Salzburg Festival
Hugo von Hofmannsthal's most popular play portrays a universal allegory that, set against the backdrop of the Salzburg Cathedral, is unforgettable.
Salzburg Ritual
For decades, Hugo von Hofmannsthal's most popular play was shown in the original staging by Max Reinhardt. Other directors followed, most recently Brian Mertes und Julian Crouch in 2013. Here, God (Florentina Rucker, left) orders Death (Peter Lohmeyer, right) to pay a visit to Everyman, the main character.
'Death of a Wealthy Man'
Is the subtitle to "Everyman." The main character (Cornelius Obonya) is a wealthy landowner who turns a deaf ear to the plight of his fellow human beings. He has many acquaintances, including "Good Friend" (Patrick Güldenberg), who pledges undying loyalty.
Impeccable taste
Everyman also has a female companion, "Paramour" (Brigitte Hobmeier), for whom he plans to build a beautiful garden. Good Friend, Paramour, relatives and servants turn out to be less than absolutely loyal, however, after Death gives him one hour to live and no one elects to accompany him to the hereafter.
The dance
Hofmannsthal wrote "Everyman" three years before World War I broke out. Critics deemed it an anachronism - but audiences liked it, in part because of the clear, direct, accessible and modern language idioms. In the current Salzburg production, when Everyman's situation seems most dire, all engage in a frenetic dance.
Not all that glitters is gold
The main characters include personified qualities like "Faith" and "Good Deeds." Everyman can't take it all with him to the hereafter, not even - or especially not - Mammon (Jürgen Tarrach), a personification of immoral wealth. "I’ve had you at my behest," says Everyman. "And I've held sway in your soul," responds Mammon.
Faithful to the finish
Co-director Julian Crouch is also a composer and director of puppet plays. Everyman encounters his Good Works (Sarah Viktoria Frick). Here in a puppet costume, she's sickly and withered. Although willing to go along on his final journey, she's too weak. But she gives him hope: Faith may stand by him.
Lucifer loses
Everyman had sent a debtor to prison and ignored beggars and his mother's admonishment to follow the Straight and Narrow - reason enough for a journey to Hell. He repents, asking the Lord for grace and forgiveness. The Devil (Simon Schwarz, middle) is then powerless against Faith (Hans Peter Hallwachs).
Beautiful allegory
The open-air performance of "Everyman" in front of the Salzburg Cathedral is an unmistakable festival ritual. The medieval mystery play demonizes vanity, lust for wealth and egoism. At the end of the last and tumultuous hour in Everyman's life, Death is victorious.