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| Christopher Lloyd, |
note: this entry is out of alphabetical and numerical order.
KASPAR [Drama/Austrian/Period] A: Peter Handke; TR: Michael Roloff; D: Carl Weber; DS: Wolfgang Roth; P: Chelsea Theatre Center of Brooklyn; T: Chelsea Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music (OB); 2/6/73-3/17/73 (48)
A controversial experimental work by Austria’s theatrical
and literary enfant terrible Peter
Handke about a famous 1828 “wild child” case concerning Kaspar Hauser, a
16-year-old Nurenberg boy, who was kept in such extremely close confinement
throughout his life that could neither walk nor speak when his existence suddenly became public. Handke uses the story to pursue his own intellectual and artistic
aims, exploring within an abstract framework the nature of man’s adaptive
processes and the ways in which language controls our behavior through the
almost oppressive power of words.
Kaspar’s (Christopher Lloyd) progress from unthinking,
puppet-like clown to reasoning, articulate being was presented in a cleverly
designed mounting using 15 unsynchronized TV monitors to frame the proscenium,
allowing Kaspar to view his own development. His instruction in he use of
language came from four Prompters, actors dressed like him and wearing the same
transparent plastic mask as he. They stand for aspects of his personality and
history. Despite their presence, Kaspar dominates the play in a role that is
essentially a monologue.
Christopher Lloyd, early in a fine career specializing in
eccentric characters, was impressive. Harold Clurman felt that “His vocal,
mnemonic, phonetic and physical achievement (without being devoid of feeling)
attains virtuoso proportions.” There were grievances from many about the play’s
boring stretches, but the general opinion held Kaspar to be a significant contribution. Loudest of the unconvinced
voices was that of John Simon, who jeered at the widespread praise for Handke’s
genius: “I say his plays are spinach and the hell with them.”
Kaspar was awarded
an OBIE for Distinguished Foreign Play, Lloyd got one for Distinguished
Performance, and also copped a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance.
