and modesty, is a self-confident young woman in the festival production directed by Christoph Drewitz, who rightly and rightly sent the suitors presented to her into the desert sends.

Princess Ann of and without fault and blame (Pamina Lenn) could of course be a little more diplomatic, but that's about it.

"Clear Ring"

In terms of lesson: The handsome Prince Charming (Paul Csitkovics), known by the aristocratic name Prince Ferdinand von Nebenan, needed it.

He gets it too, because he has to roam his kingdom in the guise of a commoner with his newly minted fiancée Ann, while being made to realize that his subjects are anything but well off.

At least Ferdinand saves his fiancée from the frivolous grasp of the dwarves.

So he has finally done something really well and shows himself worthy of the princess.

It is not only the plot that is unusual, the framework of the story also has something completely new to offer for the festival.

"Clear ring" is the motto this season.

Queen Bianca's realm is one big circus world.

In terms of content, this has no relevance, but the stage design by Hans Winkler is really nice to look at.

The costumes, which are designed as imaginative and imaginative as usual, also fit in with this.

The brilliant Ulla Röhrs, longtime head of costumes at the festival, has retired and passed the baton on to Anke Küper and Kerstin Lackmann, who also did their job very well.

Live band as accompaniment

But the most important thing in a musical is of course the music, which doesn't come from a tape but from a live band.

In keeping with the circus ambience, an accordion plays the leading role in order to create the desired atmosphere.

Songs and orchestration by Wolfgang Böhmer are catchy as usual, but this time there isn't a real catchy tune.

The choreography, which is excellent as always, comes from Bart De Clercq, who has a professional ensemble with many talents at his disposal.

Above all, they make the festival evening a pleasure, especially since there are no longer any corona restrictions this season.

There are three more premieres in the program of the Brothers Grimm Festival.

Festival director Franz-Lorenz Engel himself wrote the book for the play Aladin and the Magic Lamp, which premiered on May 21.

He also directs.

The children's play "Brother and Sister" will follow on June 4th and Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream will premiere on June 11th.

More information about the pieces, the supporting program, prices and ticket sales can be found on the homepage.