Review: Stranger Than the Moon, Coronet Theatre

Bertolt Brecht is renowned for the incredible impact he has had on dramatic form, the source of a whole new term: ‘Brechtian’. A breaker of boundaries, and master of reinvention, he was not only a playwright and a practitioner of theatre reform, he was also a composer, a singer, a poet, a political activist. And a human being. All these features of his legacy are encompassed in this entertaining production about his life.

Stranger Than the Moon is presented by the Berliner Ensemble (the theatre company founded by Brecht back in 1949), giving a really authentic frame to the work. Starring Katharine Mehrling and Paul Herwig, it draws together Brecht’s philosophies, talents and personal memories across a lifetime using his own writing to tell the tale, in a performance that is part concert, part cabaret, part spoken word. If you’re not a German speaker, fear not as the show comes with surtitles – although it might take a moment to adjust between watching and reading. Even a slight knowledge of Brecht’s native tongue, however, gives a hint at how much more lyrical and affective the words are in the original. 

This adaptation by Adam Benzwi, Oliver Reese and Lucien Strauch covers work across decades, with Mehrling and Herwig proving to be sterling performers. They depict Brecht and multiple influential characters from his life and work with flair, humour and, at times, poignancy. Mehrling in particular has a superb voice. Her role as the war widow, in full bridal gown, celebrating the spoils of war, is an absolute highlight and very moving, capturing the full power of Brechtian irony. They are accompanied by pianist Adam Benzwi, whoably supports a wide range of styles.

Reese’s clean direction leaves the open stage largely clear, allowing us to focus on vignettes, presented with simplicity such that the underlying content maintains the primary focus. The performance is accompanied by projected visuals that use temporal and geographical cues to helpfully guide us through a lifetime. We see chilling images of the rise of Nazism, and are placed in the rainy German countryside, the USA or whichever part of Brecht’s life the accompanying performance links to. 

The show is not so much a bio-pic as an immersion in the essence of Brecht, revealing not just his talent but also helping understand his personal intent as a champion of humanity. As a narrative the sequence of pieces doesn’t offer a rigorous path, but together they do carry the audience through a wide range of materials and emotions, allowing us to not only enjoy Brecht’s incredible skills as poet, playwright and songwriter, but dip into his views on society and ideas of his own place within it. It depicts the glorification of war and greed, with capitalism at the core. It questions who is to blame for a world where neighbours turn viciously on each other, and silence condones evil actions. It also shows how he subversively uses comedy to challenge his audience. We learn a little about him as a man from his diaries – his fears in speaking out – giving an insight into his vulnerability and his bravery. 

Of course, Brecht’s canon is generally transparent in revealing his humanity, captured for all time in his art, which gives voice to the everyman. And that makes this show so very timely. As the world stumbles blindly again towards a rise in fascism, Brecht is still very much here and to be celebrated, vocal about the dangers of allowing history to repeat itself, using the language of poetry, song and entertainment to reach the soul in each of us. Stranger Than the Moon delightfully invites us to do just that.

Text by Bertolt Brecht with music by Hanns Eisler and others

Directed by: Oliver Reese

Adapted for the stage by: Adam Benzwi, Oliver Reese and Lucien Strauch

Musical direction and piano by: Adam Benzwi

Stranger Than the Moon runs at the Coronet Theatre until Friday 6th December. Further information and booking details can be found here.

You can find out more about the Berliner Ensemble on their website.