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Maria Vittoria has fallen in love with her German tutor, Daniel, recently made a bishop of the Catholic Church. They are married and Daniel takes Maria back to his family home in Heidelberg where she meets Anna Regina, his possessive elder sister. Anna Regina accuses Maria of having cast a spell on Daniel, and the townspeople soon imprison her for witchcraft.
Maria Vittoria, an orphan, is due to be married to a rich German banker in an arrangement made by her influential Roman foster-father (MARRIAGE CONTRACT). However Maria has fallen in love with another man - Daniel, her tutor (CONFESSION). She causes a scandal at the Vatican (SI SI and SCANDAL) when she scorns her groom-to-be and declares her love for Daniel, a Catholic bishop who has taken a vow of celibacy. Knowing the risk of damnation by the Church, Daniel nevertheless succumbs to his feelings for Maria (YOU ARE MY LOVE). They declare their love, and he takes her away to his home in Heidelberg. There the couple are met by his sister, Anna Regina. She has high hopes for Daniel, and has visions of him as the first German Pope (TRUE BELIEVERS). But Daniel refuses to give up Maria, and Anna Regina feels that she must do something to save him from himself (IF THIS SHOULD FAIL).
When Daniel falls mysteriously ill, neither doctor nor priest is able to wake him from his deep sleep (HOW DO YOU FEEL?). Anna Regina accuses Maria of having cast a spell on her brother, and turns the Inquisition for help. Already looking for someone to blame for an earlier incident when their church was struck by lightning, the townspeople choose Maria for a scapegoat (POSSESSED). They demand her imprisonment for witchcraft. The Inquisitor, Cardinal Gonzaga, arrives from Rome to attempt exorcism on the bishop, and to prosecute his mistress (LITTLE DEVILS). Daniel recovers and learns of Maria's supposed evil- doing. Blinded by rumours, he accuses her at court (SHE DEVIL).
Maria is tortured but steadfastly maintains her innocence (SHE'S GUILTY). Her maid, Giulia, cannot bear to see her suffer, and manages to help her escape from prison (RESCUE). Even though her life is in danger, Maria refuses to flee Heidelberg without first seeing Daniel. She finds him deep in remorse, praying in church for God to spare her life (ALMIGHTY GOD). They are briefly reunited and once again confirm their love for each other (REUNION). But the anger of the townspeople cannot be contained and, as they surround the church, Gonzaga decides to break the sanctuary in order to save Daniel from Maria's spell. He announces that the witch's escape has confirmed her guilt - she must die (BURN THE WITCHES). Will the church or Daniel be able to save her life? (HALLELUJAH).
1 Which witch peut-être considéré comme un Flop musical
The storyline for Which Witch was derived from the witch finder's manual Malleus Maleficarum, and the original script was written by Adrian and Bjørnov's manager Ole A. Sørli. The lyrics of the early concert versions were written by Helen Hampton and Roger Avenstrup, in collaboration with Adrian, Bjørnov and Sørli.
The first performance was in Grieghallen, Bergen on May 27, 1987, with Adrian playing the female lead, and Bjørnov as musical director. The material was constantly developed throughout a period of eight years, resulting in several national and international tours presenting continuously updated concert versions of the musical.
The "Operamusical" Which Witch opened at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on October 22, 1992 and ran for 76 performances, after a critical savaging. It has been described as "the second worst West End musical of all time", a "bizarre musical", and "a dire rock opera".
The London version was followed by a rather more successful Norwegian tour, and further performances of a Norwegian version in Holmenkollen, Oslo during the summer of 1994.
Which Witch has, since its premiere in May 1987, been performed a total of 142 times in concert version in the following countries: Norway, Canada, USA, the Netherlands, England, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. The total attendance figure is approx. 276,000.
Songs: The Blessing
Bad Omens
Maria’s Curse
Black Mass
The Exorcism
2,665,866,746,664 Little Devils
Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Which witch
Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Which witch
Version 1
Which witch (1992-10-Piccadilly Theatre-London)
Type de série: Original LondonThéâtre: Piccadilly Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 4 semaines Nombre : Première Preview : Inconnu
Première: 22 October 1992
Dernière: 19 December 1992Mise en scène : Piers Haggard • Chorégraphie : Will Tuckett • Producteur : Star(s) : Avec: Benedicte Adrian (Maria Vittoria), Graham Bickley (Bishop Daniel), Stig Rossen (Anton Fugger), Vivien Parry (Anna Regina), Sara Weymouth, Leo Andrew, Gay Soper, Jahn Teigen, Issy van Randwyck, Paul Gyngell, Derek Cullen, Michael McLeanCommentaires : Originally a concert piece performed in Bergen in 1987, this became a best-selling album in Scandinavia and was turned into a full-scale stage musical. However, the production was jaw-droppingly awful. The best remembered scene - the Act One finale - saw a stage full of flying devils, with huge flapping genitals, having graphic sex with many three-breasted witches. Despite package tours from Scandinavia and a much-publicised visit from King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, the show lasted just ten weeks. It received the most damning series of critical reviews anyone could remember. Some critics suggested it was Norway’s revenge for always coming bottom in the Eurovision Song Contest, especially since Jahn Teigen (legendary receiver of “nul point” in 1978 ) appeared as the Executioner with a song called “Who do you want to bum?”. According to Sheridan Morley in the “Herald Tribune”: “Years from now, stunned members of the first-night audience will be holding reunions to try to recall whether ‘Which Witch’ was really as appalling as it first appeared. It was, it was.”
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