{"id":15922,"date":"2019-02-11T20:34:50","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T18:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christinaschlegl.de\/?p=15922"},"modified":"2019-02-11T20:34:50","modified_gmt":"2019-02-11T18:34:50","slug":"schnitzeljagd-nach-mekka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christinaschlegl.de\/en\/kategorien\/kultur\/schnitzeljagd-nach-mekka","title":{"rendered":"Paper chase to Mecca"},"content":{"rendered":"

Upon entering the stage two requisites catches my eye: a dormat that read: \u201cPlease take off your shoes\u201d and a camel run by a battery, tied to a palm tree and lapping around it. Whereas the first item could also mark the entrance of a Swabian flat, the combination of both makes clear that this is about a theatrical excursion into a world religion. As the plot\u2019s title \u201cBetween the pillars\u201d suggests, the so called five pillars of Islam are taking centre stage. The two protagonists, Markus&Markus, state that the story line is a \u201cpaper chase with unknown goal.\u201d It finally leads them to Mecca and thus to one of the most holy places in Islam.
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\nRules of the game unknow<\/strong>n<\/p>\n

The two actors outline with the help of a film, partly animated, partly real pictures, their voyage from Osnabr\u00fcck to Mecca. They make use of different clich\u00e9s, like flying carpets, camel trains or dhows as a means of transportation. The players are thus creating a bombastic-oriental atmosphere. At one the audience has pictures like Arabian Nights, Sindbad the sailor, Aladin\u2019s wonderlamp and grand viziers in mind.<\/p>\n

An odyssey \u00e1 la Odysseus from Ithaca<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alongside with the video material Markus&Markus are acting – seemingly randomly and without any storyboad \u2013 on the stage. Out of books with a cover showing their portray they are reading out again and again some kind of content. Spellbound I follow the player\u2019s acting and I wonder whether they really converted to Islam. The plot is divided into three parts and represents the five pillars of Islam \u2013 creed, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage \u2013 in random order. The presentation is larded with legends, myths and truth from the world of Abrahamic religion.<\/p>\n

The actors are not too serious about themselves and their play and thus bestow a serious topic with some lightness. Particular sequences make that obvious. For example there is a beginner\u2019s course in Arabic. Whereas Markus illustrates how many Arabic words made it into our language a plush snake with a very long red tongue parrots every single sentence.<\/p>\n

Pith helmet in lieu of scarf<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are starting off with a wig from the age of reconnaissance. Thereby Markus&Markus are referring to Goethe\u2019s often-quoted \u201cwest-eastern divan\u201d and Lessing\u2019s \u201cNathan der Weise\u201d. Later on the wig is replaced by a pith helmet, symbol of the scientific curiosity of western scientists upon exploring \u201cexotic worlds\u201d.
\nThe audience follows almost breathlessly the alternating story lines on the stage and on the screen. Markus&Markus fasting, fast breaking, at their conversion at the Islamic community Penzberg in Bavaria (why there?) and finally on the pilgrimage in Mecca walking around the Kaaba. The original walk of Hagar, a secondary wife of Abraham, with her son Isamael between the mountains Safa and Marwa, nowadays is an air-conditioned corridor, 400 metres long. Green neon lights are marking the way.<\/p>\n

The whole old town is wrapped in a cloud of waterpipe smoke<\/strong><\/p>\n

One question is still unsettled: Did both actors really convert to Islam for the sake of this play? Maybe that question is irrelevant. Markus&Markus opening question is: \u201cWhat if we look out for bonds and common ground instead of boundaries and differences?\u201d<\/p>\n

Want an example? The whole fantastic world of both actors can be displayed in these ludicrous descriptions: \u201cMarkus is shaking the Grand Mufti\u2019s hand. And whereas a couple of nuns are heading for Sunday church and the bells are ringing all over the town, the Muslim community buys bread, populates the caf\u00e9s, meets friends and family. It is six o\u2019clock in the morning, the whole old town is covered in one big waterpipe-smoke cloud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, living together can be just that easy!<\/p>\n