Train station Eijsden, South Limburg (the Netherlands). It is November the 10th, 1918: the First World War is coming to an end and Keizer Wilhelm II appears at the border to request asylum on neutral Dutch land. The Dutch government must consider this. For the coming twenty-four hours, the emperor is uncertain about his status. On the platform in Eijsden he meets the dutiful and punctual master of the station. Two men, absolutely opposite in characters and origin. The two gentlemen get into a heated discussion, but on one point they find each other: they are completely powerless regarding the situation in which they are in.
Kaiser Wilhelm II: "I lost bin !? Sie were mich hinauswerfen.? We can not jetzt nor hin ?? Wo can not in such a way, ein ehrlicher Politischer Flüchtling nor einen Zufluchtsort finden? ? ... Oh, könnte ich nur Holz hacking. “
Station master: “It’s the poverty of my social class, which is the real problem! Thirteen children, a serious lack of food. A tiny house, too little jobs - especially with all those refugees!"
De Grens is a co-production of Stichting Leonore, Opera Zuid and VIA ZUID talent development in the performing arts Limburg.
Information:
Opera: De Grens (The Border)
Thursday 16 August & 17 August at 17:00 & 19:30
Tickets €20,- with CJP €15,-
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam
