Rutherford & Sohn

Es ist eine vermeintlich klassische Familienanordnung, die die britische Dramatikerin Githa Sowerby 1912 schafft und zugleich unterläuft: Die Frauenfiguren reflektieren das Warten auf den Paterfamilias zu Beginn des Stückes selbst kritisch und sie sind es auch, die eigensinnig und klug die Handlung vorantreiben und für einen konsequenten Showdown sorgen.

Sowerbys Drama hatte Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts großen Erfolg, geriet dann jedoch in Vergessenheit. Im Zuge unserer programmatischen Kanonerweiterung haben wir das Stück wiederentdeckt und bringen es am Schauspielhaus Graz zur österreichischen Erstaufführung. Hochaktuell nimmt es die Themen Herkunft, Erbe und Klassismus in den Blick. Der ungarische Regisseur Jakab Tarnóczi setzt das Stück mit seinem künstlerischen Team in einem bestechend heutigen Setting in Szene.

Dauer: 1 Stunde 50 Minuten, keine Pause

[en]
John Rutherford is not only the head of the family, but also the boss of the nearby glassworks. As a strike is announced among the workers in the factory, he defends capital as the all-determining and organizing force. One day, the company is to be handed over to his eldest son, but this son has his own plans with an invention. The other son wants to become a priest, while the daughter chooses a secret love affair – all decisions that lead to emancipation from the dominant father.
Father and children argue over the value of life. Does this lie exclusively in active doing? Which work is accepted and who owes whom in the succession of generations?

It is a supposedly classic family arrangement that British playwright Githa Sowerby both creates and undermines: The female characters reflect critically on the wait for the Paterfamilias at the beginning of the play and it is also they who stubbornly and cleverly move the plot forward and ensure a consistent showdown.
Sowerby’s drama enjoyed great success at the beginning of the 20th century, but was then forgotten. As part of our programmatic expansion of the canon, we have rediscovered the play and are presenting its Austrian premiere. It takes a very contemporary look at the themes of origin, heritage and classism. Hungarian director Jakab Tarnóczi and his artistic team are staging the play in a contemporary setting.

Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes, without break