Kilroy was here

Camino Real – by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Anna-Sophie Mahler.

Volkstheater Wien, Austria 20241229

Just when I was sure I had already been in my last concert/event of the year. I came across this staging of Tennessee Williams’ play “Camino Real” (1953). Directed by Anna-Sophie Mahler on her debut in Vienna but no stranger to the folk-rock band, Calexico. Mahler had already toured with Calexico as a violinist, but this time, the band was assisting the director.

When defining a rock opera, common agreement converges to be a concept album not intended to be acted on, even though many well-known pieces are eventually adapted as rock musicals. In this case, Anna-Sophie adapts and directs Williams’ play to then have the exclusive composition work of the Arizonian band, who are well known for their blending of diverse Latin sounds, ranging from cumbia and mariachi with a spark of jazz and post rock.

Regardless of the joint work between the director and the musicians, I couldn’t have come up with a better choice to musicalize this play. Taking place in the middle of a square fenced by a coastal hotel and a seedy bar, all at a place that could be anywhere between Mexico and the USA. What makes this place so special and enigmatic is that no one knows how or why they ended up there. Craving for freedom, love, or even recognition; the characters are immersed in this journey along 16 stops of a dead-end existential crisis. They are all stranded at the beginning and end of their lost minds. In the words of the author, Camino Real is “no more and no less than my view of the time and the world in which I live.”.

Two hours flew within comedic dialogues, four different languages spoken, or sung, (but don’t worry, subtitles both in English and German are projected), and the Latin-jazzy music of Calexico. Surrounded by the historicism details of Volkstheater architecture, a minimalistic theatrical scenery and play of lights and projections are enough to build the setting and theme of the play. Do not lose the opportunity to assist, as it is going to be presented again on February 1st,2nd, and 3rd 2025. Tickets can be found here.