Herding. The winter theater at the Hertreiben open-air theater celebrates its premiere with the comedy about the kiosk owner Penny. She has been running her “Hansibar” for 30 years.
The stage world of “Currywurst with Fries” promises a turbulent encounter of a wide variety of characters, “and that is exactly what the ensemble brought to the stage with a lot of passion and enthusiasm.” This is what Linda Voßbeck from the team at the Hertreiben open-air theater announced after the premiere of the winter theater, which is taking place “indoor” due to the time of year.
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At the center of the action is Penny, played by Petra Menke-Schrimpf, who played the role 20 years ago and once again captivates viewers with her portrayal of the down-to-earth snack bar owner. “Coming back after all these years feels like I never left,” Menke-Schrimpf said with a smile after the performance.
For its regular customers, the “Hansibar” rest stop kiosk is not just a place for quick snacks, but a real anchor point in everyday life. Penny, who has been running this kiosk for 30 years, is the soul of the “Hansibar” and at the same time patience personified. She listens, serves fries, argues and makes up with her guests and casts an alert but tired eye on the daily goings-on. But this season she asks herself the question: Is it time to say goodbye? Or is the “Hansibar” what really fulfills it?
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In the first act the characters are on their way “to somewhere”. Football fans loudly celebrating their club, nuns exchanging ideas about their faith, hard-drinking construction workers and a manta-riding pretty boy provide the comical and touching moments. There are the ambitious teachers on the way to a creative vacation, stressed business people who complain about their everyday lives, and regular customer Herbert, who sits stoically in the corner with a briefcase and enjoys his currywurst in silence.
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The second act takes place three weeks later – the guests return on their way back, but a lot has changed. Plans were made and abandoned, relationships tested and dreams discarded. Only the endearing madness of everyday kiosk life remains. The scenes reflect real life, with all its ups and downs, its dreams and disappointments.
Premiere for director Thorsten Strunk
The cast of the piece presents the ensemble with a special challenge: 24 actors take on over 60 different roles, which forces the actors onto the stage in top form. Some people even play six different characters, which leads to impressive costume and character changes. “Our ensemble manages to bring a new, unique life to the stage with every role. The passion with which everyone is involved is overwhelming,” praise Anja Beleke and Petra Menke-Schrimpf, who took over the game management together for the first time. For director Thorsten Strunk, it is the first time he has directed a production at the Hertreiben open-air stage. With a precise sense of the balance between humor and melancholy, Strunk gives the piece a modern dynamic.
Outlook for the coming 2025 season
But the Hertreiben open-air theater will also have exciting productions in store in 2025. The musical “Tarzan” is shown in the family theater, while the adult theater promises macabre fun with the darkly humorous musical “To die for.” Tickets and vouchers for both pieces will be available online from December. With stories that promise adventurous and humorous twists, the Hertreiben open-air theater remains a cultural anchor point in the region and an address for theater lovers of all ages.
