《海布龍城的新娘》神諭、巫術與火的試煉 DAS KÄTHCHEN VON HEILBRONN
10/11 @ 7:30 下午 - 10/13 @ 4:30 下午
《海布龍城的新娘》神諭、巫術與火的試煉改編自德國浪漫主義時期劇作家—海因里希·馮·克萊斯特(Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist，1777—1811)被譽為「一齣盛大的古裝歷史騎士劇」的《海布龍城的凱西》（Das Käthchen von Heilbronn）。該劇於1810年3月17日，在維也納劇院首次上演，距今已超過兩百年歷史；在世界各地享有極高的盛譽，不僅因其在德國的文學史上具有著重要地位，更被認為是浪漫主義戲劇的代表作之一。
《海布龍城的凱西》是克萊斯特三十三歲時所寫下的作品，又名《火的試煉》。此劇沒有傳統騎士劇為正義而戰的神聖使命，而是將焦點放置於騎士、公主與另一貴族女子的三角關係上。一位平民女子凱西，受到神諭的影響，不畏艱險，決心追隨她心目中的主人史特拉伯爵。與此同時，貴族血統的古妮君德女爵為了愛情願意放棄領地，但她是否是史特拉伯爵心中的真命天女？
此劇的副標為《火的試煉》，火焰審判最初是歐洲中世紀的考驗，旨在未決的法庭案件中測試被告的清白。本劇中，火焰審判不是指實際的磨難，而是對女主角的考驗，當凱西在天使的幫助下，從燃燒殆盡的城堡安全返回時，即意味著她通過了這項測試。因此，此劇是一齣圍繞在神諭、巫術與火之試煉的故事。
《海布龍城的新娘》神諭、巫術與火的試煉是時隔兩百年之後，對《海布龍城的凱西》一劇的致敬及改編。除了重新統整原著較顯散亂的情節，使之有更系統化的組織，也加入部分新的情節，使其更符邏輯，同時，為使這次演出版本更有吸引力，在人物上把古妮君德女爵設定為一位反派、具魔法的角色，火龍是由她召喚用以擊退與她作對的人。改編後的情節從序幕的神諭，到開場的秘密法庭，再到凱西堅定地追隨史特拉伯爵，以及古妮君德女爵被綁架、史特拉伯爵出手相救，直至史特拉伯爵在兩位女性之間徘徊不定，最後火龍出現，城堡被燃燒殆盡，原本即將交戰的兩軍嘎然而止。全劇結尾在國王的見證下，舉行了一場華麗的婚禮，究竟是哪位女性成為了史特拉伯爵命定的新娘呢？這次演出版本將以全新的視角呈現這個古老而充滿魔幻色彩的故事，帶給觀眾更加驚喜的視覺饗宴和情感震撼。
The Bride of Heybron is a story of oracles, witchcraft and trial by fire adapted from the novel by the German romantic playwright –Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist (1777-1811)’s “Kathy of Heilbronn” is known as “a grand historical costume knight’s play”. The play was first performed at the Vienna Theater on March 17, 1810 , more than 200 years ago; it enjoys a high reputation around the world, not only because of its important position in German literary history, but also because it is considered one of the representative works of romantic drama.
“Cassie of Heybron” was written by Kleister when he was 33 years old, also known as “Trial of Fire”. This play does not have the sacred mission of fighting for justice in traditional knight dramas, but focuses on the triangle relationship between a knight, a princess and another noble woman. A commoner woman, Cathy, was influenced by the oracle and was determined to follow the master of her dreams, Count Strath, regardless of danger. At the same time, Lady Gunigund, who was of noble descent, was willing to give up her territory for love, but is she the true love in Count Strath’s heart?
The subtitle of this play is “Trial by Fire”. Trial by Fire was originally a test in medieval Europe , designed to test the innocence of the defendant in an unresolved court case. In this play, Trial by Fire does not refer to an actual ordeal, but a test for the heroine. When Cathy returns safely from the burning castle with the help of an angel, it means that she has passed the test. Therefore, this play is a story revolving around oracles, witchcraft and the trial by fire.
The Bride of Heybron, the oracle, witchcraft and the trial of fire, is a tribute and adaptation of the play “Cassie of Heybron” after two hundred years. In addition to reorganizing the more scattered plots of the original work to make it more systematic, some new plots are added to make it more logical. At the same time, in order to make this performance more attractive, Lady Gunnar Gunder is set as a villain with magic, and the fire dragon is summoned by her to repel those who oppose her. The adapted plot starts with the oracle in the prologue, the secret court at the beginning, then Cathy’s firm pursuit of Count Strath, the kidnapping of Lady Gunignd and Count Strath’s rescue, until Count Strath hesitates between the two women, and finally the appearance of a dragon, the castle is burned to ashes, and the two armies that were about to fight come to an abrupt end. At the end of the play, a gorgeous wedding is held under the witness of the king. Which woman will become Count Strath’s destined bride? This performance version will present this ancient and magical story from a new perspective, bringing the audience a more surprising visual feast and emotional shock.
