Photos (c) Theater Schwedt, Udo Krause
A new musical for three mature actresses
by Stanek & Brand
Premiere: 15.10.2021 Uckermärkische Bühnen Schwedt
Cast: 3 Ladies (soprano, mezzo, alto)
Music:piano, drums, trombone
Story
When the husband of Anna, a retired doctor, dies unexpectedly, she discovers that he has left her a huge mountain of debt. Together with her school friends Gerda and Waltraud, she looks for a solution - and finds it in founding a phone sex hotline. A mobile phone video makes the three a viral internet hit overnight. But this leads to unexpected consequences for the ladies...
A story about courage, friendship and self-determination - guaranteed hot!
"Just be a little bit kinky! Do not hold back and let go!"
Casting
ANNA: Retired doctor
WALTRAUD: her school friend, very religious, housewife and widow
GERDA: also a school friend, failed diva
Reviews:
„Bereits seit 2010 gibt es bekanntlich die „schreib:maschine“, eine offene Bühne für Musicalautoren und -komponisten, auf der erste Entwürfe angedachter Werke einem fachkundigen Publikum präsentiert werden können. Was daraus im Idealfall entstehen kann, zeigte die Uraufführung von ‚Reife Damen‘ von Florian Stanek (Text) und Sebastian Brand (Musik), dessen Idee vor ungefähr zwei Jahren erstmals im Rahmen der „schreib:maschine“ gezeigt wurde und viel Sympathie weckte. (…) Sebastian Brand hat zum pointierten Text von Florian Stanek eine Partitur geschrieben, die geschickt Klänge des klassischen Musicals aufgreift (damit auf das Alter der Figuren verweisend), sie aber raffiniert mit zeitgenössischen Klängen verwebt.“
– Wolfgang Jansen, Musicals, Ausgabe 210
"The punchy plot and the catchy music are captivating from the beginning. (...) lovingly created characters of the ladies by lyricist Florian Stanek (...) [The performance carried] the audience to storms of applause. (...) It seems almost certain that the " Mature Ladies" will also be discovered by other theatres in Germany."
– Eva-Martina Weyer, Märkische Oderzeitung
"Phenomenal performance in Schwedt. It should be noted directly in advance that the female visitors should refrain from too extensive make-up, as there were already bursts of laughter in the audience in the first half hour, which no make-up could survive unscathed. The new musical REIFE DAMEN by Sebastian Brand and Florian Stanek is a firework of good humour. Punchy dialogues and enthralling songs complement each other perfectly. Taboo topics and prejudices regarding ageing, sex in old age and the prevailing needs there are concretely addressed with a wink and an attack on the laughing muscles."
– Ines Marquardt, Musical1.de
"Guarantees tears of laughter, but also creates space for more serious moments. 'Mature Ladies' is far more than a bawdy moan musical. (...) The authors develop the play further into a bitter-sweet comedy that does not stop at topics such as ageing, poverty, loneliness, life lies, senior sex and media criticism. Musically, the play is also on a high level. (...) Stylistically, the songs range from disharmonies à la Kurt Weill to catchy pop ballads and bouncy samba rhythms to classic musical showstoppers."
– Musicalzentrale.de
"Wonderfully funny, but also thought-provoking. Stories with characters beyond 35 are far too rare."
Kevin Clarke, Berliner Zeitung
"The fun was evident in the audience and it became even greater when (the ladies) then suddenly start practising together. (...) After enjoying the sample, one definitely hasn't had enough/listened to it yet!
Andrea Martin, Kulturaspekte.de
Production history:
*) 11.3.2024: Reading im Kabarett Simpl, Wien. Mit: Angelika Milster, Marika Lichter und Sascha Ahrens.
*) 15.10.2021: Premiere at the Uckermärkische Bühnen Schwedt. With: Gabriele Schwabe, Ines Venus Heinrich and Katarzyna Kluczna. Directed by Lars Franke. Musical direction: Tom van Hasselt. Set design: Frauke Bischinger.
*) July 2020: Finalist in comedy competition of Komödie am Kurfürstendamm Berlin
*) 17.2.2020: Reading of excerpts in Hamburg. As part of the "Schreibmaschine" at the Schmidtchen. With: Regina Lemnitz, Iris Schumacher, Iris Werlin. Moderation: Florian Stanek. Musical direction: Sebastian Brand
*) 25.11.2019: Reading of excerpts in Berlin. In the context of "Schreibmaschine" at the Neuköllner Oper. With: Regina Lemnitz, Anne Welte, Iris Werlin. Moderation: Florian Stanek. Musical direction: Sebastian Brand
*) 20.10.2019: First reading of excerpts in Vienna. As part of the „Kostprobe" at the MuTh - Concert Hall of the Vienna Boys' Choir. With: Tania Golden, Eva Maria Neubauer, Anita Eberwein. Moderation: Otto Jankovich. Musical direction: Alexander Jost
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