Interlaken | October 25, 2020
Among other things, the casting for the main character will take place at the Tellspiele this weekend. Pascal Linder mimed the Swiss national hero back in 2019, and he would like to repeat this in 2021. Does his acting skills match the expectations of the new director?
Who will be the new Wilhelm Tell?Leo Glaser Photos
–
Autumn moves through the country. The clouds pile up in the cloudy sky, and the weak morning sun is unable to break through the cloud cover. “What role do you want to play?” This is what it sounds like under the clouds, on the Tellspiele area.
The theater association carries out the annual casting for over 100 actors. This year, however, a lot is different than usual: the summer performances had to be canceled. The candidates for a role keep a mask on until they recite their texts with sufficient distance. And Klemens Brysch and Tiziana Sarro are now directing the Tell plays. Together with the members of the management team, you determine the cast of the characters for the production «#TELL Mut.Macht.Mythos.»
Pascal Minder played the Swiss national hero back in 2019.
–
The present Tell
Pascal Minder brings the external appearance with him for the role of Tell. With a grin he explains: “I’m relatively tall and a little more sedate than the average.” In addition, his “warm-hearted” voice goes well with Wilhelm Tell. He was allowed to play his role in 2019. And now I want to do the same again in 2021.
The text in Standard German poses a new challenge for Minder. Over the past four years, the Tellspiele have performed productions in dialect. If he can speak Bern German, then he can express himself the way he can, says the 47-year-old. Now it’s about perfecting the German on stage. At least that’s how he formulates his own claim.
Tiziana Sarro and her husband Klemens Brysch (not in the picture) lead the casting and inspect the acting skills of the actors and actresses.
–
Is the old Tell also the new?
Wilhelm Tell is not just some distant national hero, believes Klemens Brysch. “Each of us must become our own tell.” Tiziana Sarro, his wife and co-director, admits that the role can only be played by a man at the moment. Because the staging for next year is very close to the original by Friedrich Schiller, the creator of the Tell myth. “The actor is suitable when he has an inkling of his own abysses,” explains Sarro.
The role is dark, Tell is a loner who prefers to go hunting alone. Only when he is forced to shoot Walter, his son, does a clear thought arise in him: He must do something against the tyranny of the Habsburg Vogts Gessler. His role should be played by someone who embodies it. Who would like to withdraw, but then take the initiative to act.
The Tell contender practices his monologue: “He has to come through the hollow alley …”
–
A time consuming hobby
Pascal Minder is one of them: joined the Tellspiele five years ago because of the drama, and soon afterwards began to volunteer. As is often the case with associations, some offices were difficult to fill. That is why he took over the office of President. He had already done this in a smaller music club. In his double role in front of and behind the stage, Minder is a sought-after man. “Tell games are my only hobby,” he says. The 47-year-old says there is no room for anything else besides his job as a secondary school teacher and family.
Mara Ludwig wants the role of Berta von Bruneck. At the same time she is Head of Digital Media and Marketing.
–
Mara Ludwig, 18 years old, is involved in the club as a member of the game management and head of digital marketing. At the casting, she hopes for the role of Berta von Bruneck, a Habsburg woman. «I was interested in an acting school for a short time. But now I’m going to attend the New Middle School in Bern, ”says the young woman. As “Träumli” she keeps an acting career in the back of her mind. For now, she and her team of six are pursuing a new approach to marketing: A larger target audience is to be reached using digital media. For example, younger viewers were interested in videos of rehearsals or from the backstage area, explains Ludwig.
Wilhelm Tell (Pascal Minder) is reprimanded by his wife Hedwig.
–
The joy is still there
The actors and actresses spend most of the summer months on the Tellspiel area in Interlaken. Up to four rehearsals take place every week. In addition there are the 21 performances that are scheduled for the next theater season on Thursdays and Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. With this enormous amount of time, the social component is important. “We have a cross-generational project here, from toddlers to sprightly pensioners, everyone is involved,” explains Pascal Minder. And hopes to be able to continue devoting his free time to the role of William Tell.
After their work is done, the theater enthusiasts fortify themselves with coffee and chocolate.
–
More information
Over 100 actors and actresses play on the natural stage of the Tellspiele Interlaken every year, from the leading roles to the extras, all are amateurs. For the new production in 2021 «#TELL Courage.Might.Mythos.» At the Tell open-air theater in Interlaken, those responsible are mainly looking for young people for a supporting story: the audience will see a school class from today who is attending the Tell games with a teacher. At first the youngsters are bored, then they notice that the myth has surprising parallels to the topicality, and their attention is aroused. The young people are allowed to act creatively: youth language, beatbox and rap are desired elements of the new production.
Post-casting for speaking roles
Appointment by arrangement with Romano Steffen. Interested parties can contact [email protected] or telephone 079 219 59 95.
— .
