Ophelias Tränen

As a rule, Ophelia is thought of as the sweet woman by the grand eponymous hero’s side. Or as the beautiful, lifeless silhouette washed by the river. There is an abundance of this morbidly sensuous iconography in the artworld. One thing that all these Ophelias have in common: They are (mostly) silent. In Paula Winteler’s solo show, the stage belongs to Ophelia herself. Displaying and opposing all the lovely and delicate images of herself. Her viewpoint is the centre. And perhaps it needs to be found first.

Because, as so often, Ophelia asks herself the quiet question: “To cry or not to cry?” To make sure that everyone feels fine, she mostly decides on the latter. The crying happens all alone, under the shower. But then she begins to collect her tears and bring them to a boil. Besides cute babes and personified doubts, sad-girl pop-icons like Lana Del Rey have also been invited to join in a show about elemental force, transformation and tenderness, about superficiality and abysmal depths. And it’s all terribly sad.

Actor and character meet in this show, and they dare to exchange their thoughts on the prerogative of interpretation, preferences regarding hot drinks and their own aspirations.