The West Ain´t What It Used To Be

Thanksgiving with country music, Jell-O salad and Dolly Parton
A lot of folks are worried about the state of democracy in the United States. Is it teetering on the brink? Is a civil war looming? Are the tech billionaires supporting its downfall?
Thanksgiving in Berlin. Fred and his US-American wife Rhonda have invited guests from her motherland over for a turkey dinner. Inevitably, the conversation drifts from the American Dream – via Karl May and Western movies – to the topic of all topics: What is going on in the US? Strangely enough, Dolly Parton seems to be in the room, too. And a country & western band magically appears. The evening escalates …
In “The West Ain´t What It Used To Be”, The Waltraud Experience tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: The right and the left stand in completely irreconcilable opposition; a stalemate has been reached – Where are the United States headed?
Country music icon Dolly Parton – who sadly passed away on August 25th – was often looked to as a unifying figure; someone both the right and the left can agree on. Yet, a closer look reveals that Dolly prefered to stay out of it … she sang, she cracked jokes, and she championed “positive thinking”… but politics? No thanks.

with Robin Gooch, Bailey Hubbs, Felix Theissen, Carina Zox
Music played live by Ioni Music, Ben Osborn, Sorcha Thompson
Concept and Direction: Günther Grosser and Priscilla Bergey
Music by various artists, arranged by Ben Osborn | Video and Sound Design: Holly Barnard | Costumes: Angharad Matthews | Lighting: Katri Kuusimäki | Sound: Klaus Altenmüller | Stage Management and Directing Assistance: Izzy Rousmaniere | Photography: Stefania Migliorati
A coproduction of English Theatre Berlin | International Performing Arts Center production and The Waltraud Experience