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18-29 October 1983, Free Theatre, The Arts Centre
Leonce and Lena was written in 1836 by Georg Büchner, a German scientist and revolutionary, who died in exile, only 23 years old. Büchner was an admirer of Shakespeare and Leonce and Lena has many references to Hamlet and especially to As You Like It.
The plot is comedy at its lightest. Prince Leonce of the tiny kingdom of PooPoo is supposed to marry Princess Lena of the equally tiny kingdom of PeePee (parodying the small absolute German principalities of the time) and then to take over from his father, King Peter, who wants to retire in order to be able to concentrate on philosophy. Both Leonce and Lena, who have not seen each other, object to the marriage and escape from their respective kingdoms. They meet at a country inn and fall in love with each other. The happy end is automatic. What is different in this comedy, however, is that its own automation becomes its real theme. The happy end can be seen as a failure to escape from the mechanisms of love and life that imprison us. Comedy, poetry, philosophy, politics and romantic love are radically questioned in a very poetic, philosophical, political and romantic comedy. Shakespeare's notion of human beings as players on a stage is radicalised: we are just puppets who don't know who pulls the strings. Büchner's play has been seen as an attack on the "idealist" ideology of the ruling classes and as an early forerunner of modern absurd drama. It has been compared to Samuel Beckett's "Endgames" of the Western civilisation. The set, designed by Tony Geddes, is a mixture of a world machine, ship of fools and puppet theatre within the theatre - as the Free Theatre is within the bigger Arts Centre and the Arts Centre within Christchurch city theatre... and so on. Note: Due to Court Proceedings the theatre must be cleared by 11pm. |
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Despite threats of eviction and legal action over the use of its Arts Centre premises, the Free Theatre will open its next production, "Leonce and Lena," next Tuesday. 
ReviewsThe Free Theatre has to face further court proceedings at the end of this production. But al least they have now proved beyond a doubt that their cause is worth supporting. Described as a comedy, the deliberation and sheer dogged determination to extract every nuance from the script left a heavy residue. ...the governing idea of life as a machine is brilliantly conveyed in Peter Falkenberg's production. 
ArticlesFree Theatre comedy
The Press Leonce and Lena The Star Free Theatre photo essay The Press The Free Theatre Clipze, Issue 1 Sept 5-Sept 19 
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