The Lime Pits' Sorrow: A Musical Rendition of Bernhard's Despair
Translation of Thomas Bernhard's Work in French:
In the desolate lime pits, the tale goes something like this - or maybe differently, who knows? Konrad is said to have spoken these words, or at least that's what Wieser, or perhaps Höller or Fro, claimed. The words might have been littered with pauses, but they certainly lacked paragraphs, as Thomas Bernhard recounts in his novel "The Lime Works" (first published as "Das Kalkwerk" in 1970). This chilling narrative delves into a marital inferno: Konrad strives to commit his treatise on listening to paper, a project he's labored over for two decades, but is constantly disrupted - mainly by his "crippled" wife.
Yet, despite the incessant chatter, there is no direct speech. Once you find the rhythm, you're swept up in a compelling, almost hypnotic draw that keeps you reading. "The Lime Works" is not a theatrical spectacle, despite focusing on a Christmas-time murder - the modern-day term would be "femicide." Had it been such, Bernhard, also renowned as a playwright, would have penned a play.
Séverine Chavrier, dubbed a "French star director" by the Vienna Festival, wasn't deterred by this. She has previously staged Thomas Bernhard: "Wittgenstein's Nephew" is mentioned once as the basis for "Nous sommes repus mais pas repentis," and "Ritter Dene Voss" another time. It's possible that the production was based on both, as it often revolves around insanity.
Simplifying the Carnage
Here too, Chavrier exploits the lime pits as a quarry: with her jackhammer, she has chiseled off a few chunks, ground them down, and sprinkled them into dialogues. The distinctly Bernhardian tone has vanished, replaced by simplified language more akin to Bernhard in casual speech.
For her concrete (another novel with similar themes), Chavrier added different ingredients to the mix. For "Ils nous ont oubliés" (They Have Forgotten Us), the original title, was released at the beginning of 2022 - and addresses the isolation brought on by the pandemic, which could certainly drive one to the brink of madness.
The Silence Breaks
Unlike in Bernhard, much communication in Séverine Chavrier's adaptation takes place via mobile phone. Instead of Höller, the housekeeper who, because it was frighteningly quiet in the lime pits, alerted the gendarmerie, there is now a nurse. From "Endgame" - with Samuel Beckett, the blind and paralyzed Hamm sits in a wheelchair, with Séverine Chavrier, Konrad pushes his wife around in an armchair with a sled - a "Closed Society" is created.
Séverine Chavrier also references "The Shining" by Stephen King (1977). Jack Torrance also succumbed to madness in the snowy isolation. But in "Ils nous ont oubliés," the writer does not vent his rage with an ax: At the beginning of the four-hour performance, which can still be seen at the Vienna Festival in the MuseumsQuartier until June 7, Bernhard-Lemur bald heads drill holes into Konrad's living cube: With them, one enters an unusual environment.
The Watchful Eye
Due to the couple being typically hidden in a corner, there is a lot of video footage: even an aerial view of the lab scenario is possible. And the grim stage landscape - the white, bunker-like living box stands in a more rundown pine forest with an observation tower - is, as it turns out, under constant surveillance by security cameras. Here, survivalists have taken up residence, with a surplus of firearms and mead available.
Chavrier crafts captivating, eerie images reminiscent of David Lynch, skillfully employing projections on multiple depth levels. All sounds are amplified so loudly that they resonate, the barking and growling sounding threatening, pigeons (the real ones) flutter around constantly. And Alexandre Babel accompanies the action powerfully, towards the end with a chaotic drum roll to Synthi sounds evoking "Careful with That Axe, Eugene." Laurent Papot has a great deal of text to memorize as Konrad, while three actresses take on all other roles.
A remarkable performance. However, Chavrier's relentless and irritating sensory overloads are exhausting: The audience understandably dwindled to about half in the two intermissions.
Enrichment Data:
General Information:
Séverine Chavrier's adaptation, titled "Ils nous ont oubliés" (They Have Forgotten Us), is based on Thomas Bernhard's novel "The Lime Works" (originally titled "Das Kalkwerk" in German). The novel is a complex exploration of decay, isolation, and the monotony of human existence, centered around the character of Konrad, a man who isolates himself in a lime works with his wife. The novel is known for its philosophical and psychological depth, often critiquing societal norms and the human condition through Bernhard's unique narrative style.
Chavrier's adaptation is described as a musical poem, which suggests that it transforms the themes and narrative of the novel into a musical form. This approach likely emphasizes the emotional and psychological aspects of the story, using music to convey the sense of isolation and decline that pervades Bernhard's work[1][2][3]. The title "Ils nous ont oubliés" (They Have Forgotten Us) implies a focus on the themes of abandonment, neglect, or being overlooked, which aligns with Bernhard's exploration of isolation and societal disconnection. The adaptation likely explores these themes through a blend of music and narrative, creating a poignant reflection on human abandonment and the decay of relationships and societal structures.
Overall, Séverine Chavrier's work is an innovative interpretation of Bernhard's novel, using music to deepen the emotional impact of the narrative and explore the profound themes of isolation, forgetfulness, and decay.
- The adaptation of Thomas Bernhard's novel "The Lime Works" by Séverine Chavrier, titled "Ils nous ont oubliés," extends beyond the realm of literature into music and theater, creating a musical poem that delves into themes of isolation and decay.
- In this adaptation, the lime pits serve as a symbolic quarry, with dialogues sprinkled with ground-down chunks of concrete, resulting in simplified language that mirrors Bernhard's casual speech.
- "Ils nous ont oubliés" also highlights the use of modern technology, with much communication taking place via mobile phones, and the couple is often hidden in a corner under surveillance by security cameras.
- The adaptation enriches the original narrative with additional references, such as "The Shining" by Stephen King, and employs David Lynch-inspired imagery, amplified sounds, and projections on multiple depth levels to create a captivating, eerie atmosphere reminiscent of a Surrealist novel or film.
