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Enigma Emmy Göring and Nico Sphinx of Ice are two monologues by Werner Fritsch about two very different German blondes who, nevertheless, have something in common: they have both been traumatised by the recent German fascist past. Emmy Göring was the wife of Hitler's designated successor, Hermann Göring. Nico, a former model, became famous when Andy Warhol made her a singer for Velvet Underground.
Emmy is an enigma as, in the 1970s, she reveals her continued loyalty to the fascist cause when reflecting back on her life while under anaesthesia in a dentist's chair. She regards herself as the good, sweet girl her parents brought up.
Nico, by contrast, is bitter and cold. Also full of drugs, she remembers her childhood under fascism but especially her lovers and collaborators - Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, and above all Jim Morrison, whose music features throughout.
Directed by Peter Falkenberg. Text by Werner Fritsch.
In addition to performing the two monologues, Free Theatre presented an evening of stories, songs, and poetry alongside the Nico monologue. We met Ian Loughran, a former Nico roadie and poet and musician in his own right, when touring Emmy and Nico in Dunedin. He joined us for this evening, sharing stories of his time with Nico and poetry about her.
The players:
Marian McCurdy - Monologue, Vocals, Flute, Harmonium
George Parker - Monologue, Vocals
Chris Reddington - Set Design, Piano, Harmonium
Nicole Reddington - Cello
Ryan Reynolds - Video Projections, Guitar
Friday 21st Nov. The Media Club. 191 Armagh St. $10 door charge. 9pm.
Nico was a femme fatale in New York in the '70s. A tall and beautiful German blonde, a model, actor, Andy Warhol "Superstar", icon of heroin chic, and girlfriend to Brian Jones, Lou Reed, Jim Morrison and Alain Delon. Nico was every man's fantasy, famous for singing her lovers' songs.
Then she decided to sing her own.
"She started at some point, um, having a real resentment over her good looks. She hated the fact that people thought she was beautiful. She thought this was some sort of disgrace to be beautiful... But in those days modelling was not artistic... you know, artistic was to be like Janis Joplin screaming your lungs out before you die of drug addiction... She was so happy to be called ugly..." (Paul Morrissey)
The Free Theatre will explore the two sides of Nico, performing songs Lou Reed wrote for her as well as her later solo work. Ian Loughran was a 17 year old in Manchester when he befriended Nico in the early '80s. He will perform poems he wrote as a "star-struck teenager" along with some of his recent work and stories of their time together, which reveal the ongoing impact Nico has on his life. Werner Fritsch's musical monologue, Nico Sphinx of Ice, will also be performed by two actors with live musicians.