English Theater Berlin 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 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