Mario and the Magician

Description

From 13 years old
Play based on the novella by Thomas Mann in a version by the Baden State Theatre. Italy in the 1920s: A family vacation is supposed to bring relaxation, but for a German family, it becomes a harrowing experience of exclusion and rejection. Instead of hospitality, they encounter nationalism and discrimination – on the beach, in the hotel, in the restaurant, where locals are preferred. But for the sake of the children, the stay continues. The magician Cipolla's appearance promises distraction. What begins as harmless entertainment turns out to be a disturbing demonstration of power and manipulation. Cipolla proves to be a brilliant hypnotist, gradually depriving the audience of their free will. Fascinated and at the same time horrified, the family watches as the atmosphere intensifies until the limits of endurance are exceeded and the situation erupts in a fatal horror. Thomas Mann's novella 'Mario and the Magician', published in 1929, shows how frighteningly easy it is to seduce people. It is a compelling psychological portrait of a society that willingly follows fascism, sacrificing responsibility, reason, and moral judgment. Cipolla's success painfully reveals the fragility of free will – exemplified by the behavior of the first-person narrator, who, despite fear, disgust, and knowing better, remains because he cannot escape the pull of the events. Additional information:
Play introduction: 6:30 PM in the Small Hall

Highlights

• Play based on the novella by Thomas Mann
• Version by the Baden State Theatre
• From 13 years old

General Information

The performance of 'Mario and the Magician' takes place at the Theater am Ring in Villingen-Schwenningen. The production explores the experiences of a German family in the 1920s and highlights the dangers of nationalism and manipulation.

Location

Romäusring 2, 78050 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

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