Amorphous Ottenburg [Amorphe d’Ottenburg]

In the town of Ottenburg, a number of residents have been stabbed. The victims are old people, invalids, and artists. The king claims that the murders were committed by foreigners. In reality, the perpetrator is the troubled son of the king. The son is being manipulated by a hunchback, the gray eminence at the court. As the story unfolds, the brothers of the murderer manage to get rid of him, but not the hunchback, who remains an adviser at court. This play, about a civil war that turns into genocide, serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed by the Third Reich.

Format: Full-length drama

Cast Size: 12M/4F

Running Time: 90 minutes

Character breakdown:

Hans (the King): Paul-Emile Deiber
Amorphe: Jean-Paul Roussillon
The hunchback: Michel Aumont
Arnolphe: Serge Maillat
Keit: Georges Aminel
Merle d’Ottenburg: André Reybaz
A cousin and a soldier: Hervé Sand
A soldier and the chamberlain: Gérad Caillaud
A cousin and Thomas: Jean-François Remi
A cousin and old tailor: Dominique Rozan
Astolphe: Jean-Luc Boutte
Estienne de Barembak: Francis Huster
A cousin: Nathalie Piel
Eva: Catherine Salviat
Berta (the Queen): Rosy Varte
A cousin: Virginie Pradal
A cousin: Catherine Ferran
The messenger and a guard: Jean-Claude Amyl
Maître Albert: Antoine Mozin
The scribe: Antoine Marin

Notes:

Reference(s): Comédie-Française, [reviews] no. 1, – Reference(s): Comédie-Française, [reviews] no. 1, Sept. 1971; no. 2, Oct. 1971. – Figaro, 21.9.1971, 27.9. – Doc, no. 012-2 [progr., aff.-progr.]. See: France 2, 30.01.2000, Interview of Jean Claude Grumberg et Jean Michel Ribes https://www.ina.fr/ina-eclaire-actu/video/cab00004469/amorphe-d-ottenburg-a-la-comedie-francaise

The play has been adapted several times. Among the most important  are the following:

Directed by Jean-Michel Ribes, the Comédie-Française repertoire; original music by Jean-Claude Camors; choreography by Caroline Marcadé; sets and costumes by Patrick Dutertre; lighting by Alain Banville; with Yves Gasc (le bossu), Simon Eine (Hans d’Ottenburg), Claire Vernet (Berta d’Ottenburg)…[et al.]. Performance: Paris (France): Comédie-Française (Jean-Pierre Miquel), 1-29-2000. Producer(s) : Miquel, Jean-Pierre.

Original or Prominent Production:
Directed by Jean-Paul Roussillon and Gilles Segal; Comédie-Française production; sets and costumes by Nicolas Politis. Performance: Paris (France): Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe (Pierre Dux), 10-08-1971. Music by Olivier Bernard. Sound by Fred Kiriloff.

Original Source Material: BNF Richelieu - Autograph handwritten text, [undated]. 1 notebook. 4-COL-250(96). Multigraph brochure with autograph handwritten annotations, [undated]. 4-COL-250(97).

Original Language: French

Publisher:

Avant-Scène Théâtre 485 / December 1971; Stock 1970.
Actes Sud Papiers 1989.
Actes Sud 1999.

Production Rights Holder:

Edition: Création

Experience(s) Chronicled: Germany, Hitler and the Growth of Nazism | Allegoric or Metaphoric Representations