Effi, Ach, Effi Briest

Photos by Sinje Hasheider

Who needs Theodor Fontane when one has Effi? A satirical look at patriarchal and capitalist structures.

With “feminist fairy dust and anti-capitalist confetti”(Jens Fischer, TdZ), Moritz Franz Beichl offers a witty response to Fontane’s classic novel, exploring a young woman’s desire to live life on her own terms. Effi Briest is pulled out of her passivity, the absurdity of toxic masculinity is celebrated, and Roswitha stands by Effi, encouraging her to drink two liters of vanilla sauce in one go—without guilt:

 There is nothing wrong with you, only with the world we live in.

"Overall, the strong women dominate the play, while the men strut through life like poor little sausages (...) A classic presented in a contemporary production—anyone teaching a German class should definitely take their students to celebrate this Effi in the theater. The premiere audience was certainly thrilled." Petra Haase, Lübecker Nachrichten

"Such brightly colored, comic exaggerations often fail on stage (...) In Lübeck, however, an ambivalence is always preserved. The fantastic ensemble, with infectious assertiveness, transforms the artificial into an artful theatrical reality, allowing the characters’ struggles to resonate beneath all the playful surface." Jens Fischer, Theater der Zeit

"The premiere audience experienced (...) a highly enjoyable evening with this colorful, contemporary comedy directed by Maike Bouschen. (...) Contributing to this are the poppy music (Tim Thielemans), as well as the enchanting set and fairy-tale costumes (Valentina Pino Reyes)." Marion Hinz, Kultur.Port.de

Premiere: 2 December 2023
Theater Lübeck

Direction: Maike Bouschen
Set design: Valentina Pino Reyes
Music: Tim Thielemans
Songs of Roswitha: Sonja Cariaso
Lighting: Daniel Thulke
Dramaturgy: Mia Massmann
Actors: Luisa Böse, Susanne Höhne, Henning Sembritzki, Will Workman, Johannes Merz, Sonja Cariaso