Pocket Size Spectacle: Paul Lincke’s “Prinzess Rosine” Back in Berlin

You could say this is rather daring (and wonderful): bringing Paul Lincke’s 1905 extravaganza Prinzess Rosine – which includes a “Luftballett,” i.e. an up-in-the-air ballet – to the tiny stage of the Theater im Palais in Berlin. As a pocket size spectacle.

The piece tells the story of Kille and Timpe, two down-to-earth Berlin pipe layers. On their construction site they dig a hole – that leads them to a magical “Schlaraffenland”, i.e. a land of milk and honey. To check where their men have suddenly dissapeared to, their fiances Ida and Grete follow them down that hole.

On the other side, every 100 years a special day is celebrated in which one person from earth can get in … and the princess of this magical realm marries him. But now there are two men who arrived! So Princess Rosine has to make up her mind which one she prefers. (Especially when their fiances are right on their heels.)

Of course there’s a lot of amorous chaos. Originally, this was enhanced by lavish dancing and a lot of cross dressing for the corps de ballet.

The new production is based on the original 1905 hand-written text book. It’s one of the first revivals of the show since Nazi times, when Lincke was put back on the map as an “Aryan” role model for the genre.

Now, all roles are played by only two actors: Stefanie Dietrich as her operetta alter ego Mizzie Meier and by drag queen Meik van Severen.

If you wonder what the music sounds like, you can hear the great Lillie Claus in a recording from the late 1930s, demonstrating what exactly was meant by “Aryan” operetta back then.

The new production is staged by Fabian Gerhardt, Markus Zugehör is the musical director. By casting a drag queen in a lead role and by emphasizing a queer vibe, all “Aryan” associations should (hopefully) be eradicated.

There are performances coming up at the end of April, running through early May.

You can find some of the Prinzess Rosine music on YouTube, which makes for interesting listening. It’s in the typical slap-them-on-the-head Lincke march style, mixed with rousing waltz tunes. And some delicate extras.

For more details and performances dates, click here.