premiered in Berlin
New musical tells about Romeo and Juliet
Ulf Leo Sommer (lr), Franziska Giffey and Peter Plate at the premiere of “Romeo & Juliet – Love is Everything” in the Stage Theater des Westens. photo
© Gerald Matzka/dpa
The two have already brought “Ku’damm 56” to the musical stage. Now Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer have made one of the great love stories. With an unexpected end.
There is a new musical in Germany. “Romeo & Juliet – Love Is Everything” is now showing at the Theater des Westens in Berlin. Rosenstolz musician Peter Plate and composer Ulf Leo Sommer have worked together again. The two had already implemented the television series “Ku’damm 56” for the musical stage. Now they have taken on the well-known love story by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
The tragedy in which two hostile families confront each other has been told many times. On the musical stage, it now looks very Instagrammable – the couple falls in love between beautifully illuminated balls.
The story is partly told in a more modern way – Juliet sometimes defends herself physically or is amused by her Romeo -, partly the classic translation is retained in the text passages. There is not only the well-known Rosenstolz song “Love is everything”, but also many new songs.
Celebrity guests at the premiere
Some of the songs feel like you could sing them along long ago, even though you’re hearing them for the first time. The premiere on Sunday evening was celebrated. Among others, musician Marius Müller-Westernhagen, singer Max Raabe, singer Annett Louisan, artist Conchita Wurst, actress Heike Makatsch and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas came.
The production not only gets unexpectedly political towards the end, with a reference to the serious consequences of a war. The character Mercutio also gets an interesting twist – he’s in love with Romeo. “We hope that Shakespeare would think it would be great if it were interpreted that way,” Plate is quoted as saying in the programme. “Although we’re not the first to realize that Mercutio is gay.”
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey was enthusiastic on the evening of the premiere. “The most beautiful thing I’ve seen and heard in a long time. For everyone who wants to take an emotional bath – an absolute recommendation,” wrote the SPD politician on Instagram. This piece will be a new crowd puller in Berlin, of that she is sure.